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In 1871 a wealthy Jewish family commissioned the architect of the moment to build them a home a few blocks from the exquisite church of Santa Croce. The palazzo that emerged gained local fame because of the unusual way it combined the classic Renaissance look with what were then called "modernist" touches. The owners, northern folks who had followed the Savoys to Florence when it was chosen as the first capital of the new Italian state, lived here for decades, until Mussolini's racial laws convinced them to reluctantly move elsewhere. Ironically, their home would soon receive a sinister if bona fide seal of approval when the Germans took it over as housing for their highest-ranking officers. After the war it was occupied for a while by some of the countless families left homeless in the bombings that had devastated Florence. Finally it passed into the family of a well-known local artist, mentor to many of Tuscany's finest painters during the Art Déco period. He and his wife, whose portrait now graces the marble mantelpiece in the sitting room, occupied the piano nobile and furnished it with well-made antiques, fine paintings, and all the many mementos that enrich the lives of the intellectually and culturally curious. Today their grandchildren, your hosts Beatrice and Massimiliano, have restored the apartment to its former beauty, and it is here they offer you a welcome that is as refined as it is warm and friendly.
The common rooms in this small air-conditioned B&B are worthy of any four-star hotel. Marble or parquet floors are covered with oriental carpets and illuminated by crystal chandeliers. Velvet, satin, and brocades abound in rich, warm colors. You'll find several sitting rooms where you can enjoy a book, acquire sightseeing advice from your hosts, or compare notes with your fellow travelers at the end of the day. There is also a charming terrace that overlooks the garden hidden inside the four buildings that form the block. It is here that you will enjoy an excellent breakfast on warm mornings. And don't worry if you're not a morning person: breakfast is served until the last guest has partaken.
At the end of the hall are the five guest rooms, each proudly proclaiming its character.
The Hat Room displays an astonishing collection of grandmother's hats. The Umbrella Room is not to be outdone,
and the Mirror Room must have been where grandmother tried on all those hats! There are three deluxe rooms,
one superior room and one single room (which has a 3/4-size bed). Two deluxe rooms can have one queen bed
or two twin beds; the other deluxe and the superior can have only a queen bed. All the rooms are large and
done in soft pastel colors, with good mattresses, big windows and charming accessories, as well as a direct-dial
phone, complimentary mini-bar, satellite TV, tea kettle and free DSL access. Most of the rooms have a dressing
alcove; all have a private bathroom with stall shower or bathtub with glass screen, Mustermann courtesy set
and hair dryer. On request in advance, your hosts are happy to offer dinner in their grandparents' elegant
dining room, an experience we highly recommend to complete this most unusual travel experience.
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| Nightly B&B Rates for 2008 (per room) Two-Night Minimum Stay |
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| Includes taxes, services & breakfast | ||
| Low Season: Jan. 2-7 Jan. 13-16 Jan. 21-29 Feb. 3-March 20 March 25-April 23 July 7-Sept. 4 Nov. 3-Dec. 29 |
High Season: Dec. 30-Jan. 1 Jan. 8-12 Jan. 17-20 Jan. 30-Feb. 2 March 21-24 April 24-July 6 Sept. 5-Nov. 2 |
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| Superior Single Room | 95.00 EURO | 110.00 EURO |
| Superior Double for Single Use | 110.00 EURO | 130.00 EURO |
| Deluxe Double for Single Use | 130.00 EURO | 150.00 EURO |
| Superior Double Room | 135.00 EURO | 160.00 EURO |
| Deluxe Double Room | 150.00 EURO | 180.00 EURO |
One child 0-2 years old stays free in its parents' double room.
Dinner costs about 50 Euro/person plus beverages and must be reserved
while you are in Florence.
We regret no animals are allowed.
Click here for information about private transfers to the property.
Check-in: 3-8 pm (you may not be able to arrive later on the first day).
