Following a stunning renovation, Florence’s storied Helveria & Bristol Firenze hotel has reopened with new suites, a fresh design and the largest luxury spa in the city centre.
Standing proudly in the heart of the fabled Renaissance city, Helvetia & Bristol Firenze has been the go-to hotel for the elite in Florence for over a century. A gathering place for intellectuals, artists, musicians and scientists—many of whom stayed in the hotel for extended periods—it has over the years welcomed a raft of illustrious guests including Gabriele D’Annunzio, Eugenio Montale, Luigi Pirandello, Eleonora Duse, Giorgio de Chirico, Enrico Fermi, Bertrand Russell and Igor Stravinsky—all drawn no doubt to its exquisite hospitality, design and furniture.
Part of the Leading Hotels of the World group—and a member of Starhotels Collezione since 2016—this five-star tribute to Renaissance-era splendour marks a return to the days when Europe’s grand hotels were the envy of the world. And now, following the addition of the adjacent Banco di Roma building in 2019 and a recent extensive renovation project, the current epoch is equally impressive.
Curated to preserve the building’s original 19th-century structure and architectural detail, its collections of antique objects, furniture and furnishings have been enhanced with contemporary accents and fine Italian craftsmanship. Highlights include wallpaper with original designs, wainscoting, hand-bevelled oak floors, Italian silk damask fabrics, taffeta curtains and furnishings designed specifically for the hotel’s restoration.
Twenty five rooms and suites housed in the new Bristol wing are also of note, the brainchild of interior designer Anouska Hempel. Intended to be experienced as a second home by guests, they feature tranquil internal courtyards and terraces overlooking the Florentine rooftops. Expect herringbone oak flooring, chandeliers and opaline glass lanterns, and cast-iron canopy beds, all produced by the cream of Italian artisans, such as Moleria Locchi, the glassmakers of Murano, Rubelli, Antico Setificio Fiorentino, Fiacchini, Anichini and Bronzetto. Over in the Helvetia wing, we’re particularly fond of the two 67 m² Panoramic Suites, which command views of the Duomo, Giotto’s Bell Tower and Palazzo Strozzi—and come with Italian marble bathrooms.
The pièce de résistance, however, is La Spa, inspired by the ancient Roman baths that stood on that very spot during the Imperial era. Decked out in travertine marble, it is considered the largest spa in the city centre, complete with a wet area that opens onto the calidarium (hammam), an aquamotus (Vichy shower), emotional showers, the sudatorium (Finnish sauna), the frigidarium and the tepidarium (salt room), the latter of which rests on a glass floor through which you can admire foundations from the medieval age.
It is also home to two Lacus Quietis—areas dedicated to pools—built in the space that once served as the vault of the Banco di Roma, while signature treatments include wellbeing rituals and beauty treatments specially created for the Helvetia & Bristol. Expect your mind and body to experience their own renaissance.
