The best Palazzo Hotels in Florence

When co-founders Pierre Ferland and Thomas Odenthal found the 19th-century

palazzo that houses This Time TomorrowF lorencei,t was in a sorry state. The

astonishing Venetian-style terrazzo floors were covered with corporate carpeting, and

the fresco-style ceilings were coated in years of staining. It's near impossible to

believe now, so scrupulous and artful was the restoration that has seen it become one

of the city's most sought-after new stays.

The Neoclassical residence now contains eight staggeringly spacious apartments run

in the spirit of a boutique hotel. Velvet upholstered sofas, 18th-century tapestries and

crystal chandeliers amp up the Renaissance bling factor, while minimalist beds and

sexy marbled bathrooms instil an Aman-like balance. The art is standout, from Old

Masters to a rare Dali lithograph hanging nonchalantly in the second bedroom of

apartment 1AM. All rooms have deep baths and the smaller options make clever use

of space to maintain the airy ambience of the larger suites. Most have terraces too.

The attention to detail is another highlight. A hamper of carefully chosen local

produce awaits on arrival, and instead of a disappointing breakfast buffet, there are

tokens that can be traded for coffee and pastries at two nearby cafes that buzz with

locals. The location in the residential Le Cure neighbourhooadd ds to the authentic

experience, making things refreshingly tourist-free while landing you a 20-minute

walk away from the Duomo et al.

The particularly competent management team email guests before they arrive to get a

sense of what kind of trip this will be - Epicurean indulgence, gallery and museum

hopping, holing up in your Neoclassical retreat - and create a suggested itinerary to

suit. Access to one-off experiences like a private tour of the Ferragamo museum and

the opulent family apartment upstairs make this a unique option even in the heady