Brunelleschi Hotel Firenze, Italy
Brunelleschi Hotel
Piazza Sant’Elisabetta, 3 – 50122, Firenze – Italia
www.brunelleschihotelflorence.com
HOTEL INFORMATION
Shareholders
Privately owned
Date of Creation
1988
Hotel General Manager
Mr. Stefano Lodi
Previously General Manager at St. James’s Hotel and Club, Mayfair London; The Wellesley Knightsbridge, a Luxury Collection Hotel; Ten Manchester Street Hotel; and more.
Hotel Positioning
4-star Luxury
Brunelleschi Hotel
History & Story
The Pagliazza Tower, whose uncertain origins date back to between the 6th and 7th centuries, is the oldest standing building in the historical centre of Florence, just a stone’s throw from the Duomo. The Tower was probably built by the Byzantines as part of the city walls. In the 12th century it began to be used as a women’s prison, which is why it came to be known as the “Pagliazza” (from paglia, the Italian word for straw), because of the straw bedding used by the inmates. At a later date, St. Michael’s Church was built near the tower and then renovated in Romanesque style, in about 1100.
In 1980 the Istituto Nazionale delle Assicurazioni [National Institute of Insurance Companies] decided to restore the entire complex in a project that uncovered the ancient walls and gave back to Florence a piece of its history. Subsequent studies led to the recovery of a caldarium too, which originally formed part of the Roman spa in the buildings’ cellars. Today this underground area is the private on-site museum of the Brunelleschi Hotel.
Date Renewal
Complete and detailed restoration by architect Piera Benelli in 2012. Last refurbishment and soft renovation in winter 2020.
Main Strengths, Special Touch
• Exceptional location in the Heart of Florence, a stone away from the Brunelleschi’s Dome
• Housed in a historical landmark: the Byzantine Pagliazza Tower dated 6th century AD and the medieval Church of San Michele in Palchetto
• Unique 7 Suites, among them: the Pool Suite, with jacuzzi on the terrace and priceless 360° view; the Pagliazza Tower Suite, the only suite in a Byzantine Tower with Duomo view
• Breath-taking views from most of the rooms
• Interconnecting family accommodations guaranteed at time of booking
• 7-table 2 Michelin star Ristorante Santa Elisabetta by Chef Rocco De Santis
• Private on-site museum with Roman ruins
Location
An iconic luxury property, the Brunelleschi Hotel is located right in the Heart of Florence and just a few steps away from the Duomo. The famous Uffizi Gallery, Piazza della Signoria, charming Ponte Vecchio, and all other famous landmarks, as well as main shopping streets, are well within walking distance. The Hotel is also easily reached from the main railway station (Firenze Santa Maria Novella) and from Florence Airport Amerigo Vespucci.
Key sites/activities in the area
The Brunelleschi Hotel is the perfect starting point to explore Florence on foot:
• Museums: Galleria Dell’Accademia, Uffizi Gallery, Pitti Palace, Museo del Bargello & Palazzo Vecchio.
• Ecclesiastical art and architecture: Santa Maria del Fiore, known as Duomo, Santa Croce and the beautiful Basilica of San Miniato al Monte.
• Shopping: the hotel is next to the shopping district – in particular, to notable via de’ Tornabuoni and via de’ Calzaiuoli; Mercato Centrale (food & beverages); Mercato di San Lorenzo.
Fun Facts
The one-of-a-kind Pagliazza Tower Suite was created on the two top floors of the iconic Pagliazza Tower, which once was a women’s prison. Its tall windows frame Giotto’s bell tower and Brunelleschi’s dome; its bedroom boasts a custom-made round bed, where the dream of sleeping within ancient stone walls becomes reality. The décor will make your dream of what life in Florence was: antique oak parquet, mirrors and golden iron chandeliers from the 18th century, and exclusively-designed furniture.
HOTEL FEATURES
Accommodation
• Number of rooms, (keys) in all: 96
Classic Executive
Superior Executive
Deluxe & Deluxe Duomo View
Deluxe Panorama
Junior Suite
Suites, among which, our one-of-a-kind:
Pagliazza Tower Suite – a lush, two-level suite within the most ancient walls of Florence
Pool Suite – a duplex Suite with terrace and a 360° panoramic view of Florence
Bargello Suite – overlooks celebrated Santa Croce Church and the Bargello Museum
Duomo Suite – with a direct, magnificent view of the Duomo
Balcony Suite – offers a hidden, yet cozy balcony with a view over the rooftops and glorious Palazzo Vecchio
Restaurants & Bars
• Ristorante Santa Elisabetta
For those seeking a high-class stay in Florence, a gourmet experience at our beautifully crafted fine dining is is not to be missed. Awarded with 2 stars by the 2022 Michelin Guide, with only 7 exclusive tables, its magical setting will enchant your senses, while Executive Chef Rocco De Santis will delight you with artistic creations that stem from the rich encounter of the tradition of his native land, Campania in the South of Italy, and the place that adopted him: Firenze.
• Osteria Pagliazza
The Brunelleschi Hotel will lure your foodie soul with yet another option: Osteria Pagliazza offers traditional Tuscan cuisine in a relaxed and cosy area on the tower’s ground floor. In the warm season, the Osteria gains outdoor seating in the quiet historical patio of Piazza Sant’Elisabetta.
• Tower Bar
The Tower Bar, our American lounge bar on the ground floor of Torre della Pagliazza, is a design celebration of a contemporary and antique mix.
Wellness
• Fitness center – a workout room equipped with Technogym machines and with natural light, overlooking Via del Corso.
Corporate & Celebration Events
The hotel offers exquisite facilities that are perfect for business events, special celebrations, and banquets.
The historic “Sala San Michele” and “Sala Pagliazza”, our meeting rooms, offer natural light and are equipped with latest generation audio-visual equipment.
“Sala Stemma” and “Sala Liberty”, our historic banqueting halls, are found on the first floor of the former medieval Church of San Michele. They can be reserved for private events.
Extra Notable Features
The concierge will be glad to accompany Guests at the Pagliazza Museum for a short tour among the archaeological finds discovered during the excavations in the basement of the Pagliazza Tower, where it is possible to admire a Roman “calidarium”, a hammam used in ancient times for the sauna and fragments from the Roman era, as well as a Renaissance collection of Montelupo ceramics.
Hotel and restaurant Awards
2021
“FOUR-STAR” RATING IN 2021 – FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE
2021 TRAVEL + LEISURE “T + L 500”
2021 TRAVEL+LEISURE’S AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE “THE TOP 5 HOTELS IN GREATER FLORENCE”
2019-2020
“FOUR-STAR” RATING IN 2020 – FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE
2020 & 2019 THE CN TRAVELER READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS “THE TOP 10 HOTELS IN FLORENCE”
2020 & 2019 TRAVEL+LEISURE’S AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE “THE TOP 5 HOTELS IN GREATER FLORENCE”
2019 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR Awards of Excellence “TOP LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTEL IN EUROPE”
Number of employees
Up to 90