Hotel Bernini Palace Florence

The Hotel Bernini Palace in Florence is situated in a 15th century building in the heart of the city, behind Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery. It is also just six minutes from Via Tornabuoni, the most famous shopping street, and approximately one hour away by car, it is possible to reach outlets for major Italian labels such as Prada and Gucci.

The Chiostrina, the new hotel’s Restaurant, offers a menu of exquisite, innovative regional dishes. In addition to this, in the surrounding area are situated the most exclusive restaurants in the city, such as the Enoteca Pinchiorri, as well as a selection of typical Florentine trattorie.

The prestigious 5-star Bernini Palace Hotel of Florence, is located in a XV century palace in the heart of the city, behind Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery.

THE HISTORY
Overlooking the Palazzo Vecchio, a few steps from the banks of the Arno, the Hotel was a protagonist of the events that transformed Florence, into the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, from 1865 to 1870. Attended by the Parliament members, it was at the center of national political intrigue: that era is now represented by round frescoes that adorn the current Hall of Breakfast.

We are in the heart of antique Florence, just outside the walls of the first circle of the Roman city and the medieval circle: the so-called Borgo dei Greci, squeezed between the Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza Santa Croce, where by just walking you can “breathe” with the city history.

This district is linked to the homonymous Florentine family cited by Cacciaguida in Canto XVI of Dante’s Paradise. Here there is a nineteenth-century building that now houses Bernini Palace Hotel.

The oldest building dates back to the fourteenth century, when the building was owned by the famous family Pera, ancestors of the historic family Peruzzi, who took over the Greeks after they had fallen into ruin: they were powerful financiers with enormous interest all over Europe.

On the side of the Via dei Leoni / Piazza della Signoria, the hotel wall – a marble plaque – recalls the fortune of a family that was rich and powerful at the time of Dante: “The gateway, named from those of Pera, led into the narrow circuit of your wells”(Paradiso, Canto XVI). In Via dei Leoni you can still identify the succession of arches, the same ones from the first floor of the fifteenth century building.

For centuries, the building has devoted to hospitality: in the seventeenth century it was the only hotel in Florence with running water and a shelter for animals. Already in the mid-nineteenth century the palace was an elegant hotel, known as Hotel of the Shield of France.

But only when Florence was the capital of the Kingdom of Italy (1865-1871), it had its greatest moment of glory. The Shield of France becomes Columbia Parlamento Hotel. Thanks to its convenient location, it was a place to meet for the members of the House of Parliament, who gathered at Palazzo Vecchio, and the senators, who gathered at Palazzo Pitti.

Some members chose it as their permanent residence, others came here especially at mealtimes, for long informal discussions by establishing alliances and making agreements that marked the destinies of the first convulsive years of the Kingdom.

The transformations of that time led to its current look: the architectural styles of Renaissance were opposed to the luxurious interiors, including velvets and damasks, up to the high standards of the rich Italian and European bourgeoisie. These special guests were treated with first-class service.

With the capital transfered to Rome the hotel lost fame, until the 80s of the twentieth century, when major renovation was initiated. The recovery process culminated in the discovery of the memories of nineteenth-century building, and finally a historical and real estate structure of greatest value returned to the city.

One of the treasures of Bernini Palace Hotel, is a large frescoed room on the first floor with portraits of the protagonists of the Italian Unification. It was the Buvette of Parliament, and today it is a prestigious Hall of hotel breakfasts.

Along the walls you can see the faces of the greatest people: Garibaldi, in the center, is surrounded by many Tuscan celebrities such as Nero Corsini, the last minister of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo Ridolfi and Giuseppe Montanelli, Vincenzo Salvagnoli and Manfredo Fanti, but also famous people from Piedmont, Cavour and Brofferio, Balbo and Gioberti, Lamarmora and Valerio, Giuseppe Farina.

One can also find Daniele Manin, in a tribute to the hero of the Republic of San Marco in 1849. However, Giuseppe Mazzini is absent for being too faithful to the ideals of Republicans to swear allegiance to the King and thus to be able to set foot in the Parliament.

On the ground floor, during the restoration of the late eighties, a sixteenth-century open gallery was discovered, which had been almost completely hidden from view before. Another discovery was a series of niches decorated with female heads coiffed with curious hats, in memory of a former exhibition in the lobby of the hotel in the early 1900s.

