Review of Westin Excelsior, by The TI Review Team

Start with the location, facing onto the Piazza Ognissanti, one of Florence's most patrician and beautiful. Then factor in the sheer opulence of the Westin Excelsior's public spaces-columns of fluted red marble, Giotto-blue frescoed ceilings, turn-of-the-century stained-glass ceilings, and walls and walls of carved chestnut and oak panelling. And then layer on the Westin factor-24-hour, can-do service that, for all its American-ness, is a welcome thing after a hard day on those cobblestone streets.

The facilities

After years of slightly faded glory, the Westin Excelsior's ORVM restaurant and bar have regained their cachet thanks to a thorough and stylish makeover that melds modernity with a clubby intimacy. You can run or cycle in the full-service fitness center, or grab one of the hotel's Runner's World- certified maps (three or five miles) and hit the streets. Book an in-room spa service, complete with hour-long massage and a basket of aromatherapy treatments for use throughout your stay. There's a full-service business center and wireless throughout the hotel-free in the public areas.

The rooms

The is where the Westin Excelsior truly shines. Even standard rooms are enormous, measuring in at over 450 square feet. Several junior suites and suites have terraces facing the Arno river, with views of Santo Spirito and Santa Maria del Carmine. Decor is strictly old-school, and very sumptuous, with yards of silk and velvets in jewel tones (if you've an aversion to red and gold, consider booking elsewhere). And Westin's famous "Heavenly Bed" isn't rhapsodised over in the US for nothing; it's so popular that clients order them for their homes.