The exquisite Hotel Brunelleschi in Florence recently won the acclaim as the ‘Top Luxury Boutique Hotel Worldwide in the prestigious ‘Luxury Travel Advisor Awards of Excellence’. Baroque Travel has all the details
Every year, Luxury Travel Advisor magazine awards accolades to the best establishments in the travel industry. One of the recipients of this year’s prestigious awards is the beautiful Hotel Brunelleschi in Florence, which has been named the ‘Top Luxury Boutique Hotel Worldwide’.
This charming hotel is situated in two historic buildings – one was previously a Byzantine tower built in the 6th Century and the other was built as a Medieval Church that dates all the way back to the 15th Century. Both have been meticulously restored to their former glory. This unique hotel is located in the historic centre of the city, close to numerous popular attractions and monuments and within walking distance of the centrally located square Piazza della Signoria and the Palazzo Vecchio. Located in a pedestrian area, the hotel is surrounded by popular shops and café’s and is just a five-minute walk to the famous Uffizi Gallery.
The entire area where the hotel is located was once the property of Filippo Brunelleschi, hence the hotel’s name. The hotel, which features an upscale Italian restaurant as well as a traditional trattoria, offers unparalleled views of the city and the dome of the famous Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the magnificent cathedral that was designed by Brunelleschi himself. The tower, Torre La Pagliazza, was once a prison. It towers above the block where it was built as it has done for around 1,500 years. It’s part of the hotel, and is home to one of the most luxurious hotel suites.
All of this luxurious hotel’s 96 guest rooms and suites are exceptional, individually decorated in a contemporary in style with vintage touches, parquet floors, opulent furnishings, air-conditioning, iPod docking stations and 42-inch LCD TVs. The private bathrooms offer toiletries by elegant Florence fragrance house, Maison Dr Vranjes. The most exclusive accommodation is the Pool Suite, which offers a four-poster bed and hot tub.
The restaurant, Osteria della Pagliazza, is located on the first floor of the hotel, and offers an exceptional selection of Tuscan fare. There’s also the luxurious Santa Elisabetta Restaurant, located in the Byzantine tower on its first floor; it features only seven tables for up to 24 people. Guests also enjoy a choice of drinks and cocktails at the Tower Bar.
The hotel also offers a fitness center, three meeting rooms and a private museum as well as a stunning terrace that looks out over the Basilica.