Services

This convent is operated by the Suore di Santa Elisabetta.

An elegant villa with beautifully maintained guest rooms and sitting areas. Period furniture throughout with modern bathrooms. Set over several floors with windows over the peaceful garden. On-site parking ensures avoiding big parking bills when driving through Tuscany.

Mass is held every day at 7:15am.

Breakfast is included in the price.

Features

The venue has a lovely pond in the well maintained garden. The guest house has undergone several transformations, yet maintains it original fascinating features including grand stain-glass windows and stone staircase.

Getting Around

South-east of the historic center of Florence. City with easy access. Bus and train stops for local and surrounding locations.  

History

The house was bought by the nuns in 1939 and due to floods in 1966 was completely renovated. Most parts of the house and gardens have recently been renovated again.  

Customer Reviews

	I am very grateful to the nuns for being so warm and welcoming during my wonderful stay in Florence.
Paula - BC, Canada (October 2022)

	The sisters were so welcoming and warm throughout my stay. Given I was there for two weeks I was generously given a beautiful room overlooking a park and away from traffic. The loving kindness extended to me and other guests made me sad to leave. The sister who looked after guests at breakfast time was a joy to see every morning. The sisters’ faith and Christian practice makes their monastery a very special place to stay in Florence.
Jenny - NSW, Australia (September 2022)

	I had a wonderful stay at Instituto Sure did Santa Elisabetta. The nuns were gracious, warm, and welcoming hosts. My room was spacious and immaculate. The Institute was off the beaten path but close to all the sights by bus. I hope to stay here again.
Deborah - ON, Canada (May 2021)

	This was absolutely our favorite place we stayed in Italy! It was so clean and convenient to everything you would want to see in Florence. You could walk if you wanted to, but it was also close to the buses. The Sisters were fabulous. They didn't speak much English, but went out of their way to make sure we felt welcome, and used Google translate when needed. I was travelling with my 12 year old son and they put out chocolate milk for him in the mornings, which was just so sweet, and they were so kind to him (he thought they were just great). Their breakfast was more than ample, and the sister that served us was beautifully cheerful. I am not a morning person, but she made the mornings refreshing. They have a chapel which is open for people to use for prayer, and you can attend morning Mass and evening Vespers if you like. I will stay here again when I return to Florence, which I inevitably will, as it is the most charming city I have every been in.
Richelle - WA, United States (September 2019)

	Very pleasant. Grateful to the sisters and all for a pleasant stay.
Mary - MD, United States (March 2019)

	Lovely welcome from the sisters, nothing too much trouble. Very pleasant, green area about 15 minutes walk along the river to the centre. (Or 5 mins by bus) Excellent local restaurant about 200 yards away, and a really good rosticceria at the bottom of the hill.
Benjamin - Somerset, United Kingdom (October 2018)

	Lovely friendly welcome from the two sisters. Good to have daily early morning Mass in the house.
John - CO DUBLIN, Ireland (September 2018)

	I stayed at the convent on a very hot night. A fan was provided but there were no screens on the windows and the convent had MANY MANY mosquitos. This alone made sleep very difficult -- I had to choose between sweltering and being eaten alive. I also felt as though I was imposing on the suore by being there.
Susan - ON, Canada (July 2018)

	The rooms were spacious and clean. Beds were comfortable. Breakfast was just what we enjoyed to start the day. The sisters were friendly and helpful despite our language barrier. Would not hesitate to stay there again.
Robert - WA, Australia (April 2018)

	Excellent stay, sisters made our stay pleasant, great service, parking onsite, everything was great.
Marcela - Metropolitana, Chile (February 2018)

	I had an absolutely lovely time!
Alice - CA, United States (December 2017)

	Was perfect.
Jill - Otago, New Zealand (June 2017)

	Large, beautiful rooms opening out onto a peaceful courtyard. Lovely street in a gorgeous part of Florence, just walking distance from the Piazzale Michelangelo, which overlooks the city. The sisters were very helpful and accommodating, and provided great hospitality. We would stay here again.
David - OH, United States (June 2017)

	Excellent.
Charles - OR, United States (May 2017)

	This was my favorite place on the whole trip. Everyone was so nice, the whole place was so warm and inviting and clean. And the staff could not have been any more accommodating. I loved the decor, the "our home is your home" feel of the place. It was lovely all the way around, and if I every get the chance to return to Florence, I will stay here!
Jon - IN, United States (February 2017)

	No signage; makes it difficult to find. Walk to Duomo over a mile; a little longer than I would like. Beautiful property. Room was very nice. Staff and breakfast easily the best of our three monastery stays.
Michael - MI, United States (October 2016)

	Great welcome, lovely building, super coffee at breakfast!
Paschal - Dorset, United Kingdom (August 2016)

	Beautiful place in a very nice location (especially for longer stays). Very clean and quiet. The sisters are very nice hosts and the general atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. Little English spoken, so understanding a bit of Italian helps. The floors are very high and there is no elevator so if you stay on an upper floor be prepared to climb a lot of stairs. Bring your toiletries, there is only soap. No TV in the room, which was perfect. The neighborhood is very nice and worth walking around, if you still can.
Bogdan - , Romania (June 2016)