ROOMS & SUITES
All the rooms in the hotel are spacious, sumptuously furnished with magnificent antiques, parquet floor, fitted with all modern conveniences and free wi-fi. You could sleep wrapped up in pure linen bed sheets under hypoallergenic duvet and white, light cotton satin quilt cover. Our categories are: Classic, Superior, Deluxe, Junior Suite, Suite.

In our Suites, you will find warmth and intimacy, an area dedicated to you, in which you can relax and rediscover yourself, far from everyday concerns. Choose one of the Bernini Hotel’s Suites and pamper yourself with the pleasure of a very special holiday in Florence.

Soft feather Sleep at the Bernini Hotel ! For a pleasant and fresh nap you could sleep wrapped up in pure linen bed sheets under hypoallergenic duvet and white, light cotton satin quilt cover. The prevalent style of Tuscan Floor rooms is renaissance.

The intimate atmosphere is welcoming. The ceilings with their wooden beams, four-poster beds, period decoration, precious textiles and magnificent tapestries all help to create a truly unique atmosphere.

Classic and Superior rooms overlook the inner courtyards or the narrow streets of Medieval Florence. Rooms on this floor are divided into Superior, Deluxe, Junior Suite and Suite. Free wi-fi.

SUITE TOSCAN
Suite Tuscan floor surface area: approx. 40 SQM. Terracotta floor. Double bed or twin beds, 1 extra bed allowed. A refined, warm, welcoming atmosphere.

The ceiling with its wooden beams, the four-poster bed, period decorations, precious textiles and magnificent tapestries all help to make both the sitting room and bedroom truly unique. The Suite overlooks a quiet medieval Florentine street. The bathroom is large and modern with simple lines.

JUNIOR SUITE TOSCAN
Junior Suite Tuscan floor surface area: 30/35 SQM. Terracotta floor. Double bed or twin beds, 1 extra bed allowed. A sumptuous, highly elegant apartment in Moorish style with intense dark crimson motifs giving it a magical and at the same time intimate atmosphere.

The period decorations, the ceiling with its wooden beams, four-poster bed, tapestries and refined textiles make both the bedroom and sitting room incomparably beautiful. The bathrooms are large and modern with simple lines. The Junior Suites overlook the inner courtyards and the alleys and narrow streets of Medieval.

DOPPIA DELUXE TUSCAN
Deluxe Tuscan floor surface area: 18/20 SQM. Terracotta floor and Double bed or twin beds. The Deluxe Tuscan rooms are in renaissance style, the wooden beams, the four-poster beds, antique decorations, precious materials, Murano glass lamps and the splendid upholstery make the room unique. The rooms overlook the inner courtyards and the alleys and narrow streets of Medieval Florence.

DINING
Our restaurant area, with an entrance dedicated also to external customers, is divided into versatile spaces to always savor innovative menus.

From a drink at the Lounge Bar, in a charming setting where the traditional Tuscan furniture blends harmoniously with contemporary design, to a dinner in the renowned La Chiostrina Restaurant, inside a historic 1500-year-old restored porch that make it a place of unique refreshment in the center of Florence.

RESTAURANT LA CHIOSTRINA
The Restaurant La Chiostrina is at the ground floor of the hotel, nearby the hall, in an internal renovated courtyard of the XVI century. Its light, its colors and its atmosphere make La Chiostrina an unique and exclusive quite space in the heart of the city.

It’s the perfect solution for dinner, business meeting, light lunch and ideal to taste delicious gastronomic specialities in Florence. The versatility of the the Chiostrina makes it an excellent restaurant offering an innovative menu, that is updated on monthly basis.

LOUNGE BAR
Our Lounge Bar is an exclusive meeting place where people can sample tasty dishes, creative cocktails and fine wines but also enjoy a moment of relaxation in a warm, welcoming atmosphere which recalls the luxury of a private sitting room. It is a charming atmosphere in which traditional Tuscan furnishings blend harmoniously with contemporary design.

SALA PARLAMENTO
A rich buffet breakfast is served in the historical Sala Parlamento. Featuring a splendid frescoed ceiling, it was once the meeting place for members of Parliament and the Senators of the Kingdom of Italy. This amazing room is available also for Special Events, Dinner gala, Private Events, Weddings.

WEDDINGS IN FLORENCE
One of the town’s most elegant and attractive places, where style and glamour meld into one, Hotel Bernini Palace is the ideal location for anyone wanting to celebrate the culmination of a love story on the most important day of their lives in Florence’s special atmosphere, against the backdrop of the cradle of the Renaissance.

