Una Hotel Vittoria

Florence

Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance, has reigned over Tuscany for centuries. The Medici family built the city at the height of its artistic, cultural, political and economic glory. It was also the city of Machiavelli, and artists including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante, Raphael and Botticelli, whose works can be seen in the city’s museums like the Uffizi Gallery, where the Medicis kept their collections. Considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, Florence also possesses extraordinary architecture including the Santi Maria di Fiore cathedral, one of the four largest basilicas in Europe, whose dome, designed by Brunellescchi, is the symbol of the city; the Palazzo Vecchio, a former residence of the Medicis, the Baptistry of Saint John, the Pitti Palace, the church of Santa Croce, the bell tower by Giotto, etc. etc. Surrounded by hills offering a magnificent view of the city, Florence is the world capital for art lovers.

Divine Comedy

Located in the historical quarter of San Frediano, not far from the Pitti Palace, the Una Hotel Vittoria is in total contrast with the Renaissance atmosphere of the city. The work of Italian architect, Fabio Novembre, it’s a unique ultra modern structure and not at all minimalist in design. An unexpected combination of materials, motifs and colors, it blends Baroque and Italian design, creating a very Florentine luxury and comfort.

Designed to surprise its guests as soon as they walk in, the reception area is decorated with flowers and mosaics, and the lobby has gigantic red spirals scattered around it for guests to sit on.

Drape with fabrics or fuchsia and black colored leather, the walls of the rooms are sprinkled with optical fiber lights which gleam like stars at night. The lighting can create a peaceful or a stimulating atmosphere, depending on the guest’s mood. The Jacobsen furniture is covered with violet or black and white Bisazza mosaics in the bathroom, which is separated from the bedroom by a simple glass partition. As a stunning contrast, on the outside of each door, there’s a portrait of one of the most celebrated 16^th century Tuscany lords, giving a simple hotel corridor the air of a Renaissance art gallery.

Another oddity can be found in the restaurant. A long S shaped table has been installed under a skylight where guests have a choice of Tuscany and international specialties. In the summer, dining in the garden provides an initial step before discovering the Florentine countryside.

In the Mercato Nuovo - New Market, which actually goes back to the 16^th century, there’s a fountain mounted on a bronze statue of a wild boar. The custom is for visitors to touch its snout, guaranteeing that they will come back to Florence.