Pool
The Hotel’s outdoor pool is located within the gardens behind the Spa building. The pool deck is furnished with a whirlpool, deckchairs and cabanas and serves drinks from the adjacent Spa Lounge.
Fitness Centre
The two-level Fitness Centre is situated in a separate building next to the Spa and features all the latest state of the art “Technogym” exercise equipment. The Spa and Fitness Centre are connected underground via separate men’s and women’s changing rooms.
Hair and Beauty Salon
The Hotel’s salon is located in a separate building near to the Spa and Fitness Centre and offers a full range of hairstyling services, manicures, pedicures and waxing.
Library & Reading Room
The Hotel’s Library and Reading Room is situated in the Palazzo’s highly decorative former chapel, located off the main Lobby.
Shopping
Via Tornabuoni is Florence's premier shopping street with names such as Bulgari, Gucci, Ferragamo and Tod's. The city’s main market hall is Mercato Centrale, while San Lorenzo Market is famous for crafts and souvenirs. For jewellery, head to the Ponte Vecchio and for designer bargains, the allure of The Mall, 30 minutes drive into the Tuscan hills, is hard to resist.
Throughout the city, an excellent selection of ceramics, leather-goods, lace, basketwork, shoes, wrought-ironwork and reproduction furniture can be found in an assortment of appealing botteghe and boutiques. Some of the most notable institutions include:
• Sbigoli Terrecotte – handmade terracotta pots and ceramics (Via S.Egidio): founded by Ferdinando Sbigoli around 1850 near the San Ambrogio market
• Bandini – jewellery-maker (Via Stracciatella): in the Bandini family since 1890, passing ancient Florentine traditions down from father to son
• Filistrucchi – wigs and make-up (Via Verdi): one of the most important traditional representatives in this unusual and interesting field, in the same family and workshop since the beginning of the 18th century
• Ottino – leather goods, handbags & luggage (Via Porta Rossa): family business dating from 1830 selling distinctive items with charming old-world service
• e Procacci – one of the city’s oldest delicatessens (Via Tornabuoni): a Florentine institution founded by Leopoldo Procacci in 1885, famed for its truffle specialities such as panini tartufati, as well as pâtés, caviar, fine chocolates and preserves served in an atmospheric shop unchanged in 120 years
• Casini – leather designer (Piazza Pitti): one of the leaders of Florence’s new generation of leather designers, Jennifer Tattanelli creates sumptuous contemporary and custom-made leather garments, shoes, bags and accessories, hand-crafted by Florentine artisans in the finest Tuscan leather
Excursions
The Hotel’s Concierge can organise a limousine, hire car and guide for any guests wishing to embark on a tour of the city’s sights or surrounding vineyards as well as make ‘private access’ arrangements to a variety of Florence’s finest attractions. Guided shopping trips can also be arranged for guests seeking specific items or expert assistance to ensure they don’t miss the many delights hidden down Florence’s cobbled alleyways.
Day trips can also be arranged to the Tuscan towns of Siena, one of Italy’s best-preserved medieval cities and Pisa, historic city of culture and science and birthplace of Galileo Galilei – each just 45 minutes drive from the Hotel.
Golf (off-site)
Circolo del Golf dell’Ugolino, Grassina: 18 hole course, 20 km from the hotel.
Tennis (off-site)
Tennis Michelangelo: two all-weather courts, lit for night play, 5km from the hotel.
Circolo del Tennis, Cascine: Ten hard courts, 8km from the hotel.