MEETING & INCENTIVE
The Hotel Bernini Palace in Florence is today one of the most exclusive locations in the city, the preferred destination for work meetings and company conferences. It has an entirely refurbished meeting room: the Sala Corsini, with its natural light, can host up to 40 people.

An evocative location for banquets and events is the imposing Sala Parlamento, entirely frescoed and once the meeting place for members of Parliament and Senators when Florence was the capital of Italy.

It is a unique location which will make any event truly memorable. Cosy atmospheres and warm tones greet delegates on the Executive Tuscan Floor, a floor available for exclusive use with personalised services, with a romantic interpretation of renaissance Florence.

Refined touches and Maroccan-style details are featured in the renovated Lounge Bar, an island of refreshment in the centre of the city of Florence in which culinary delicacies of local and international tradition may be sampled in an extremely refined, relaxing atmosphere.

Thanks to the partnership with Fastweb, the Hotel got a faster internet connection speed: the fibre optic with FTTH (fiber to the home) technology, consistently set to 50 Mbps with 100% GMB (Guaranteed Minimum Bandwidth) or upon request set to100 Mbps, the ideal competitive data transmission for meeting sessions.

MEETING ROOMS
The Hotel Bernini Palace, an exclusive location in Florence, has a completely renovated meeting room: the Corsini Room. Equipped with natural light, the Hall can accommodate up to 15 people.

An impressive setting for banquets and events is represented by the imposing and historic Sala Parlamento, entirely frescoed, once a meeting place for members of Parliament and Senators.

DISCOVER FLORENCE
Meetings are an ideal opportunity to discover a town like Florence: from regional food and wine traditions with visits to the Chianti vineyards and wine estates to visits to Renaissance art work, curiosities and little known places.

All this is possible thanks to the many tours which the hotel will be happy to organise for you. Don’t miss the chance to try out our exclusive Les Clefs d’Or Concierge Service.

PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA
Cradle of the Renaissance and nerve centre of modern Florence. Here you can visit fourteenth century Palazzo Vecchio (now the town hall) containing a copy of Michelangelo’s famous David, Loggia dei Lanzi next door, admire Fontana del Nettuno made out of Carrara marble and the equestrian statue of Cosimo I.

Continuing your visit with a stop off in the square, you can visit the world’s most famous art gallery, the Uffizi, still a treasure trove of priceless art and culture heritage with work by famous artists such as Caravaggio, Donatello, Botticelli, Giotto, Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo.

PONTE VECCHIO
At the end of Corridoio Vasariano you catch a glimpse of one of the most famous bridges in Florence and Italy: Ponte Vecchio. Thanks to Cosimo I de’ Medici this has been site of the best jeweller’s and goldsmith’s shops in the town since the 1500s and later a meeting place for the Florentine aristocracy.

Crossing Ponte Vecchio and the banks of the River Arno flowing beneath it takes you to an even more Renaissance suffused world, one which changed the town’s appearance radically. Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens are examples.

TASTE THE TRADIZIONE
Taste takes centre-stage, turning your meeting into a journey through the senses with this food and wine tour beginning at Florence’s Mercato Centrale in the San Lorenzo district near the Medici Chapel and Michelangelo’s tomb. This picturesque and chaotic markets teaches you the secrets of local Tuscan recipes: from crostini to ribollita via pappa al pomodoro, tripe and lampredotto.

CHIANTI
The food and wine tour can continue in Greve, considered gateway to Chianti, the starting point to a series of medieval towns and villages introducing visitors to wine making history and traditions.

Here you can treat yourself to a taste of one of Italy’s most famous wines. In Viticcio you can take part in a full-blown journey through the world of Chianti with a member of the family and visit the estate.

SHOPPING IN FLORENCE
Florence is home to some of Italian fashion’s most famous names as well as a wide range of craft products such as fine goldwork, clothing and accessories in leather and hides, crafts which made Florence a byword for arts and crafts in the past too.

After Piazza del Duomo and the adjoining Giotto belltower, turn onto Via dé Tornabuoni where Florence’s haute couture boutiques are concentrated. It is impossible not to be tempted by fine fabrics, an Italian tailored suit or a leather or hide souvenir to take home! They’ll make your meeting special.

