Bed and Breakfast Villa Malavolta - Florence

Donatella who runs this B&B went far above and beyond in my visit. My daughter was planning to be married in the Boboli gardens in Florence, but with the weather forecast predicing rain Donatella graciously offered her garden for a back-up plan. The grounds of the villa are so beautiful plan B became our choice! As a surprise she provided a beautiful floral arrangement for the cermony space. I cannot say enough about Villa Malavolta and its hosts. The entire villa is full of art and books, my two favorite things. You will feel welcomed as soon a you walk in the door. A short walk to the bus line connects you to the center of Florence in minutes. The breakfast served each morning is not only a great start to another beautiful day here but served in a wonderful room. On the day I left it was raining, looking like I wouldn't be able to get a taxi they offered me a ride to the airport. If you want to feel that you are truly Living in Florence, and not passing through you must stay here. Thank you again Donatella for everything.

This was the most welcoming Italian couple that I had ever met while living in Italy the past three years! They spoke EXCELLENT English!!! They were beyond grateful for us staying there as if we were the only guests they had which I know they had others! The atmosphere was just relaxing away from the city!! The breakfast was taylored to just the two of us and we felt at home!!! Everything was perfect minus no A/C which is expected in a house that old! No complaints at all!!!

Our stay, at Villa Malavolta, husband & wife, age 60, could not have been any better! We had one of, if not the best experience in accomodations that we have ever had. Donnatella and Sergio, owner/operators were a joy to interact with, personable, friendly and interesting. Donnatella went out of her way to help us with the Florence experience. We stayed 10 days. With her suggestions we found the best places to eat, the best places to shop, the best opportunities to experience the overwhelming art that Florence and the surrounding Tuscan villages have to offer. The breakfasts were an outstanding spread of fresh fruit, excellent coffee (with hot milk), delightful pastry, yogurt, great cereal choices, breads, cheeses, jams, all prepared by Margot, who also kept our room and bath well tended, clean and tidy. Strolling through the wonderful gardens and smelling the roses, reclining on the terrace, hearing the morning bird song, enjoying the on-site artwork, extensive library of relavent Florence and Tuscany books and literature, and the villa, with parts originally built before Columbus sailed for the new world, and all well situated in a quiet neighborhood, away from the noises of downtown but within easy reach via Florence's well operated bus system were a very special experience. As an aside, a neighborhood restaurant, Noema, was the best we found anywhere in the area, and maybe anywhere, and was only 300 yards up Via del Podesta from the villa. We found ourselves returning time and again after long days of Italy exploring, to be warmly greated and very well fed with the best and freshest ingredients, lovingly and expertly prepared and presented. Give Matilda and Marco our very best greetings. You won't be disappointed.

Villa Malavolta was our favorite of the several nice places we stayed on our trip to Italy. We felt warmly welcomed into a real Italian home by our gracious host and hostess, Sergei and Donatella (whose ancestors have owned the villa for centuries!). We greatly enjoyed sharing a bit of their interests (art and music) and life, and found them so helpful with the final nitty gritties of our visit to Florence. The villa itself is a large expanded 13th century structure complete with walls and lovely gardens (even a maze). The spacious and attractive B & B rooms are on the second floor, with a big and cozy living/library room area in the center complete with Murano chandelier! A beautiful and bountiful breakfast is served in the 800 year old kitchen--a delight! The villa is a short busride from downtown Florence--just far enough away to be out of the crowds and hustle and bustle. I could not more highly recommend.

I am so happy that we found this gem on our first visit to Florence! My husband and I cannot wait to go back. Finding a place to stay in Florence in October was not easy and the prices were high. I selected this property after seeing the consistently high reviews Villa Malavolta received across different web sites. The property is beautiful, the setting gorgeous, and Donatella's hospitality excellent. This is a 13th century villa that has been in the hands of the same family. It has a lot of history, beauty and art work. We had our own private terrace overlooking the Tuscan scenery. There, we would have our nightly glass of wine and antipasti that we purchased in the area. We drove our car and were able to park it securely in the property at no extra cost. We used the wifi with no problem. The breakfast was varied and everything was served with great attention to detail. We got all the information that we needed on where to go and how to navigate the city. We walked the couple of blocks to the bus stop, and had no issues finding our way, or buying the tickets. If you do not like taking the bus this could be an issue, but you wold miss out on this great experience and most likely would pay more. I highly recommend this place.

Sept 2011. Great Stay. Very Helpful, each morning Donatella would ask about our plans and give us suggestions and tips. Many of the reviews talk of her knowledge of Florence but we found her equally helpful regarding Tuscany destinations. We stayed here because it was south of central Florence and we intended to spend more time on day trips through Tuscany. It was fairly convenient to the roads out of town but it is still in town. Donatella would meet us each evening when we returned to ask how our drive went and insure we hadn’t had any problems. Breakfast was fun and complete. All the guests got together and shared notes between 8am and 9am each day. Largest bathrooms in Italy…maybe. Anyway the room was large and comfortable. Only one local restaurant close but we ate out before returning to the Villa most evenings. Our last day we went into town and the bus system is convenient and close. Depending on the time of day, anywhere from 20 to 50 minutes to the airport by car.

a beautiful, well-run facility. great breakfast. serene, maintained gardens and grounds.

