Florence was once called the rich city on the Arno, the capital of the new kingdom, and the intellectual center of Italy.
Florence is an open museum, and today we can still walk the boulevards, move through the old fortifications, enjoy the old quarters, piazzas, and streets - the same streets that Dante, Bocaccio, Amerigo Vespucci, and Machiavelli walked some five hundred years before us.
Notable buildings like Palazzo Vecchio, The Ufizzi Palace, the Pitti Palace, the Duomo, and the Santa Maria Novella Church, completed in 1357, are still visible and well kept.
One of my Florentine friends told me, “In Florence, people live and die in the same house”.
Notable buildings like Palazzo Vecchio, The Ufizzi Palace, the Pitti Palace, the Duomo, and the Santa Maria Novella Church, completed in 1357, are still visible and well kept.
One of my Florentine friends told me, “In Florence, people live and die in the same house”.
In Florence, art and beauty seems to pour from every corner.
I have visited and stayed in several hotels in Florence, but there are two in particular that I enjoyed very much.
The first is J.K. Place, which is beautifully appointed in Santa Maria Novella.
From the outside, the hotel looks like a regular four-story Florentine building, but once you step inside, you will notice that the old-fashioned building has been transformed into a chic modern–designed boutique hotel with high, painted ceilings and paneled walls.
From the outside, the hotel looks like a regular four-story Florentine building, but once you step inside, you will notice that the old-fashioned building has been transformed into a chic modern–designed boutique hotel with high, painted ceilings and paneled walls.
There is no reception desk - instead they have a very private room, full of books and sculptures, with a Louis XV fireplace, which makes the whole welcoming process very homey. I knew then that I was in a very intimate place, rather than a big and impersonal hotel.
The communal areas are elegant and homely, with books, sculptures, and a profusion of antiques and artworks - a great collection of objects and framed prints create the feeling of a private mansion.
There is a great library with very unique books of many artists, and design books full of drawings.
The decoration is super-chic, mixed with muted colors, and cream upholstered furniture
The use of local fabrics, like cotton, linen, and cashmere makes this such a relaxing place! …and did I mention the hidden elevators disguised as bookshelves?!
There is a great library with very unique books of many artists, and design books full of drawings.
The decoration is super-chic, mixed with muted colors, and cream upholstered furniture
The use of local fabrics, like cotton, linen, and cashmere makes this such a relaxing place! …and did I mention the hidden elevators disguised as bookshelves?!
There are only 20 rooms, no two alike, all with the modern comfort of pure linen sheets and LCD televisions.
The bathrooms are big and decorated with beautiful Biancone marble.
The bathrooms are big and decorated with beautiful Biancone marble.
There is also a stylish suite with views to the plaza!
In addition to the terrace in front of the hotel, there is a very nice, secluded roof terrace with a lounge area, which is serviced on demand.
This is a boutique hotel where the ratio of staff to guests is excellent, and they deliver personal service with warmth and enthusiasm.
In addition to the terrace in front of the hotel, there is a very nice, secluded roof terrace with a lounge area, which is serviced on demand.
This is a boutique hotel where the ratio of staff to guests is excellent, and they deliver personal service with warmth and enthusiasm.
The second hotel is the Hotel Savoy by Rocco Forte Hotels.
It is built on the site where the Mercato Vecchio and the Church of San Tommaso were once located.
The hotel was inaugurated in 1893, and hailed in the chronicles as one of the most modern and luxurious hotels of that period.
It is built on the site where the Mercato Vecchio and the Church of San Tommaso were once located.
The hotel was inaugurated in 1893, and hailed in the chronicles as one of the most modern and luxurious hotels of that period.
The ambiance of this place is very relaxing, modern, and elegant.
The sister of Sir Rocco Forte re-styled the hotel, combining the discreet luxury of the age-old atmosphere with sleek, contemporary, classic, and modern Italian interiors, including muted colors and beautiful mosaic bathrooms.
