Gym Stilnuovo. Health Fitness Club in Florence

I've been coming to Stilnuovo for about 9 months now and it's great. It's super clean and well maintained. I hadn't seen a single 'bad' looking bench and I noticed they changed almost all of them a few months back. Although you have to pay the total sum up front, I highly recommend the yearly membership because it's much cheaper than the shorter terms. You can pay in two instalments and get a nice big gym towel and gym bag. With the yearly membership you also get a lot of 'vacation time' so you can put it on hold if you're away. You have to do 10 day increments, though. But you get like 50 or 60 days!

Generally, a very nice gym by Italian standards. Gym members are FANTASTIC and always make you happy you came. Owners are very nice, trainers are nice, but they seem unable to address customer concerns like good vs. better /needed equipment and lack of sanitary conditions. I broke my leg during a mission to Afghanistan. After three months of no walking, I needed to rehab my quads and calves and overcome depression. Having attended this gym for >6 years, I was highly surprised and concerned when 2 calve machines and leg extension had been removed and the new bench press benches were dangerous. Paying €80 per month / €500 per year, one would expect to find fundamental, safe and sanitary equipment. These issues were raised with the Head Trainer, Carlo, who proceeded to lecture and insult me with my "lack knowledge and experience of modern training". (I am a former NCAA athlete andprofessional athletic trainer, and world-ranked masters track athlete). When I asked him to speak slowly so I could understand his Italian, he spoke faster and more forcefully...in Italian...even though he speaks English...and the proceeded to lecture me on my lack of Italian skills. I needed kindness and professionalism at a difficult time in my life. A lecture and scolding was not necessary. After being provoked, I got very angry and swore at him. I later apologized, but he continued to refuse any responsibility or empathy. I have since found another gym that has the equipment I need. Overall, stilnuovo is nice gym experience, but if you're from other European Countries, the fees /cost might dampen your enthusiasm...and it'sif you come from an experienced gym culture, expect to pay more for less in Italy.

The gym is relatively clean but tends to get extremely crammed with there not being enough space between equipment and people exercising. The low rating is because I was extremely annoyed and disappointed at the arbitrary way the gym all of a sudden made it a requirement for you to require a personal trainer to use their cable machine( they have 3 but the height of the other one cannot be adjusted and the other does not have nearly as high of a weight range). I personally use the cable machine in many of my training exercises and this was very annoying. This is extremely arbitrary/ veering on the edge of being scammy since they want you to buy sessions with their personal trainers to use their equipment despite your having paid the relatively steep membership (250 for 3 months + a €40 required medical certificate) Gyms in Florence in general suck quite a bit cuz of the lack of working out culture in Italy but I atleast expect to be able to use all your equipment if I am paying an arm and a leg to join your gym. :/