I Parigi is set in a quiet residential area with views that make you feel like you’re really in Tuscany (see photos). Of course, you are really in Tuscany. However, I Parigi is not centrally located for visiting Florence.

I had difficulty finding the hotel initially. I had to enter with a right hand turn, which was essentially a very sharp U-Turn with a steep climb to follow. I was driving a tiny French car and still found this maneuver incredibly difficult. I had to put it in reverse to make the turn. Then, as other reviewers have noted, the steep one lane drive is a little frightening, especially at night. It is a little harrowing to exit this lane, too, because there is a turn just before the entrance making it difficult to spot oncoming traffic.

Our room at the hotel had a lovely rustic vibe, which gave off a simple elegance. I loved the antique furnishings coupled with the thoroughly modern bathroom. The room was spacious and very clean with the exception of some mold in the bathroom. The bathroom appeared to have been recently renovated, so I was a bit confused by the mold.

The room overlooked a small, outdoor garden to which we had direct access. The room also had a nice closet area with a small refrigerator.

The owners of the hotel were both very kind to both my son and me. They gave me milk to put in the room’s refrigerator for my tea, which was much appreciated and were very attentive to us throughout our visit. They even showed me how to reverse the previously mentioned tiny (and ridiculous) French car.

Breakfast at the hotel is a full continental offering with an espresso machine, juices, tea, milk, breads, cereals, yogurts, et cetera. The breakfast area was just a short walk from our room and was very cozy. We did share our table with a young, Italian couple one morning, which was a bit awkward even though they were nice.

Someone at I Parigi was conducting loud construction at night, which involved banging and other building zone sounds. I am not sure, but I believe the owners were renovating another room while we were there. I could also hear people speaking loudly in the evening hours. I left our television on while my son went to sleep to help drown out some of the loud noises that came sporadically. Unfortunately, the television was a much older model with spotty reception and volume control.

We took the bus into Florence twice. If you don’t mind the hike, you can walk down the narrow lane to the bus stop at the bottom of the hill. To catch a bus you must, unfortunately, stand roadside where there is little protection from oncoming traffic as there is no proper sidewalk. The bus will stop across the street upon your return where you’ll have to cross two lanes of traffic then climb back up the hill. I had no trouble managing the hill while carrying a 35-pound child, a stroller & my bag. I would not recommend this climb to those who are not physically fit.

If you don’t mind driving the hill, take your car into Florence and use the underground car park across the street from il Duomo. Florence is fairly spread out and I didn’t enjoy footing it. I do enjoy walking cities, but feel there is a definite lack of sidewalks in Florence. We took a hop-on-hop-off bus tour, which was an easy way to get around town. The local bus system is very good except it might be difficult to navigate if you don’t speak Italian, as the drivers do not speak English. One Italian driver even shouted at me. Unfortunately, I did understand what he said. So, perhaps, you’re better of sticking with English and a good bus map.

During our stay, we also took a day trip to Pisa. Pisa is only about an hour’s drive from I Parigi and well worth the trip. I enjoyed getting away from the city and found Pisa to be a very friendly, little town. We found a charming local café in Pisa utterly devoid of tourists, but full of Italian charisma. My small son also thought the leaning tower was quite funny.

As with everywhere in Italy, we ran into aggressive street sellers who really destroy the atmosphere. This is one thing I regret about our visit to Italy. It does not seem as though these merchants are regulated. I found their untoward practices annoying.

I would recommend I Parigi for those looking for a charming getaway close to the city. I found getting into Florence inconvenient from I Parigi and though I might stay there again, I believe I will try Fiesole next time.

The hotel would have received a higher rating from me if it had not been for the noise at night and the inconvenient journey into Florence.

I highly recommend I Parigi for anyone who is visiting Florence and the surrounding countryside and wants to fit a little "down time" into the schedule. A 5-10 minute drive from the Porta Romana of Florence, I Parigi is a refuge from the noise and crowds of the city. Set on a hill, it provides a fabulous view of olive trees, cypresses, and the types of buildings you go to Tuscany to see. Like another reviewer said, you arrive wondering if it can live up to the photos, and it does that and more.

The proprietors are friendly and helpful (but not the warm, fuzzy type -- if you want to be welcomed into someone's home and treated like family, this is not the place for you.) Unlike most of the places in a similar price range, they have a pool (!) and offer internet access for 3 euros an hour.

Our only problem was finding the place. We were misled by a small road sign that we thought indicated we should turn at a place where we shouldn't have turned. According to one of the proprieters, that sign says "1 km" at the bottom, but that part must have been overgrown with roadside brush. :-) Anyway, about 40 minutes of circling through small communities and a couple phone calls to I Parigi, we finally arrived and were very glad we had. If I returned here, I would make sure I had more time to stay on the grounds and enjoy!

Thank you Marco and staff at I Parigi for a wonderful stay! Although tricky to find - it is well worth the extra few minutes of driving .
We spent a week at the hotel - it wasn't our intention to stay in Florence so long, however we loved the hotel so decided to keep it as a base to tour the back roads of Tuscany as well as relax after several frenetic days in Florence.
The rooms are immaculate and the setting is beautiful. It was nice to come "home" to the quiet gardens and the smell of rose, lavender, and rosemary.
Marco is a gracious host - most helpful with directions and information.
We spent three weeks in Italy, and stayed in hotels that were much more expensive, but found none that matched the charm of I Parigi. Every guest that we spoke to at breakfast were, like us, congratulating themselves at finding such a lovely hotel.
Thank you again Marco- we look forward to visiting again!

This has got to be the best place to stay if you're visiting Florence. It is set on a hill overlooking the city on a peaceful country hill, yet you are a short walk from a bus stop that goes right into the centre of town.

The b&b is run by the charming and helpful Marco, who brims with advice and runs a shuttle service into the city every morning at 9h15.

There is internet access, a lovely pool area, beautiful gardens dotted with cyprus and a lovely breakfast and lounge area.

The rooms are pretty and romantic.