Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Inc. has recently announced the debut of the first St. Regis hotel in Florence with the opening of The St. Regis Florence. The hotel, formerly the Grand Hotel Florence under Starwood’s The Luxury Collection(R) brand, underwent a meticulous 10-month restoration to bring the property back to its historical grandeur and artistic heritage.Originally designed in 1432 by Filippo Brunelleschi, the architect of the Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, the Grand Hotel was the first luxury hotel in Florence and is considered to be one of the most significant buildings in the city for its artistic and historical value.
The St. Regis Florence features 81 luxuriously appointed guest rooms and 19 suites, including a spectacular designer suite by Bottega Veneta. Reflecting Florence’s rich artistic heritage, all the hotel’s guest rooms and suites feature individually hand carved gold leaf plaques including one of three different color palettes – Medici, Florentine and Renaissance. With each design concept offering a unique selection of custom designed furniture, paintings, frescos and crystal chandeliers, the hotel creates a sophisticated sense of relaxed opulence. In honor of Florence and its traditions, every guest room and suite is named after noted Italian artists, benefactors and nobility. The restoration celebrates Florentine history and culture using authentic local artisans, product and design elements including custom hand painted Tuscan and Florentine landscapes in every guest room, historic Italian engravings as well as decorative antiques discerningly placed throughout the hotel.
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