	The sisters were nice, but did not speak English, so we're unable to give much information. It is a lovely area and I felt very safe walking around at night. Fairly easy to navigate buses, and the stops are decently close. There is a great restaurant 10 minute walk up the hill that you get a coupon for. It was nice to get away from the tourist traffic!
Alison - British Columbia, Canada (May 2016)

	Istituto Suore di Santa Elisabetta in Florence is located at a very serene, green and within a walking distance from the banks of Arno river, at the foothill east of Piazalle Michaelangelo. The sisters are very warm, friendly and generous.. Mass is celebrated every morning at 7.15. There are a few restaurants within a walking distance. The room is neat, clean tidy, and quiet. Overall, I had a very pleasant stay here when visiting Florence.
budi - WA, Australia (May 2016)

	This was our third stay here and we'll stay again if we return to Florence. Wonderful staff, clean, quiet rooms, and short walk to public transportation.
Bruce - FL, United States (May 2016)

	It was a lovely stay and the sisters were very helpful and welcoming.
Victoria - , France (April 2016)

	Very nicely placed on a lower hillside, and well off the tourist track - a pain otherwise in Florence - which on the other hand means that you have no immediate coffee bar or supermarket on your corner. There is wifi inside but it is rather weak, and best consulted in night time. The nuns are welcoming and friendly indeed, always ready to help and make you comfortable.
Henrik - Finland, Finland (March 2016)

	I appreciate that the Suore di Santa Elisabetta make such accommodations available to the traveler. It made for a very unique lodging experience.
Elizabeth - VT, United States (October 2015)

	I really like the Istituto Suore di S.Elisabetta. Great breakfast, beautiful common areas. The nuns are very nice.
Marina - CA, United States (September 2015)

	The location is wonderful - a short walk down the hill to the city center, or a short walk up the hill to Piazzale Michelangelo. The breakfast was very nice.
Debra - MN, United States (May 2015)

	Overall, I enjoyed my stay here very much! Great facilities and ambiance, and generally very comfortable. The convent is a gorgeous place, very majestic, with an aura of quiet and peace. For Catholics, you might be excited to know that there is a chapel with daily mass at 7:15am and that the Blessed Sacrament is always there for you to visit our Lord! We liked the homely and peaceful atmosphere. The rooms were big and very comfortable. Housekeeping is done everyday. The rooms in the higher levels (there are 3 levels) are very beautiful but you have to climb quite a lot of stairs to reach them. For those with a lot of luggage, better do some weight training! The sisters are very lovely people. However, they speak very little English - they mainly communicate in Italian and Polish. They were glad to help us with various things like sending packages and calling a cab. BREAKFAST: Breakfast is fabulous - a lovely spread of bread and pastries and every kind of condiment imaginable. Be warned that for those who aren't accustomed to eating just bread and coffee in the morning it can get a little dull, you can buy your own stuff to bring to the table. Breakfast time is 8-10am. It may seem like a place which is quite out of the way, from the map, but I think I was grateful for a break from the noise and people in the evenings. There is a magic about walking down the Arno at night, back to a quiet and comfortable place, and I would book this place again rather than any hotel in the heart of Florence.
Celine - , Singapore (May 2015)

	We enjoyed our stay. It was a bit far from the main area of Florence however we did appreciate being away from all the crowds.
Perren - ID, United States (September 2014)

	The grounds and building are quite beautiful and I enjoyed being outside on the grounds on several occasions. The office is not staffed on a regular basis so it is difficult to get suggestions or guidance for the town on the spur of the moment. The location is just outside the city and offers a respite from the bustle. The traffic on Michelangelo starts early and continues late. If you close the windows you don't here a thing, they are high quality for sound.
Andrea L - MO, United States (May 2014)

	We had a lovely stay at Instituto Suore di Santa Elisabetta. The nuns were very helpful and friendly. The rooms were comfortable and clean and the convent is in a beautiful area of Florence.
Janet - South Australia, Australia (May 2014)

	Wonderful sisters, so accomodating! Excellent breakfast. Beautiful surroundings.
Tracy - MO, United States (May 2014)

	I want to thank the Sisters for being so wonderful & kind - especially Sister Elisa for helping me leave in the middle of the night to catch my flight!
Stacey - NC, United States (April 2014)

	Rooms were neat and linens taken care of daily. Breakfast is a good meal for the day. I was very impressed and would stay again.
Deborah - IN, United States (November 2013)

	I spent a wonderful week at Sant'Elisabetta. The villa is beautiful, clean, and located in a pleasant neighborhood just south of the Arno. The sisters were extremely sweet, hospitable, and accommodating. I would highly recommend staying here for anyone who is looking for a simple and tranquil place to stay away from the bustle of the city center. It is only about a 15 minute walk to the center, or a short bus ride.
Alice - RI, United States (July 2013)

