Florence is known as the cradle of the Renaissance for a reason. It’s a city with an unrivalled artistic history, with the Uffizi Gallery alone home to works like Boticelli’s The Birth of Venus and Titian’s Venus of Urbino. It seems almost like there is a church on every corner, with each one home to a masterpiece. You could wander around and marvel at the beauty, but if you want to understand it you will need a knowledgable guide. That‘s what the St. Regis Florence is providing this summer.
Situated beside the Arno river, this is a hotel that has its on artistic heritage. Originally designed in 1432 by Filippo Brunelleschi, the architect of the Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, the building was the first luxury hotel in Florence and is blessed with custom hand-painted Tuscan and Florentine frescoes and individually hand-carved, gold leaf-covered plaques in every guest room (each of which is named after noted Italian artists, benefactors and nobility).
What better place to begin the ‘The Art of Frescoes in Florence’ tour: an experience that combines the joys of staying in this gem of a hotel with the benefits of a tailor-made guided tour of the city’s artworks.
First stop is usually the Piazza Ognissanti, a few short steps from the hotel’s lobby, and the Church of San Salvatore in Ognissanti, which houses extraordinary works by Ghirlandaio and Botticelli. Other notable places to visit include The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella and Palazzo Medici Riccardi. The former home of the Medici family, this latter stop is where you will see Benozzo Gozzoli’s fresco cycle – a painted masterpiece shimmering with reflecting metal leafs and vivid blue lapis lazuli.
Take in all of this inspiration and when you return to the hotel you will be better placed to experience the beauty of its decoration. There are three colour palettes across its 80 rooms and 19 suites – Medici, Florentine and Renaissance. From wall colours to the furniture and lighting, this is an experience of luxurious in its most original meaning. And, if you desire an even more luxe experience there’s a designer suite created by fashion house Bottega Veneta.
‘The Art of Frescoes in Florence’ starts at approx £2,389 for two nights for two persons sharing a suite, including daily buffet breakfast, two-hour accompanied expert-guided fresco tour, and ‘The Art of Frescoes in Florence’ guidebook, marriott.com
