Property 10173 - Florence

2 Bedrooms (1 double, 1 twin)

Palazzo Lungarno is situated on the south side of the river Arno. On one side, it overlooks Via de' Bardi, and on the other it enjoys spectacular, if not unique, views over the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery and the Cathedral. The building's original structure dates back to the 15th century, when a myriad of little cobbled roads branched off from the Ponte Vecchio into the Oltrarno, one of the city's most charming and typical quarters.

The Arno's banks were flanked by buildings belonging to wealthy aristocratic families (e.g. the Bardi family) - for this reason their residences were known as palazzi. Palazzo Lungarno was modified until the mid 19th century when an architect called Enrico Poggi was asked to draw up an architectural and landscape plan to turn Florence into a capital city (a role which it maintained for five years, between 1865 and 1870, following Italy's unification in 1860). Poggi wanted to give Florence a look of uniformity and subdued elegance without creating a violent contrast with its Renaissance architecture. He therefore decided to maintain the Renaissance colour palette of cream plaster and grey pietra serena stone, which is visible in so many buildings throughout the city.

Lungarno Torrigiani was included in Poggi's plan and it is easy to see how he drew inspiration from the more ancient buildings on the river's opposite side. The lungarni together with the viali leading up to the Piazzale Michelangelo were meant to be a place where Florentines could enjoy afternoon strolls and socialize in the open air.

Property 10173 Description (80 sq. m. - sleeps 4)

One enters the apartment through a delightful square hallway with a pretty painted cupboard which conceals a specious closet for coats and luggage. In the centre of the room there is a table which can also act as a dining table. The light coloured parquet can be found throughout the whole apartment. To the left is the sitting room with its pretty furnishing fabrics, in tones of red, cream and navy. A three-seater sofa and two arm chairs and some extra chairs create a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. Antique furniture around the room gives the impression of being in a private home. The walls are a pretty shade of china-blue for extra luminosity and charm. The view out of the window offers a stunning panorama over the Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery, the Church of Santa Croce and indeed, most of the artistic beauties in the city.

Across the hallway, the twin bedroom also painted china-blue looks over the terracotta roofs of Via de'Bardi, with its terraced gardens. A pretty solution of two cabinet cupboards, one on either side of the beds creates hanging and storing space for clothes. Pretty views of Italy adorn the walls.

The acid-green and white bathroom with tub, hand-held shower, heated towel rail and hair-drier, lies between the twin bedroom and the newly fitted blue and terracotta coloured kitchen, fully equipped with all modern appliances. Across the hallway, there is the second bedroom with a double bed. The room shares the same wonderful view as the sitting room. A delightful painted cupboard ingeniously conceals a bathroom divided into an ante-chamber with a washbasin and pretty antique mirror on the left and a spacious hanging closet on the right. The tiles and walls are a warm ochre yellow. Just beyond, is the second part of the bathroom with a shower-cabin and WC. The window looks onto a inner courtyard.

The apartment has an armoured door, central heating, air-conditioning, telephone (hi speed internet), satellite TV and buzzer, gas stove, oven, dishwasher and washing machine, hair dryer and comes supplied with two sets of linen and towels. There is a lift and day-time porter service.