THE RENAISSANCE EXPERIENCE IN FLORENCE 
Take the opportunity to experience the Renaissance Florence, discovering the path dedicated to Michelangelo, starting from Bargello Museum, the Academy and ending at the Medicee Chapels.

Explore Bargello Museum richness with particular attention to Donatello, father of the Renaissance, a visit to the Boboli Garden, an example of Renaissance garden and its evolution until Baroque by visiting the Bardini Garden.

The Museum of the Opera in Duomo with Donatello and Luca della Robbia works and the Dome of the Brunelleschi. Not far from the city, just visit Medici Villas of Petraia, Castello and Poggio a Caiano.

THE FLORENTINE CLASSIC BOAT TOUR
For your next romantic moment of love, discover our private cruise on the Arno River, with a guided boat tour. You will board one of the historic wooden and original boats left in Florence and the boatman will guide you to discover hidden corners of the city and its splendour. Cheered up by a refreshing Prosecco aperitif, you will experience an exclusive and romantic moment of relaxation together with those you love most.

The origin of this splendid vessel is still to be established, but it may date back to ancient times, when the more marshy waters of the Arno River and the narrower channel required a slimmer, flat-bottomed type of boat so as not to run aground in the shallows.

The boat grew over the centuries in size due to the need to transport a large amount of materials for the construction of the city walls of Florence along the river, becoming the “barchetto boat” we know today. The absolute masters in the construction of this type of boat are undoubtedly the Venetian craftsmen, but also in Florence there were cases of boat builders.

Different types of wood are used in the construction of this kind of boat, depending on their flexibility, hardness and porosity: strong oak for the sides (subject to bumps and knocks), fir for the bottom (lighter to improve smoothness on the water), durable cherry for the platform, larch for its water resistance and lime for the boatman seat.

Cruising on the Arno is a fantastic alternative to see as many iconic sights as possible from a different and privileged vantage point. From the Ponte Vecchio to the iconic Florentine palaces, we are waiting for you to enjoy the splendour of our city.

HOT AIR-BALLOON EXPERIENCE IN FLORENCE 
Your exclusive experience to discover a suggestive Panorama of Florence…from a breathtaking point of view! An unique and unforgettable experience above the red roofs of the Florentine city, the Giotto’s Gothic bell tower, the Brunelleschi’s Cupola.

An extra occasion to marvel at the suggestive panorama of the Arno 3 oldest bridges and the alleys and streets of the historic center of Florence. Possibility of group or private tours. Duration about 3 hours.

THE TUSCAN WINE EXPERIENCE 
Visit one of the most important wine producing areas in the world: Chianti, just minutes from Florence, where you can visit prestigious wineries producing world famous wines and let be inebriated by the breathtaking panorama!

TRUFFLE HUNTING EXPERIENCE
Take the opportunity to take your private truffle hunting tour with lunch in the Tuscan countryside and enjoy this great experience! An English speaking driver will get you to the Farm where you will meet the expert Truffle hunter.

After a refreshment with cold or hot drinks, the Truffle hunter will personally accompany you on a guided tour of the stunning Tuscan countryside for a memorable hunting trip together with truffle dogs.

The tour will be also the opportunity to know the secrets about the truffles, their biological cycle as well as how truffle dogs are trained. Coming back to the Farm, a 3 courses lunch and dessert with truffle as the main ingredient will be served.

FARM IN THE CITY 
Take the chance to enjoy the nature, living a day en plain air, immersed in the life of a real farm! Walking through the designed paths, in the olive tree grove of the Fattoria di Maiano estate, you can visit the animals of the farm: ducks, ostriches, goats, Amiata donkeys and limousine cows. Those animals will captivate you with their friendliness and docility.

You’ll have the opportunity to visit the fascinating “Laghetto delle Colonne”, situated at the heart of the estate, whose name celebrates the fact that the quarry at its centre is reputed to have provided the columns for the church of San Lorenzo in Florence. Among the many illustrious visitors, was Queen Victoria who sketched the lake of the columns while staying at the Temple Leader’s villa.

On a Land Rover you will start a Safari Tour to enjoy amazing views of the city of Florence by unusual corners of the Tuscan landscape and you will discover and admire the wildlife – foxes, deer, porcupines, pheasants and many other odd animals. At the end of the tour you will taste some local products in front of a breathtaking view.

Rooms: 74 EUR

Price: from 254 EUR per night

Source: www.duetorrihotels.com