Really friendly and helpful.

Our stay in Villa Malavolta was a very nice experience, the premises are wonderful having a warm atmosphere making us feel like we are at home. Donatella was very kind in providing us very useful information and recommendation about places to go as well as good restaurants. Highly recommended! Sergio and Elizabeth

Allan was thoughtful and helpful and recommended the best restaurant we visited while in Venice. Enjoyed the location of the bed and breakfast because it was charming and quiet and yet we could still hear kids going to school. Nice. Mike Hortens

Villa Malavolta, this place is just fantastic accommodation. we love the house, cozy room, beautiful garden, even its breakfast.. It is located just outskirt of Firenze (about 20~30mins away from center of the city) and bus stops(11,36,37) are very near by Villa. even at night, there is still a night bus(37). If you have a plan to visit Siena, then you can catch a blue bus just at the main road next to Villa. don't need to go to city. I Absolutely, recommend this place for anyone!!!

We chose the hotel because of the comments in venerecom. We were not disappointed at all. Our stay was exceptional. Wonderful old place, Donatella and her husband were the best hosts ever, really taking are of your well being, friendly family atmosphere, good restaurant tips. It was more like staying at some friends place. They only have three rooms to rent (clean and quite) and so you get all the attention. we especially liked the rich breakfast in the old kitchen, where you can meet the few other guest at a fully loaded table and exchange experiences what to see and do in Florence and Tuscany. The house is a charming old villa, full of antiques and old books, huge garden and own parking space. It's a bit too far for a walk to Florence city center (about 45min), but there are buses running until 23.30, a seven day ticket is really cheap (18Eur)available at the central station. We really encourage everybody to go there and meet Donatella!

Villa Malavolta was beyond wonderful -- gracious, gorgeous and quiet, away from the bustle of central Florence. Our hosts treated us like family. We have already recommended Villa Malavolta to several friends. This is a great place for those who do not wish to be in the middle of Florence; the bus service works well.

Donatella and Sergio run (and live in) Villa Malavolta. It is an outstading villa with spacious rooms and a wonderful full breakfast. The villa has a long history, absolutely beautiful gardens, both of which are shared by Donatella. A wonderful way to see Florence without having to be in the crowdedness of the city (only a 15 minute ride by a frequent bus to Florence). We would stay here again without hesitation!

superb location 10 - 15 minutes by bus or a very, very nice hour long scenic walk into Florence

Absolutely top marks. A simply charming place to stay. From our welcome to our departure nothing was too much trouble. Even though there were other guests we never saw them, such is the layout of the house. Our room and bathrooms were delightfully decorated. The garden is secluded, a super place to spend an evening with a glass of wine, simply savouring the seclusion, or only reading a book. Breakfast was a visual feast as well as delicious. We were super impressed and delightfully surprised. Everything exceeded our expectations. Don't spoil your stay by being late - you'll regret it.

Beautiful B&B in surrounding florence area. Garden and house were absolutely beautiful. Breakfast was good. Very peaceful, loved waking up with the windows open and hearing birds singing from the garden. Only downside is you have to take a 15 min bus ride (or 45 min walk) to get to city center where the museums/attractions are. Bus stop is close to the villa so really not a big deal. Donatella and her husband were very helpful as we were trying to find our lost luggage. We found them to be very gracious hosts.

Our host were wonderful and could have not been more helpful,Donatella would help you out with bookings and directions if required or leave you to relax if doing nothing, the surroundings were stunning. We were able to eat at some local restuarants that were recommended to get a flavour of Florentine life. If you get a bus ticket remember to get it validated in the machine for each person travelling on the bus, otherwise you can receive a hefty fine.

Photos do not do justice to the Villa. Secure, quiet, charming Tuscan retreat. Short walk to bus stop from train station (bus 11 closest). 24 hour bus pass is only 5 Euros. Weather you want to see the sites, or just get away, I was happy to select Villa Malvolta over a five star in the downtown.

This was one of our best stays throughout our trip in Italy. Donatella and her family were very helpful and friendly. Donatella's home is simply amazing and I don't think the photos on the site do her justice! In addition, the residence is only about 15 minutes away from the city center by bus (not 30 minutes) so it's very convenient to get to and from the bustling city centre. Totally recommend this place and we will definitely stay there again!

Wonderful bed & breakfast with a warm welcome ... The house itself is beautiful and the owners were very interested in making our stay a wonderful experience. In a few minutes your are in the middle of Florence and the still you are living in an beautiful house surrounded by a big green garden.

