New hotel openings: Autumn 2021

IL Tornabuoni: sumptuous and refined

Florence’s newest five-star independent luxury hotel, IL Tornabuoni, is gearing up to open in via Tornabuoni this October. Set in the twelfth-century Palazzo Minerbetti, the stylish property features 62 rooms and suites. The historic building was acquired by Hines European Core Fund (HECF) in 2016 and spans across six floors, one destined for retail and five to the hotel, totaling more than 5,000 square metres.

The restored Palazzo Minerbetti has retained its Florentine heritage with state-of-the-art avant-garde interiors and the property’s opulent look and feel perfectly blends historic prestige with modern-day beauty. The interiors were designed specifically for the hotel by Milan-based architect Andrea Auletta. Each of the hotel’s five floors offers a distinct color scheme as a nod to the Renaissance, embodying the city’s artistic magnificence by incorporating distinct regal and bold gem colors.

Guests of IL Tornabuoni can enjoy five dining establishments. The ground- floor IL Magnifico Restaurant serves ambitious Italian cuisine made from local and seasonal ingredients with grey and beige leather chairs. Neighboring the restaurant is Il Magnifico Bar, a spot to enjoy an aperitivo with small bites. The Lucie Gourmet rooftop restaurant offers guests Italian fusion dishes in an intimate space styled in graceful pink and bold peacock shades. The elegant Butterfly Terrace conjures up signature cocktails and bite-size nibbles for evenings under the stars. Deep within the heart of the hotel, La Cave boasts a vast selection of renowned wines. With sophisticated facilities and the latest technology, La Cave is the perfect meeting room or multi-functional space for private parties and corporate events.

Owned by AG Group, IL Tornabuoni is part of the AG Hotels collection, a portfolio created in 2011 that includes eleven 5-star and 4-star boutique hotels in Florence and Rome. AG Group is Italy’s first Italian-owned and operated hospitality group formulated by President Andrea Girolami. AG Group’s plans for the future include the addition of more luxury hotels to expand the AG Hotels portfolio.

“Our development strategy for AG Group begins with Italy’s main cities of art, including Florence with IL Tornabuoni hotel and then Milan, Venice and Rome for the lifestyle and luxury segments. We are also considering new projects and developments in Italy’s other main tourist destinations,”

notes AG Group’s CEO Andrea Girolami. It has been recently announced that IL Tornabuoni is set to become part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt.

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25Hours Hotel: playful and creative

Meanwhile, over in piazza San Paolino, much excitement is elicited by the first 25Hours Hotel in Italy, which opened on September 8. The 25Hours Hotel Piazza San Paolino occupies a central location in the Santa Maria Novella district. Filling an entire block between antique shops, and via Palazzuolo, the mind-blowingly brilliant hotel is situated in the former premises of Monte dei Pegni, the lending company of Florence’s Cassa di Risparmio bank, and has its central core of 66 rooms in the original monastery next to the church of San Paolino.

These hallowed halls are now imbued with fresh creative energy thanks to controlled demolitions, new building elements and restored areas. Enhancing the historic core is an annexe boasting another 104 guest rooms with balconies, as well as the Casetta del Giardino, a sprawling apartment with a private garden and pool. All these ingredients have created a modern cosmopolitan hotel unlike anything currently available in Florence.

Created by Milan-based designer Paola Navone and her team, the hotel was inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy and is brimming with light-hearted allusions to the work: scenes from hell and paradise are playfully interspersed, offering an illuminating tour through Dante’s world of virtues and vices.

Situated beneath a vast glass dome, a green courtyard garden is the centrepiece of the hotel. Guests can sip a classic cocktail at the Companion Bar and stock up on food specialities at neighbourhood grocery store that serves a small selection of food and drinks to suit the time of day. The San Paolino Restaurant epitomises Italian cuisine, offering the best produce from all regions, although Tuscany occupies a special place on the menu.

25Hours Hotel Piazza San Paolino is far more than the latest hotel on the block.

“We want 25Hours to be a community hub, a place that’s open to the city, wel- coming culture and creativity,”

explains general manager Bart Spoorenberg.

Part of the French Accor Group, the 25hours hotels is a fresh and dynamic hotel brand. In addition to Florence, upcoming openings are planned in Dubai, Melbourne, Sydney and Copenhagen.

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Dimora Palanca: discreet and decadent

A discreet entrance along via della Scala welcomes world travellers to Dimora Palanca. A white eighteenth- century mansion, this exceptional five-star accommodation has been linked to the arts for years and its vibrant artistic heritage is clearly represented throughout the property today.

Respecting its artistic roots and impressive Florentine heritage, Dimora Palanca now hosts a collection of over fifty pieces of contemporary art by Tuscan artist Paolo Dovichi. The original architectural elements have been beautifully restored with rooms featuring exquisite frescoes and intricate stuccoes. Architect Stefano Viviani has successfully created a modern reflection of Dimora Palanca’s original character. Many aspects of Dimora Palanca’s previous lives are celebrated, such as the grand eighteenth-century fireplace in the elegant new restaurant. Vast French doors open out onto the garden and flood the interior with natural daylight. Ornate patterned parquet floors can be seen throughout and the drawing room and library boast frescoed ceilings in rich hues of greens, reds and gold.

Sleek and clean furnishings give Dimora Palanca a modern aesthetic, while dark wood panelling creates a sense of so- phistication. The eighteen rooms share a natural palette of cream, whites and greys, which are enhanced by darker hues of graphite and charcoal. Ensuite bathrooms are spacious and opulent with chromotherapy showers. The Italian marble surfaces add a touch of classic elegance, while each bathroom features natural organic skincare products crafted by an artisan Florentine perfumery. Many of the rooms benefit from private terraces with bistro tables or sun loungers overlooking the villa’s private gardens and beyond.

Guests can relax in the chic library, spacious lounge, sophisticated bar, morning room and games room. Situated in the villa’s original kitchen, the hotel’s fine dining Restaurant Mimesi serves sophisticated dishes overseen by innovative head chef Giovanni Cerroni that celebrating local and seasonal ingredients infused with the flavours the chef discovered during his time working internationally.

A private courtyard garden, a special treat in central Florence, is nestled between the villa and the original orangery, which vaunts its own suites. A stunning example of contemporary garden design, the courtyard provides a tranquil setting for pre-dinner drinks, a light lunch or simply relaxing with a morning coffee.

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