The historic Hotel Brunelleschi in Florence was voted by readers in Travel + Leisures’ annual survey as one of the 500 best hotels in the world. Once a year the publication’s readers are asked to pick their favorite hotel properties weighing in on categories such as rooms, ambience, service, location, food and rates.

Hotel Brunelleschi debuts among the ‘World Best Hotels’ with huge ranking points, 91.20, one of the highest overall for Italy. Among the unique features of the property are exclusive central location, gorgeous view on Giotto’s bell tower and Brunelleschi’s Dome of the Cathedral which can be enjoyed from some of the rooms, refined ambience and careful attention to detail and, last but not least, gourmet cuisine.

The hotel is located in the historical center of Florence in a charming little square, close to Via de’ Calzaiuoli, a few steps from the Duomo (Florence Cathedral), Palazzo della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery. Hotel Brunelleschi even houses a private Museum in the tower basement which is known as “Museo della Pagliazza” and it displays Roman archaeological findings and even a Roman caldarium, remains of the Roman baths, now embedded in its foundations, which were discovered during the restoration of the medieval tower.

Other notable aspects are the hotel’s two story pool suite and two on-site restaurants, the exclusive gourmet restaurant “Sant’Elisabetta” with Chef Simone Bertaccini and at the ground floor the “Osteria della Pagliazza” which provides a casual, stylish dining approach with typical local food and an outdoor dining area during spring and summer

Hotel Brunelleschi, www.hotelbrunelleschi.it