The sister of Sir Rocco Forte re-styled the hotel, combining the discreet luxury of the age-old atmosphere with sleek, contemporary, classic, and modern Italian interiors, including muted colors and beautiful mosaic bathrooms.
A feeling of discreet luxury pervades the décor of the entire hotel.
There are 102 luxury rooms, including 14 suites, with their charming views over Piazza della Repubblica, a glimpse of Giotto's Bell Tower, and all within whispering distance from the Cathedral Dome by Brunelleschi.
There are 102 luxury rooms, including 14 suites, with their charming views over Piazza della Repubblica, a glimpse of Giotto's Bell Tower, and all within whispering distance from the Cathedral Dome by Brunelleschi.
The breakfast buffet is plentiful, with fresh and varied foods, and the service in the restaurant, Irene Firenze, was excellent!
The manager, Paul Feakes, is truly a delightful person who will make your dinner experience very special. He has great stories about Florence, its culture, and great tips about this enchanted city.
Within walking distance, you will find the elegant shopping streets, the monuments, the river Arno, the Ponte Vecchio, and all the places that make Florence one of the most beautiful and celebrated cities in the world.
The manager, Paul Feakes, is truly a delightful person who will make your dinner experience very special. He has great stories about Florence, its culture, and great tips about this enchanted city.
Within walking distance, you will find the elegant shopping streets, the monuments, the river Arno, the Ponte Vecchio, and all the places that make Florence one of the most beautiful and celebrated cities in the world.
Things to do in Florence:
Cooking and wine classes in Florence:
Mama Florence
Owner: Filippo Bartolotta
With their hands-on cooking classes you can learn to prepare and eat a 4-course meal with local, seasonal ingredients & great Tuscan wines.
You won't find a better place for classes, and if you want a real Tuscany experience, Mama-Florence will arrange incredible tours for you.
Don’t forget to enjoy an organic prosecco, rose, or red. They are fantastic!
Shopping:
The Ponte Vecchio, the oldest and most famous of the six bridges that spanned the Arno, is filled with goldsmiths, curious shops, and fashionable boutiques.
One of those boutiques is Casini Firenze, which is across from the Pitti Palace. This is my go-to place for fine Florentine leather goods.
It is the best shopping experience for clothing and accessories in Florence.
With Impeccable Service, Outstanding Quality and Unique Designs, Handmade items are carefully cut, designed, and executed by Florentine artisans. A variety of leather goods, accessories, and leather garments which are proudly handmade in Tuscany.
Casini offers custom fitting, and the custom, handmade items will arrive swiftly from their workshop to your home within a couple weeks.
Jennifer Tatanelli, the owner, and her team, all took very good care of me.
I felt like I was shopping with family.
Mama Florence
Owner: Filippo Bartolotta
With their hands-on cooking classes you can learn to prepare and eat a 4-course meal with local, seasonal ingredients & great Tuscan wines.
You won't find a better place for classes, and if you want a real Tuscany experience, Mama-Florence will arrange incredible tours for you.
Don’t forget to enjoy an organic prosecco, rose, or red. They are fantastic!
Shopping:
The Ponte Vecchio, the oldest and most famous of the six bridges that spanned the Arno, is filled with goldsmiths, curious shops, and fashionable boutiques.
One of those boutiques is Casini Firenze, which is across from the Pitti Palace. This is my go-to place for fine Florentine leather goods.
It is the best shopping experience for clothing and accessories in Florence.
With Impeccable Service, Outstanding Quality and Unique Designs, Handmade items are carefully cut, designed, and executed by Florentine artisans. A variety of leather goods, accessories, and leather garments which are proudly handmade in Tuscany.
Casini offers custom fitting, and the custom, handmade items will arrive swiftly from their workshop to your home within a couple weeks.
Jennifer Tatanelli, the owner, and her team, all took very good care of me.
I felt like I was shopping with family.
——————————————————————————————————————————
RSS Feed
