Florence is one the world's epic
destinations. Birthplace of the Renaissance and home to enough
artistic treasures to make even the Louvre blush crimson, it's a
must-see on any Italian itinerary. That said, it can also be so
overrun with visitors that it takes a trained artistic eye just
to spot the sights through the crowds. A quiet place to lay your
head here is a necessary balm to the frenzy. Hotel
Lungarno is one of those remedies and, for lovers of art in
fashion form, a well-connected one at that.
Tucked inconspicuously on the
south side of the river Arno, just one block west of the Ponte
Vecchio, Lungarno is a serene retreat from the elbow-jostling
madness of Florence's busy streets. Guests enter the hotel via a
small courtyard and the calming effect is instantaneous. An
entrance hall of warm, creamy white leads guests to the main
lounge, book-ended by a fireplace and steps leading outside to a
terrace. When I arrived, a family of multiple generations was
sitting around the dark wood coffee table chatting and laughing
with such familiarity that I wouldn't have been surprised to see
a board game break out. Only the tailored attendants serving
cocktails and canapes nearby reminded me that I wasn't lounging
in the living room of friend ”“ if I counted chic Italian
aristocrats among my friends, that is.
The hotel's
effortless style shouldn't have come as a surprise. Hotel
Lungarno, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, is one of seven
Florentine hotels owned and run by the legendary Ferragamo
family. (Some of the Ferragamo's other Florentine hotels include
the Lungarno Suites and Villa Rose). The
Lungarno opened in 1997 and offers 73 rooms, including 13 suites,
a meeting room and Borgo San Jacopo, the hotel's Italian-fusion
restaurant.
Spread over two floors and
featuring a river-view mezzanine, this sleek dining room is the
one departure from Lungarno's otherwise lovely and
un-contemporary décor. One of its two-storey wall is fitted floor
to ceiling with framed design sketches, photos of stylish
politicians, actors, and a black-and-white portrait of Salvatore
Ferragamo himself. Apart from this one nod to Ferragamo's don,
Lungarno doesn't flaunt its fashionable connections.
But the ties that bind don't lie
far beneath the surface. Lungarno's concierge will point you in
the direction of the city best shopping districts, of which there
is a dizzying array. Florence is a fashionista's Shangri-la,
offering all the same boutiques as Rome crammed into fewer
blocks. Near the hotel you'll find mostly funky, independent
designers, while the standard-bearing names of Italian
moda (Gucci, Armani, Cavalli) beckon side by side along
Via de Tornabuoni, about a ten minute's walk from Lungarno.
Ferragamo's flagship store is here too, in an old palace that
shares space with a museum dedicated to the designer's history
and designs ”“ a fantastic one-stop shop coincidence for those
feeling guilty about eschewing culture for fashion
gratification.
In contrast with
the black that usually sashays down Milanese runways, the hotel
chose a color scheme of ivory and navy blue to deck most rooms.
Suites can be on the smallish side, but that's on par in this
town of Lilliputian, centuries-old architecture. Ours was filled
to bursting with just a huge bed, nightstands and small,
colonial-style writing desk. All is forgiven, though, when you
step through the French doors to your room's private balcony.
Flush with the river and overlooking views of the Ponte Vecchio,
Duomo and clock tower of the Palazzo Vecchio, it would be hard to
imagine a more quintessentially Florentine postcard. Just be sure
to request a room on the fourth floor or above; any lower and the
buildings across the river will obscure the ancient skyline.
Rates start at 190 euros.
Hotel Lungarno
Borgo San Jacopo, 14
Firenze, Italy 50125
Phone: (+39) 055 27261
www.lungarno.com
www.slh.com
Heather Whipps is a Montreal-based writer who also writes for LiveScience.