	Place was wonderful and nuns were wonderful.
Sandra - MN, United States (June 2013)

	This was an excellent value and I would definitely recommend it. What I liked best about it was that it was so quiet and peaceful compared to the city center. Because I was in Florence for 10 days, I did not at all mind the 20-30 min walk into the center. The room was comfortable and spotlessly clean. The breakfast was adequate (in typical Italian style, not much in the way of protein) and the sisters were incredibly friendly and concerned with my well-being. Things to be aware of - very little English is spoken by the sisters. I took 10 Italian classes before travelling and that was really helpful. Also, the WIFI connection is only good in a few areas - best by the reception desk. I usually came and sat there to check my email, etc. and I saw other people doing the same. Overall - it was a great place to stay - especially for the price!
Veronica - OR, United States (May 2013)

	This is one of the best places to stay. The nuns are extremely nice, the place is very clean, and it is about a 10 minute walk to the market. I had a private room with a balcony and could not have been more pleased with the accommodations and sisters. I will gladly stay again the next time I am in Florence.
Paula - WA, United States (May 2013)

	The Sisters were lovely and breakfast was great. Very clean, comfortable.
Anthony - Western Australia, Australia (January 2013)

	The sisters were very kind and helpful, and went out of their way to make sure we were taken care of!
Lawrence - British Columbia, Canada (June 2012)

	Very nice and family oriented place
Maria - Luxembourg, Luxembourg (May 2012)

	The sisters were efficient but friendly, the villa was very lovely, though somewhat sparse in furnishings. The breakfasts were good. The location is east of the city center and south of the river, so the hike in to the Duomo was about 35 minutes. Still, it was a great value.
Appalachian - NC, United States (May 2012)

	The sisters were very enjoyable. Loved being outside of the city center. The buses made traveling a little interesting but the walk to the house was always a nice way to end the day. There are a few restaurants at the bus transfer area which was nice.
Katherine - NV, United States (May 2012)

	Rooms were modest but comfortable and the Sisters took very good care of me! It was the perfect place for a single traveler. It was a wonderful refuge after a long day in the city with the crowds. And the best internet access I had in all the places I stayed.
Patty - VI, United States (May 2012)

	Truly a lovely spot, and the sisters were delightful and helpful, despite the language difference. A bit of a distance from the major sights in Florence, but very quiet (if one books a room on the courtyard side and not the road side!), which is the main reason I booked here.
Eric - CO, United States (March 2012)

	Enjoyed our stay here
Susan - Victoria, Australia (March 2012)

	I really liked it as it served my purpose. I had peace and quiet to relax and visit Florence as I pleased. The nuns were fantastic!
Luiz Pedro - Minas Gerais, Brazil (December 2011)

	Thank you to all the sisters and other people there - I enjoyed staying there in such a beautiful place.
Therese - Western Australia, Australia (October 2011)

	I would highly recommend this convent. Sister Yolanda was friendly and welcoming. She made sure we were comfortable during our stay. The rooms and overall convent were extremely clean and very pleasant. The breakfast buffet was very good as well. We enjoyed sitting outside in the garden area in the evenings. We were within walking distance of restaurants and shops and directly on a bus line.
Virginia - KY, United States (October 2011)

	The staff is wonderful, although the fact that I speak only English was a bit of a challenge. But we got by. The rooms are clean, neat and the grounds are beautiful. It is in a very pretty and safe location. It is a bit far from the Florence city center, a 30 minute brisk walk or so.
Kamaile - HI, United States (October 2011)

	Sister Yolande was an excellent hostess and assisted us with all our enquiries. She made phone calls and was gracious in her oversee of our stay.
Pat - South Australia, Australia (September 2011)

	There was also a strike with the train that forced me to find out a place to sleep after my last night at the monastery but the sisters made me feel very welcome when I asked for an additional night at the monastery.
aline - qc, canada (July 2011)

	Very pleasant guest house.
Marigo - hampshire, United Kingdom (June 2011)

	Road was noisy, but did quiet down late, room was excellent and breakfast was healthy and ample selection. Everyone was friendly but little English spoken by staff. Easy walk to downtown, beautiful building and room
Julia - UT, United States (June 2011)

	Each person we came in contact with was wonderful and they made our stay lovely.
karen - CA, United States (June 2011)

	We would highly recommend. Great location away from the tourist. Mosquitoes were bad but this was are favorite monastery.
Laura - FL, United States (May 2011)

	Beautiful location and room!
Barbara - Quebec, Canada (May 2011)

	The place is really lovely, very convenient, and the people who run it are very kind and welcoming. The room was a good size and comfortable, although the shower water pressure needs attention (not uncommon in Florence, in every price category!). I would certainly recommend this place for anyone.
Donald - London, United Kingdom (April 2011)

	Location was good. Facilities good. Opportunity to meet other travelers over breakfast. Most sisters were very friendly & caring.
Glenda - Australian Capital Territory, Australia (May 2009)

Read More Reviews

Book Now