New Florence hotel takes inspiration from Dante
On the grounds of a former monastery, you’ll find property with a bold esthetic
“Will you be staying in heaven or hell?” That’s the first question staff will ask you at the Dante-inspired 25Hours Hotels Piazza San Paolino.
The latest location from the Accor hotel brand recently opened on the grounds of a former monastery in Florence’s Santa Maria Novella district.
The backstory Florence is the birthplace of writer and philosopher Dante Alighieri — a fact that’s impossible to miss at this property. Seven hundred years after his death, Milan-based interior designer Paola Navone drew heavily on his “Divine Comedy” for this new 25Hours location. The result is a whimsical mix of Inferno and Paradiso scenes that make the hotel quite a spectacle in itself.
The space There are 171 rooms (from $228), from 226 to 2,153 square feet, divided into two esthetics. Inferno rooms are bold and intense (in a fun way), with a palette of deep reds, reflected in the floral wallpaper, velvet armchairs, ceiling light fixtures with dangling note cards, and the phrase “Welcome to Hell” dripping across shower doors. Paradiso rooms come in ethereal blues and whites, with Renaissance art-style prints on rugs, white and pearlescent tiles climbing up the walls, shell-shaped marble sinks and “Fly to Heaven” messaging. Just over a third of the accommodations are housed in the building’s original monastery, while the rest sit in a new addition and include balconies. The dining Under a greenhousestyle
glass dome lush with plants, the signature restaurant, San Paolino, serves up seasonal Italian fare, like purple potato gnocchi with Parmesan fondue and black truffle flakes, alongside a Tuscan-only wine list. For a more casual menu, grab a panini, salad or baked goods from Alimentari, which was developed by S. Forno, the area’s most popular bakery. Cap your night with a negroni (or another favoured cocktail) at the cosy-yet-glam Companion Bar.
The extra amenities Unwind at the hotel’s sauna, or get in a workout at the on-site gym. Also in the building is Cinema Paradiso, an intimate film lounge with regular screenings for both guests and locals. Schindelhauer bikes are available (complimentary with select rooms, and rentable for others), should you want to take a spin through the city.
The nearby sights The Santa Maria Novella district is rife with antique shops and Renaissance-era architecture. Within walking distance of the hotel, find the Museo Novecento, dedicated to 20th- and 21st-century Italian art, and the Piazza of Santa Maria Novella, one of the city’s main squares. There, you can stop by the Church of Santa Maria Novella, a Gothic building that’s also home to frescoes by influential Florentine artists like Masaccio.