Introducing you to the 25hours Hotel Piazza San Paolino in Florence, Italy
Quirky, cool and decadent, when Music Editor Emma Harrison checked into the 25hour Hotel Piazza San Paolino in Florence, she wasn’t disappointed.
Not only is it ideally located in central Florence in the Santa Maria Novella district, it’s also one of a handful of hotels where you can park your car which is somewhat of a rarity in this city.
What’s striking about this hotel is its eclectic design and decor. If you are looking for pure unadulterated maximalism, then this is the hotel for you. The design of the hotel, conceived by interior designer Paola Navone and her team, is utterly inimitable.
Inspired by the Italian poet Dante’s Divine Comedy, this hotel is rich, indulgent and extravagant, There are references to this powerful piece of work throughout the hotel and in particular the luxurious bedrooms.
Scenes from heaven and hell are playfully alternated and the designs guide you through the virtues and vices of Dante’s world.
Do you favour vices or virtues? The choice is yours! Dante’s world has been interpreted gloriously by the very talented Paola Navone making the 25hours hotel one of the most intriguing in Florence, if not the whole of Tuscany.
The room we stayed in was unapologetically red representing hell in Dante’s universe. The ‘Heaven’ rooms in contrast are a smidge less dramatic on the eyes in hues of pristine alabaster white with only tiny contrasts of colour in a celestial navy in the shape of signs depicting the message ‘Fly to Heaven’.
If you are in ‘Hell’, you won’t want to leave (well at least from a room perspective that is) from the comfy-as-hell bed adorned in luxurious linen to the wild ‘Dante’ lamps which dangle fiery labels depicting the names of the sinners of Hell that cascade down which makes for quite the design statement.
The walls are embellished with vinyl wallpaper, with motifs designed by Studio Otto-Paola Navone and despite the lavish colour doesn’t make the room feel small or claustrophobic.
Even the wet room is incredibly lavish with messages from Dante splashed over the door. Even the mirrors are daubed with thunderous messages like ‘Welcome to Hell’. There’s even a sweet little outdoor area and an outdoor shower (if you feel a little ‘devil-may-care’ – yes, we went there!)
All rooms have complimentary minibars (where you can enjoy a beer or two, soft drinks, water and snacks), there’s also free toiletries, Bluetooth speakers, smart televisions and useful messenger bags for when you take a sojourn around the city.
The shared spaces are equally sexy – around every corner, there’s a stellar collection of objet d’art, graffiti, curiosities and retro-inspired pieces like rotary telephones all in sleek blacks and vibrant reds of course! The lobby and reception area is an absolute triumph.
Straight away your eyes are drawn to the intriguing installation composed of a collection of vintage suitcases which house everything from bottles of beauty products to cute little stuffed monkey toys. There’s also ceramic plates in pale shades of blue plates that are decorated with hand-crafted drawings by Ceramiche Nicola Fasan.
Despite being a city-centre hotel, there’s no scrimping on amenities. In fact, some might say they are ‘devilishly’ good!
There’s a cinema room – the ‘Cinema Paradiso’; a library with a billiard table, a record player and of course some books! There’s even a spa with a Turkish bath and sauna to while away the hours.
In the heart of the hotel, in the centre of the historic building that houses the hotel, is the San Paolino restaurant located under the huge glass dome
Eating and drinking in the San Paolino restaurant is a charm – it’s located in the lively centre of the historic palazzo and leads on to a lush courtyard garden which is a mesmerising fusion of Tuscan vases, plant pots and jars in Tuscan terracotta and oversized plants.
There’s also a traditional Negroni bar and a bakery chock-full of traditional snacks. The menu offers an array of exquisite Tuscan dishes and the restaurant is also where guests can enjoy a fantastic breakfast. All dietary requirements are catered for and I can wholeheartedly recommend it.
If you are looking for an utterly mesmerising and Instagrammable bolthole when in Florence, then a stay at the 25hours Hotel Piazza San Paolino is devilishly decadent and we say Hell yes to this iconic hotel!
Stay – Double rooms from €139 (£118) in low season, and from €290 (£247) in high. Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi.