florence

Sleep with Rolex & Patek Philippe at Florence's Luxe L'O - Hotel L'Orologio

Filed under: Decor, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Timepieces / Watches, Men's Style, Architecture & Design

Under the patronage of new Italian luxury hotel group Whythebest, one of Florence's hippest and best-hidden boutique hotels is getting set to welcome the fashion crowd to the city this summer during the Pitti Uomo men's shows.

L'O - Hotel L'Orologio is unique in being inspired by the prestigious world of international high-end watchmaking as well as by owner Sandro Fratini's personal collection of over 2,000 vintage timepieces. If you appreciate haute horlogerie – and what man of style doesn't? – it's hard to imagine wanting to stay anywhere else.

Tags: Florence, Italy, luxury hotels, Patek Philippe, Rolex, Whythebest Hotels

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Grand Hotel Villa Cora Reopens in Florence

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Following an extensive three-year, mulimillion-dollar renovation, Whythebest Hotels group has just reopened the Grand Hotel Villa Cora in Florence, one of the city's most prestigious properties. Established when Florence was the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, the Grand Hotel Villa Cora has a long association with the likes of emperors, princes, Pashas and famed artists such as Tchaikovsky. Comprised of three separate structures located inside a centuries-old landscaped park, the hotel was restored with the aim of conserving as much of the original architectural detail as possible.

The Main Villa houses 30 suites and rooms each with its own style inspired by famous guests who have stayed there over the years, including an Imperial Suite dedicated to the Japanese emperor Hirohito. The renovations also include a new spa, gym, swimming pool, and two restaurants, one of which is dedicated to Egyptian ruler Pasha Isma'il who stayed in the villa for numerous years. The spa features a tepidarium, hydro massage, sauna, hammam, fitness room, and a beauty and wellness center, while the heated outdoor pool overlooks the famed Boboli Gardens.

Gallery: Grand Hotel Villa Cora

Tags: Florence, Grand Hotel Villa Cora, hotels, Italy, luxury hotel, Whythebest Hotels

Florence: Room with the Best View

by Bobbie Leigh (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

It comes as a shock: Your private apartment in the heart of Florence in a landmarked building with all the comforts of a five-star hotel. The new Platinhome apartments have it all --- location, style, services, and postcard-perfect views of one of the world's most beautiful cities. You might expect that in this historic city a new upscale rental apartment would be a lavish example of Florentine baroque. Instead, these new apartments in Florence in the historic Palazzo Levi are modernist sensations, the best of contemporary Italian design. More important, the terrace views are magical, especially at dusk.

Tags: Florence, florence. luxury apartments, ItalDesign, italian travel, italy, italy travel, platinhome, Santa Maria del Fiore

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Maserati Displays New Fashion Collection at Pitti Uomo

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Cars & Autos, Men's Style

Positioning itself as much as a style icon as an automaker, Maserati has teamed up with a selection of fashion houses for a new collection of yachting and golf ware including apparel, shoes, bags and accessories.

The collection includes bespoke items made for the trident marque by the likes of Vuarnet, Suprem and Pellemoda. The items will be displayed, along with the GranTurismo Convertible, at Stand 2 of the Pitti Uomo fashion show at the Cortile Polveriera in Fortezza de Basso, Florence, but you can have an advance look in the image gallery below.

Gallery: Maserati Collection at Pitti Uomo

Tags: cortile polveriera, fashion show, firenze, florence, fortezza de basso, italy, maserati, maserati gran cabrio, maserati gran turismo convertible, Pellemoda, pitti uomo, Vuarnet

Whole Ownership at the Palazzo Tornabuoni

by Susan Kime (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, By Design

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

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

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Villa Bianca, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's home is a chance to live in a piece of history. Villa Bianca is located on a hill in Fiesole, Italy with jaw-dropping views of Florence and the surrounding countryside. The home dates back from the XIV century and is spread out over three levels. The first floor has a wide loggia with columns, library, study, living room with access to the garden and more. The five-bedroom home still includes details that date back hundred of years including stone fireplaces and wood floors. It's obviously in need of restoration but the classic vault and cross vault ceilings, boiserie and graceful lines make it worth the care and effort. This slice of Tuscan romance is listed at 4.2 million euros.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Gallery: Villa Bianca

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Tags: fiesole, florence, tuscan, villa bianca, VillaBianca

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The Atlantique Collection from Florence Collections

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

The latest furniture collection from Florence Collections is the Atlantique Collection.

As you can see above, the style is eclectic art deco, with warm colors and sparkling details. Every single item looks like the featured item in the room, and yet together, the pieces don't look garish or over the top. Even those chandeliers seem classic and understated when complemented with the warm chairs and dark wood.

The Atlantique Collection is aptly named, as many of these items look as though they belong on a yacht or cruise ship; there is a strong element of maritime heritage in the shapes and smooth surfaces. Visit the Florence Collections website for a look at more of this and other collections.

[via Home Design Find]

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Tags: atlantique, decor, florence, florence collections, furniture

Loretta Caponi's Yacht Towels

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

The April issue of W has a piece on Loretta Caponi, the 82-year-old designer who sells beautifully embroidered towels and tableware as well as children's clothing and lingerie from her elegant shop in Florence, Italy. The company has made silk gowns and pajamas for some of the most celebrated people in the world including royalty, both the crowned and the Hollywood kind. The children's line consists of the type of delicate garments that are handed down generation to generation. My favorite pieces however are the boat accessories like this colorful set of towels.

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Tags: embroidery, florence, italy, linens, loretta caponi, LorettaCaponi, sheets

SM Novella Citt� Di Kyoto

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance

Cittá Di Kyoto is a perfume made by SM Novella, one of the oldest pharmacies in the world, that blends Italian and Japanese scents and sensibilities. It was released to commemorate the 40th anniversary (in 2005) of the twining of Florence and Kyoto, which are considered to be sister cities. The fragrance is very complex, with a floral head of jasmine, hawthorne and ylang-ylang, followed by fruit and iris notes, and closed with a musky, woodsy undertone, which lingers on the skin. The goal of the scent is to be sweet and sensual, and everyday perfume for some and an elegant evening fragrance for others. Price: $85/100mL.

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Tags: cologne, florence, fragrance, kyoto, odor, perfume, scent, sm novella

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