
Four Seasons Hotel Florence
Finally we arrive in Florence on April 26, 2009. After almost 24 hours of flying, changing aircraft (triple connection for anyone flying from San Diego) we are swept away from the Florence airport via minicoach to The Four Seasons Hotel Firenze. Weather is cool, but not uncomfortable; they announce local weather is 14 degrees Celsius. I am an idiot when it comes to translating Celsius to Fahrenheit, but if I was at home, I would say it feels around 65 degrees. I check with one of my travel mates, and they say its 57 degrees. At least there’s no rain.
I know where I am instantly. The square and rectangular shaped buildings with the green shutters we pass instantly convey their geographic location to the weary traveler. It’s just like it looks in all the travel magazines. Florence airport is an easy 30 minute drive to the center of town. You traverse through some farmland and pass old Tuscan farmhouses.
Immediately after stepping into the beautiful hotel I knew the travel time and effort was well worth it. One word sums it up, amazing. You park on a very small and quiet street with towering trees. Private parks emerge on both sides behind gated walls. The entrance is understated but the bell captain stands in attendance. You pass through glass entrance doors and are instantly transfixed into two fifteenth and sixteenth century palazzi centered by the largest private garden in Florence which is 13 acres. The garden now contains a pool, spa and fitness center. The design of these buildings made them very low key which helps preserve the beauty and tranquility of the area. One thing that makes this area so special is that you can return from a day of sightseeing exhausted and spend an hour or two in reflection and relaxation and it really revives.
The hotel opened in September, 2008 but because of the lengthy and detailed 7 year renovation, it’s hard to believe you aren’t there to visit one of the Medici families. I stayed in a Premiere room overlooking the garden, and it was well worth the upgrade. It gives you just a little more green space and is so pretty to wake up to every morning. Four Seasons Hotel Firenze offers 116 sun-filled guest rooms and suites – no two alike – located in both the Palazzo Della Gherardesca and the Conventino. Reflecting their rich architectural history, many suites feature original frescoes, friezes and hand-painted sculptured reliefs – blending Renaissance artistry with high-tech comfort
The public areas and the meeting facilities contain museum quality frescos and artwork. Both ballrooms are simply fantastic. The Gherardesca Ballroom is in the main palazzo just up one flight of stairs. It was once the private ballroom of the noble family. Paintings on the walls and paneled ceiling date from the 18th century and include three large paintings framed by stucco cornices as well as six oval paintings above the doors. The three paintings depict notable events in the history of the family Della Gherardesca. The Conventino Ballroom is a former convent church, and is the Hotel’s largest function room. What was the apse now forms a natural stage, and the former organ area overlooking the ballroom can be used for an audiovisual direction booth or for musical performances. The space’s perfect acoustics create a wonderful ambience.
Relaxing grounds, natural beauty and close proximity to all that Florence has to offer makes this hotel a perfect one destination stop for five star incentive meetings and incentives. But it would not be fair to end this article without mentioning the very best part about this fantastic experience, the hotel staff. Each and every one of them will do all possible to make sure your stay is exceptional. They back up the five star facility with five star service. You will not go away disappointed. I personally met the hotel General Manager, Patricio Cipollini. He calls his new hotel the first city resort, with a park, a pool and a short walk to the city center. He also says he wants to dazzle his guests. I certainly was.
AtVantage Travel Report
