under a tuscan sun
There are views that are perhaps more sweeping, or more vast, or even more magnificent. But the sight of Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore and the towering Giotto’s Campanile next to it from one of Hotel Savoy Firenze’s windows – a immense depiction of human imagination and achievement – must rank in the upper echelon of breath-taking sights.
Florence, or Firenze to the Italians, is a city overflowing with riches. At each corner, on any street, throw a pebble and you’ll hit a priceless work of art or architecture. The birthplace of the Renaissance and home of the legendary House of Medici, as a city Florence is tiny, but size does not matter here. Likewise, by modern standards, Hotel Savoy Firenze would be considered small, dwarfed by towering glass spires in Dubai and sprawling monoliths in Los Angeles. Yet every inch here – in the 88 rooms, the 14 suites, the corridors, the company lobby and the surprisingly roomy subterranean salotto – is infused with history, charm and personality, courtesy of Olga Polizzi, Director of Design for Rocco Forte Hotels.
The rooms at Hotel Savoy Firenze are not exactly what you’d expect from a building that dates back to 1893, when it opened as one of Florence’s first luxury hotels on the site of the old Mercato Vecchio and San Tommaso church. Rather than a gilded Baroque atmosphere, the rooms – which face either the bustling Piazza della Repubblica or the magnificent Duomo – are more contemporary, almost eclectic. Pop of colours, ranging from bright orange and olive green to mustard yellow and strawberry red, evoke rustic charm. In the top-end Repubblica Suite, the colour of choice is a regal blue, which befits the royalty, nobility and wealthy that have passed through its doors.
All of this allure will be retained when the hotel re-opens in March 2018, after an extensive renovation to update amenities. As will the menu at Ristorante Irene, named after Sir Rocco Forte’s mother. Curating the best of Tuscan ingredients and recipes, the menu here moves with the seasons, but what doesn’t waver is its focus on elegant, authentic and healthy dishes. The sea asparagus risotto with lemon balm pesto and raw red prawns is divine – and light enough to be served on a blazing summer day – while the Tuscan tender pork, chicory and white beans is an elevated version of the classic Florentine arista. It’s all too easy to orders seconds and thirds… if that happens, assuage your guilt in the gym, where treadmills face the glorious sight of the Florence Cathedral. It’s a sight that one can never get tired of, and one that we would continue running in place to admire.
With countless attractions, including priceless works of art at the Uffizi Gallery, Florence is a joy to explore. As you walk along historic cobblestone paths, you’ll also see hills topped with Tuscan cypress trees in the distance. Beyond those mounts are Tuscany’s other gems – the picturesque Siena, the town of towers San Gimignano and the medieval San Quirico d’Orcia – all of which can be explored on one of the hotel’s customisable day trips. Take all the time you need. Florence, and Tuscany, cannot be experienced in a single trip. It will take many visits to even begin to scratch the surface of the wealth of history concentrated here. At the heart of all these things, Hotel Savoy Firenze’s central position makes it a perfect base to explore Florence and Tuscany, a region of Italy where the streets that are paved with wonders.
