From
The Sunday Times Travel Magazine
£140 Riva Lofts
‘Fluttery hammocks and bikes tucked under lemon trees’
Looks like a private pad, doesn’t it? That’s because this is an all-suite
hotel. Check in and you could be in some luxurious,
move-into-without-further-ado studio apartment. So it’s no wonder that, last
year, on a whim, an IBM manager extended his short break to six weeks.
You might not be in the thick of it – it’s 20 minutes on foot from the centre,
along the Arno River – but you can always borrow one of the antique-looking
bikes under the lemon tree in the courtyard.
What was once a cluster of artisans’ workshops (you can just picture
impassioned souls in smocks flinging paint around the sky-high ceilings)
was, until last year, the home of architect Claudio Nardi. Before
transforming his home into a hotel, he designed stores for Valentino and
Dolce & Gabbana, so, naturally, it’s not lagging in the style stakes.
There are nifty touches in rooms – dusky-blue costume trunks as wardrobes –
and bare bricks and arty photos in the lounge.
Days are easily snoozed away on the fluttery hammocks next to the rectangular
pool. In fact, it’s a good thing there’s no restaurant, or you might never
haul yourself into town. When you do, ask your hostess, Maria, to sneak you
in at ever-popular Cibreo. And beg her to make her pear sponge for breakfast
the next day.
Riva Lofts (00 39 055 713 0272) has suites from £140, B&B.
£175 Palazzo
Niccolini al Duomo
‘Rippling terracotta rooftop views’
If, after seeing every Renaissance delight in the city, you still aren’t
sated, book a night in Donatello’s old room. In the 15th century, when the
bronze ‘David’ was still a twinkle in his eye, the Florentine sculptor had a
workshop on the second floor of this Palazzo, now owned by the well-to-do
Niccolini family.
Today, the Marquis has the first floor, while 10 guest rooms sprawl across the
second and third. Opt for one of two overlooking the curves of the landmark
Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore, and you feel you could touch its
gingerbready dome if you leaned out. (Don’t try – you’re quite a way up.)
the michelangelo hill just south of the river- where everyone goes to watch the sun set, has a campsite with house tents, normal tents and caravan spaces. just a bit of balance price wise!
also a nice market on the piazza san spirito
AND Brunelleschi's cloisters at st croce.
Kirsty Huxtable, Portsmouth,
Wonderful article - all very inviting ideas. Forget about Cibreo though - it is vastly over-hyped, crowded shared tables, rude 'service', and so-so food. Quattro Leone just over the river is a delightful find, pear ravioli... or for the artistic choice, splash out at Garga in the antiques district.
Carolyn Burdet, Florence, Italy
Agree Mario - my wife and I have just been there and also went on to Pisa. Lovely 5 days away.
Ian Payne, WALSALL,
There is no a better spot to fall in love...
It's too romantic.
mario, potenza, italia