Fabulous choice. Historic home, hosts with vast knowledge of Florentine history, best recommendations for area highlights (not the usual tourist track-guide book info).Short walk to bus service (get a pass for best convenience). This was a wonderful last 6 days of our 5 weeks in Europe. Stay there!

Wonderful location in a beautiful B and B. The staff were extremely accomodating and helpful in planning our daily activities.

The hosts Donatella and Sergio were fanastic. This Bed and breakfast was outstanding and was the best 5 nights accomodation we had during our 6 weeks travelling around europe. The breakfast was plentyfull and very nice for italian standards. Would have no hestiation in recommending this B&B to anyone and we look forward to return someday.

We had such an amazing stay with Sergio and Donatella. Villa Malavolta was an art museum and historic site all rolled into one! Donatella helped us make the most of every minute in Florence. The breakfasts were excellent and the lawn,hills and view behind the walls were gorgeous as well. Would love to go back over and over.

Our stay would not have been half so nice without the charm and the helpfulness of our hosts.

The owners of Villa Malavolta welcome you into their home and take care of you with the best of Florentine hospitality. Their knowledge of and passion for the history of Florence is wonderful and brings a depth to your visit that you likely would not get elsewhere. Their living room, library, and patio areas are open for you to enjoy right along with them, it is truly a genuine Florentine experience. The food is excellent, the service is superb, and the views are spectacular.

very charming place. excellent hospitality and beutiful and quite location. very romantic and unique

Lovely place. Only place we have ever stayed with it's own labyrinth - check it out. Still unable to take credit cards, so need to save up euros to pay.

The delicious old fashioned atmosphere of the house and the warm welcome of the owners were the ingredients for one of the best stays in the country of Dante. A great place to recommend without reserve.

EXCELLENT PLACE. VERY NICE HOUSE AND GARDEN. VERY WELL ATTENDED BY OWNERS, ALWAYS READY TO HELP. BEAUTIFULL ROOMS AND LIVING ROOM WITH LIBRARY. ALSO LOVELY PLACE FOR BREAKFAST. I WOULD CERTAINLY RETURN!

This secluded villa within walking distance of Florence reminds me of a home in a fairy tale. Beautifully maintained by the elegant and erudite Donatella, it is filled with wonderful old furniture, piles of books and great paintings. Our second floor bedroom had its own terrace with a small table and chairs and pots of flowers. A lace covered table in our spacious and comfortable room held the fixings for afternoon tea. Donatella, whom I later learned is a well-known artist working in varied media, helped us plan our sightseeing, giving us a map to the city and two tickets for bus fare into the city. We returned very late, opened the gate and massive front door with the keys Donatella had given us and crept upstairs to bed where we fell into a deep sleep and woke to birdsong and the sighing of a morning breeze through the branches of the ancient pine in the back garden. Breakfast was served in the 300-year-old kitchen and was delicious -- fresh hot brioche, ham, cheese, jellies, fruit, yogurt and coffee. We'd return every year if we could as this was a totally wonderful stay.

We had a wonderful stay in Florence at Villa Malavolta. The photographs did not do the place justice. It was a lovely home and beautiful area outside of the bustle of Florence. The hosts were gracious and very friendly. They were extremely accomodating when we had to leave luggage with them for our last day out in the city. I would highly recommend!

This was our best stay in Italy! It was home away from home! Our hosts were very gracious and knowledgable about Florence and Tuscany. The villa, gardens were beautiful..but, it was the hospitality of our wonderful hosts that made this our most memorable stay in Italy. We have recommended them to our friends and family. Thank you Sergio and Donatella and your beautiful family!

They owners were very helpful and friendly. We were given a tour of the villa and the surroundings. The room was spacious, with good-quality bed-linen, very clean and cosy - lots of paintings, books, art magazines as throughout the entire villa. Breakfast was served in the kitchen dating back several centuries - wonderful tableware, good choice of food. One evening we had dinner in an excellent fish restaurant a few hundred meters up the road from the villa. Highly recommended. The villa is just on the outskirts of Florence, but there is a regular bus service to the centre. We also walked several times - it takes about half an hour. I would suggest paying cash, as for some reason our credit cards were refused the morning of our departure. We ended up driving to a cash point nearby. Overall, a relaxing stay in wonderful, quiet and very romantic surroundings - definitely an excellent combination with extremely busy city centre.

What a charming place! We loved the entire experience. The villa truly gives one a feel of Italian hospitality and culture. Transportation was close and easy to use. We would recommend this B & B to all our friends and would love to stay there again ourselves.

a very nice place! the villa of XVI century is fantastic!!!

Wonderful stay! The owners were very helpful and friendly. The Villa and grounds were charming and unique. We really had the feel of Italy staying here. We hope to return!

The house and grounds are beautiful as well as confortable and quiet. Getting to and from all of the attractions in the center of town was a breeze. The hosts are very nice and gracious and maintain a beautiful house. I found that the Villa Malavolta was the best value for the room that I experienced in my entire Italian trip.