Being in Rome, I do enjoy the relatively regular day trip to Florence. However, Firenze is really a city that deserves more than just a few hours to explore between trains.
The compact city center is skirted by the Arno river, and crossing between the buzz of the small streets around the Duomo and the increasingly cool Oltrano neighborhood on the other side is one of my favorite things to do on our days in Florence.
There are wine bars to be visited, panini to be dined on, and artisan shops to explore, so we are planning to spend the night on our next trip in order to have more time to do all of the above.
That is why my ears perked up when I heard that Hotel Lungarno reopened earlier this month after a complete renovation.
Part of the always chic Ferragamo-owned Lungarno Collection, the luxury property sits along the river with prime Ponte Vecchio views.
Hotel Lungarno has been a fixture in Florence for decades, but the contemporary update has modernized the property and given it a chic lounge feel.
Cool blues, crisps white linens, and pewter and gilt accents have refreshed the rooms.
And the iconic views of the famous bridge and the golden light of Florence? If anything, they have gotten better – both in the rooms that face the water and the al fresco dining area.
Jimmy keeps reminding me that it is not all about views. The painter in him cannot wait to explore the hotel’s extensive modern art collection. There are more than 400 pieces hung throughout the property, including works by Picasso and Cocteau.
And I keep reminding him that it’s not just about the art- there is also food to be considered here. Preferably, dinner at the hotel’s Michelin-starred Borgo San Jacopo with a healthy dose of wine from their 900-label cellar.
Ok. On second thought, maybe we should make that two nights in Florence…
Many thanks to Hotel Lungarno for collaborating on this post!