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Designed as a luxurious but comfortable urban townhouse, THE PLACE Firenze is nestled in a corner of Piazza Santa Maria Novella and serves as Florence’s answer to friendly, stylish elegance. Just steps from both the train station and the elegant shopping street Via Tornabuoni, it is a prime spot for those who want to stay central to historic Florence.
Florentine architect Luigi Fragola remade the former resident into a suave space that still manages to make you feel right at home. There’s no reception desk in the lobby, just smiling staff that offers a cocktail before settling you by a large fireplace in the living-room-esque lounge outfitted with gold-plated mirrors and comfortable sofas. This boutique hotel attracts a wide range of sophisticated clients, including Italy’s singer-songwriter Jovanotti, the Prince of Luxembourg, Patti Smith and Rosario Dawson.
Florentine architect Luigi Fragola remade the former resident into a suave space that still manages to make you feel right at home. There’s no reception desk in the lobby, just smiling staff that offers a cocktail before settling you by a large fireplace in the living-room-esque lounge outfitted with gold-plated mirrors and comfortable sofas. This boutique hotel attracts a wide range of sophisticated clients, including Italy’s singer-songwriter Jovanotti, the Prince of Luxembourg, Patti Smith and Rosario Dawson.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- Luigi Fragola Architects gleaned inspiration for the interiors from the Leon Battista Alberti-designed proto-Renaissance-style façade of the Santa Maria Novella church across the way. But the Florentine firm gave it a contemporary bent. The stylish result includes a fresh pastel palette punctuated with midcentury lighting, Italian glass tables and historic touches.
- Check into the top-floor Duomo Penthouse for stunning city views. The panorama from the bathroom makes this one of the most covetable hotel bathtubs in the city. The 430-square-foot split-level loft also comes with oak parquet floors, a designer desk and a private altana balcony overlooking Brunelleschi’s cathedral dome.
- With only 20 rooms and suites, the Florence hotel is intimate, and the warm, attentive staff ensures that you feel at home.
- You will want to spend your downtime sipping Negronis on the inviting terrace, which overlooks the piazza.
- Sign up for the Negroni Experience, a two-hour masterclass that takes you through the history of the cocktail, which was created in Florence in 1919; lets you taste a number of variations; teaches you about Florentine glassware; and shares how the boutique hotel barrel ages the drink for its own unique spin.
The Restaurants
The Kitchen & The Bar, open for all meals daily, offers an excellent view of Santa Maria Novella. Soak it in while savoring timeless dishes that feature thoroughly local, high-quality ingredients, like the organic artisanal spaghettoni with “wheel of the king” pecorino and housemade tomato sauce.
Enjoy the vista up close by taking breakfast, a drink or a tiramisu on the lovely terrace.
Getting There
Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, 7, 50123 Firenze, Italy
TEL39-055-2645181
NEARBY AIRPORT(S)
FLR (16-20 min)
