Episode 14 Albergo - Hotel Torre Guelfa
Borgo S.S. Apostoli 8
Apostoli is a very small street behind the river bank and it is just 3 minutes away from Ponte Vecchio. The street is still paved with stones and cars riding through it would bounce and toss around. It allows only 1 car to go through and you have to make way for oncoming traffic. People in Florence are used to this kind of arrangement. You can see a truck unloading and a whole string of cars lining up behind them. Everyone waits patiently and there is no rush or howling from drivers. Sometimes you see pretty ladies riding bicycles in their long floating skirts, inching along and people just sit and watch and move along.
We arrived at the hotel and we were beyond belief.
This hotel was started in the 1300. The founding father of the residence was a skilled ironsmith and he got kicked out of the clan because of jealousy. He found himself roots and started buying land in the borgo = surrounding suburb. Eventually he built a fortress with a tower on his land and made the place a trading place. The house was given to some friar for a while and eventually the family who owned the house gave it up and the hotel people took over. The hotel is built solid and the inside has lots of interesting places. The most prominent feature was the tower.
Living room, reading room
You can almost see a full view of the city from the tower. The first time I went up to the tower through those spiral stone staircases, I was in awe. The terrace is in 2 tiers and there is a small garden with flowers. The top tier of the tower has 3 little tables and chairs and a bench lean against a wall. On a summer night when the breeze is blowing on your face, you are watching the lights going on one by one, you have your glass of wine, a plate of snack and fruits, and you are absorbing the scenery from afar washed under a golden Tuscan sunset. The feeling of tranquility and the enjoyment of life cannot be measured.
Mi amore
My room 
Breakfast nook
If there is a choice to stay in this place for life, I would!