Whole Ownership at the Palazzo Tornabuoni

by Susan Kime (RSS feed)
Apr 6th 2010 at 9:01AM

Peter Kempf of Kempf International, recently announced that the Palazzo Tornabuoni, Florence's first Private Residence Club, once a 15th century Medici Palace, has for the first time opened 18 whole ownership residences, now available for sale. Kempf's private brokerage firm, Peter Kempf International Ltd., is exclusively handling the transactions.

"Originally, the Palazzo Tornabuoni Private Residence Club became quite a successful fractional after it opened in 2007. The residences were fractionalized into 1/8 shares in 36 apartments. Back then, the population who bought was approximately 70% American, 30% European. It is now 50% US and 50% rest of the world, and we expect the "world" portion to continue to increase. We have members from 5 countries.. At present, two whole ownership residences have been sold and there are offers on two more. Given the state of the world economy, we are very pleased, but given the unique nature of the offering, we are also not surprised."

The wholly owned residences range in price from 1.6 to 5.1M Euro ($2,350,000 to $7,884,500 dollars), and are between one and two bedrooms, with from one to three baths. They are between 700 sf to nearly 3000sf in size. The wholly owned residences are part of the Palazzo Tornabuoni, an edifice that defines the architectural and historical significance of Florence,Italy, as it was built for the Medici family in the l5th century, original 16th-century frescoes by Ciampelli,and an exquisite fireplace adorned with micro-mosaics by the miniaturist Rafaelli (c.1800). Each property is set among the Palazzo Tornabuoni's various courtyards and terraced gardens, and certain residences feature roof-top views of Florence and the Duomo.

It took five years to restore the Palazzo into residences. But with the collaboration of Michele Bonan, the award-winning Tuscan-born interior designer, Its contemporary design captures Bonan's signature style in creating "an environment in which the owner feels they belong...and are not just visiting." This was a complex undertaking, as the Palazzo defines by its very architectural style, a kind of Renaissance formalism, and is also is a museum of sorts of Renaissance art and artisanry -- there are original 16th-century frescoes by Ciampelli,and an exquisite fireplace adorned with micro-mosaics by the miniaturist Rafaelli (c.1800). Outside, a central courtyard still exists that was originally created by Renaissance architect Michelozzo (1400). But yet the residences do have a kind of contemporary comfort, even though surrounded by the finest 15th century Florence had to offer.

Gallery: Palazzo Tornabuoni

Upon entering the Palazzo, the grand staircase awaits -- one that enters into to the Papal Reception Room, past the Baroque statue of Diana the Huntress, by Gherardo Silvani. This was the home of Alessandro di Medici, before and during the time he became Pope Leo IX. Then, moving toward the balcony, one can stand in exactly the place he did in 1605 – and look across the street at the Palazzo Strozzi, known by many as the Florentine edifice with perfect Renaissance proportions.

Whole owners are eligible for Tornabuoni's Club membership status providing access to an extensive array of facilities and services. Faciltiies include use of the Palazzo's indoor and outdoor communal areas: a cigar room; lobby lounge and library; fitness, sauna and steam rooms; covered outdoor terraces and gardens. Also, there is wine storage, access to the spa facilities at the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze. The Palazzo is managed by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts with available services to include housekeeping, maintenance, concierge and Attaché, a dedicated concierge service for the member/owners at the Palazzo.

Tags: Florence, Florentine Art, FlorentineArt, Four Seasons Firenze, Italy, Medici, Medici palaces in Florence, Pope Leo IX, PrivateResidenceClubs, wholly owned residences

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, By Design

Subscribe to these comments

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

tiffanys Apr 8th 2010 9:31PM

Jade is a special kind of "blanket-like structure" of jade, called jade king, so it has a good consistency, if not hit with hard objects is not easy to rupture.