St. Regis Florence Hotel has been ranked the 5th best Hotel in Europe by the United States News. The property is in Florence in a renaissance era Palace that dates back to the 15th century. The hotel holds the crown for the best food, services, and breathtaking views of the Arno River. We will take you through the hotel's history, services, cuisines, and rooms to better look into its rich past and present. Then, we'll look at what makes it unique, even after years of establishment.

History

The St. Regis Florence Palace was designed by the renowned Florentine architect Flippo Brunelleschi in the 1400s. It was constructed for the noble Giuntini family. The palace was later converted into a hotel in 1866 and was initially named the Grand Hotel Royale de la Paix.

St Regis Florence catered to multiple celebrities and personalities who related the city of Florence with the luxury hotel. The list includes famous characters like Chuttraputi di Kolapoor and his successor Rajaram Chuttraputi, Queen Victoria, and Leland Stanford Jr.

Moreover, one of the hotel's most noticeable and famous features and one which is at the heart of the entire design is its winter garden. The garden follows an Art-Deco style, designed in 1922, inspired by the artist Enzio Giovannozzi.

Location

The hotel is in the beautiful Florence city, in the Tuscany region of central Italy. It is on the North bank of the Arno River in Santa Maria Novella. Moreover, it faces the iconic Westin Excelsior, a sister hotel.

Additionally, St Regis Florence lies a few steps away from the iconic pedestrianized Piazza Ognissanti. Therefore, it is an ideal place to explore and shop with famous sites like Duomo, Uffizzi, and Ponte Vecchio's jewelry shops within a 10 min walking distance. Furthermore, outside the city, one can find scenic views of the hills offering medieval city vibes. It is at a distance from crowded areas but not far from the central shopping district.

Rooms and Suites

The rooms and suites are elegantly designed to symbolize luxury and comfort with a spacious feel. One can find 19 suites and 80 guest rooms, including a suite designed by Bottega Veneta. Moreover, the rooms reflect Florence's artistic history, featuring hand-carved gold plaques.

The gold plaques include colors from one of the three color schemes: Florentine, Medici, and Renaissance. Each room comprises a custom-designed furnisher, crystal chandeliers, Frescoes, and paintings. Additionally, there are 11 different types of rooms and suites. Each offers unique room amenities to distinguished guests staying at the hotel, with 7 of them offering pleasant views of the Arno River.

Furthermore, to honor the rich history of Florence, each guest room and suite has a name that reflects a famous artist, benefactor, and nobility. That adds special memories to each room.

Restaurant and Bar

The culinary experience is extraordinary, whether you are looking for gourmet cuisine or regional dishes. The infamous Restaurant Winter Garden offers excellent services, quality, and hospitality with beautiful décor and glass ceilings. Moreover, with dishes created by Executive Chef Gentian Shehi and the 2 Michelin Star Chef Valeria Piccini, you will surely take delicious memories from the heart of Florence.

Furthermore, the Winter Garden by Caino received "Two Forks" by Gambero Rosso. The Winter Garden Bar offers the best tea, coffee, a quick lunch, and champagne. In-room dining is also available to make you feel at home. Plus, to indulge in an out-of-this-world experience, you can visit the La Cantinetta Wine Cellar. It has a unique selection of over 300 international and Italian wines.

Spa and Fitness

With onsite massage facilities and fitness centers, you can rest assured that your stay will be relaxing without compromising your fitness.

The Iridium Suites Spa offers a blend of botanical and Clarins treatments. These will provide you with a great skincare experience. Moreover, Clarins is the number 1 skincare treatment brand in Europe. As a result, you get the best face and body treatments and massages with state-of-the-art methods.

Additionally, the spa deals with therapy baths, manicures, and pedicures. It also offers eye treatments, facials, and in-suite massages. For fitness, you can visit the 24-hour fitness center. Treadmills, weights, TechnoGym, and elliptical machines are available at the gym.

Additional Facilities

The hotel showcases a beautiful and spectacular wedding venue called the "Salon Delle Feste." It features stunning Stucco work and elaborate moldings with French influence. The ballrooms are also multifunctional. Therefore, you can host a grand function or a small intimate wedding as you wish.

An extensive range of decoration options is available. This goes along with a customized menu of your choice by award-winning chefs. Additionally, the bride and groom provide special attention and amenities to ensure each wedding becomes an unforgettable event.

The hotel is also an ideal spot for meetings. The banquet and meeting rooms are specially designed for business and social events. They also offer high-speed internet and audiovisual equipment facilities.

Takeaway

There are many luxury hotels globally, but not all have a history like the St-Regis hotel. It was a palace that got converted into a hotel, but it never lost its renaissance-era vibe. With a river flowing by and a cup of coffee in your hand from the Winter Garden Bar, your stay at St. Regis Florence gets better and better by the minute.

You can find the best Italian meals by award-winning chefs in the most beautiful restaurants. Moreover, the rooms and suites offer world-class amenities and butler service. Expect high-end décor, furnisher, and in-room dining services. You can also hold meetings in the meeting rooms with all the necessary equipment and facilities. Or, plan your special wedding day at the ballroom.

There is so much you can do here! Overall, the hotel is a dream spot for travelers seeking a magical adventure. If you love to travel, you should try this one-of-a-kind hotel.