In my profession, I visit a fair amount of properties throughout the year. Over time, I’ve learned to dedicate myself to those that seem most interesting and, on occasion, I happen to hit on a property that stands out for qualities that are at once impalpable and yet tangible. In my case, this tends to happen when I find harmony among all those factors that come together to create "hospitality:" something that, not mistakenly, is often referred to as an "art." The harmony I look for is that between the building and its decor, between materials that are remnants of the past and those that are an expression of the present, between management style and those details that speak of the "art of welcoming guests." The ability to offer a sense of home, in style but with elegance and discretion.

On my last visit to Florence, I got lucky and found such a property. I cross a discreet glass door entrance, a few steps from the central Piazza della Repubblica, and find myself crossing a time line: I'm entering what remains of an ancient Byzantine tower. Stones, stones... and more stones that speak the language of centuries, while enclosing an internal courtyard covered by a glass skylight. From above, liquid light plays over an elegant but cozy living room. The property has 14 rooms and apartments of various sizes -- the smaller ones measure 40 sq. meters (430 sq. feet), the larger ones are a spacious 100 sq. meters (1,080 sq. feet). Soft colors and warm materials conspire to wrap you in natural relaxation while early 19th-century pencil drawings decorate the walls.

Each room contains a kitchen with a complimentary Nespresso® machine, a range of welcoming delicacies and custom Chinaware by Richard Ginori. There’s ample closet space, and the touch of leather and wood of the custom-made furniture blends gracefully with the warmth of the Portuguese Mu stone that is used for the bathroom counter-tops. The bathrooms are furnished with large, glassed-in showers and bathtubs (some with Turkish baths) and have feather-touch, self-closing cabinet drawers. And again, that almost-maniacal attention to detail: the wooden shoehorn in the closet, the cotton laundry bags (plastic? no thank you) and the fine-quality cashmere throws on the beds. In my role as a kind of "hotel-CSI," I couldn't help finding "evidence" of that passion and expertise that has the sole purpose of welcoming guests to a space that they can return to at any moment of the day or the night and, with a smile of serene satisfaction, sigh and let go of their cares -- too much walking, too many meetings, an overdose of Florentine art. Ahhh, homecoming -- perfect bliss!

Indeed, this is one of the properties that I’ve most enjoyed in recent times. For more information on this new Select Italy find, call us at 1-800-877-1755.

Cordially,
 

Compiled and researched by Select Italy.
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