HELVETIA & BRISTOL FIRENZE – STARHOTELS COLLEZIONE A renovation like no other, for its abundance and philological precision, rewrote the history of Italian luxury hospitality, giving back to Florence one of its most elegant and important residences in the historic heart of the city. The history and location Part of Starhotels Collezione since 2016, Helvetia & Bristol was built in the early 19th century as a private residence in the heart of Florence. Transformed into a hotel by the Swiss Giacomo Mosca, it became one of the beloved hotels amongst the international elite partaking on their Grand Tour, particularly popular by English travelers for its exquisite furniture that reflected the atmosphere of the elegant era. Over the years, it was a gathering place for intellectuals, artists and scientists, many of whom stayed in the hotel for long periods. Gabriele D’Annunzio, Eugenio Montale, Luigi Pirandello, Eleonora Duse, Giorgio De Chirico, Enrico Fermi, Bertrand Russell and Igor Stravinsky are only a few of the illustrious guests who chose Helvetia & Bristol for their stays. Over time, renovations and modernizations have preserved the original 19th-century structure, gradually enriching it with priceless collections of objects, furniture and furnishings dating from the 17th to 19th centuries. The unique location, central yet quiet, in an elegant street a stone’s throw from Palazzo Strozzi, Brunelleschi’s Dome and the shops on via de’ Tornabuoni, make the hotel the perfect base for exploring the city on foot or for the most exclusive shopping, whilst guaranteeing a stay surrounded by the utmost tranquility. The Uffizi Gallery and Medici Chapels, as well as the Oltrarno, with Santo Spirito and the Boboli Gardens, can all be reached with a short stroll through some of Florence’s oldest and most fascinating neighbourhoods. The rebirth of an icon: the hotel today Helvetia & Bristol Firenze – Starhotels Collezione reopened its doors following a masterful renovation that, starting with a careful restoration of the antique furniture and accessories carried out by historic workshops and expert Italian artisans, redesigned the 64 rooms, façade and a large part of the common spaces, particularly the Winter Garden. This extensive and ambitious project was strongly supported by the company’s owner Elisabetta Fabri, who took up the challenge by combining her long experience in the international hospitality sector and a passion for art and craftsmanship. The result is a place with a tangible atmosphere, a place to experience as if it were a lavish and warm home, distinct and familiar but with all the comforts and services of excellent contemporary hospitality. The first phase of the renovation was dedicated to the historic building, while the second phase – concerning the lobby and bar, 25 new rooms and suites, a SPA and a beautiful terrace/bar with a view of Florence’s rooftops – will finish in a few months. The new wing and Bristol Bar will be designed by Anouska Hempel, who previously designed the Franklin London – Starhotels Collezione. All the details of the planning phases, including who to commission the new elements to, were looked after with the utmost care: from the splendid herringbone oak flooring to the wallpaper, wainscoting, trimmings, silk and velvet curtains, chandeliers and opalines produced by the best artisans, like Moleria Locchi, Murano glassmakers, Rubelli and Antico Setificio Fiorentino. The hotel’s private collection is on display, with paintings of sacred and botanical subjects and hunting scenes, prints, mirrors, armchairs, antique loveseats, abat-jours and Chinese vases, all of which decorate the rooms, corridors and lobby, where the pietra serena details are enriched by the picturesque views. The large staircase, with its gallery of portraits inspired by the Vasari Corridor, is a particularly striking sight upon entering the hotel. The Winter Garden is located off the lobby, a versatile space completely redesigned as both a restaurant and sitting room, where guests can rediscover the lingering charm of an old-fashioned veranda. The Tinello, a new space designed by Riccardo Barthel, overlooks the Winter Garden. Equipped with a full-service kitchen, the Tinello is used for intimate food and wine events and as a chef’s table. The renovation in detail 1. Restoration of the furniture Starhotels’ owner and President Elisabetta Fabri personally oversaw the decoration of the rooms, coordinating the entire project together with a team of interior designers. Antonio Casciani, owner of a historic workshop and a past collaborator with the Uffizi and Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, was entrusted with the restoration of almost 200 pieces of furniture. Chests of drawers, tables, consoles and night stands were brought back to their original, extraordinary splendour. 2. Finishing touches: hardwood floors and exquisite fabrics The Puglia-based company Gravina Parquet was tasked with making around 2,300 m2 of herringbone oak flooring with a scalloped border for every room. Every single slat passed through the expert hands of three artisans as they were cut, beveled and finished with natural oils. The result was a polished and elegant hardwood flooring that creates a harmonious counterpoint with the furniture. Some of the damasks, trimmings and velvets were made by the Antico Setificio Fiorentino, which was originally owned by Emilio Pucci and today by the Ricci family. Known the world over for the quality of its creations, each one weaved by hand since 1786 on antique looms originally belonging to noble Florentine families, Antico Setificio produces brocatelle, brocade, ermisino, damask, filoselle, lampas and saia fiorentina. It is a painstaking craft (for some fabrics, the daily production averages just 15cm per day) and one of priceless value, cultural included. 3. Winter Garden and Tinello The Winter Garden, historically a cultured gathering place for the hotel’s illustrious guests and a multi-functional space with an excellent atmosphere, is illuminated with a dim light that shines in through the Art Deco skylight, reflected by the screens and wall mirrors. The wallpaper designed by Ottavia Moschini recalls classic 18th- century chinoiserie motifs and brings to life scenes of Tuscan flora and fauna – pomegranates, olive trees, tendrils and water lilies are interspersed with hoopoes, common kingfishers and grey herons. The Tinello, located opposite the Winter Garden and inspired by the sitting room of a classic Tuscan home, was designed by Riccardo Barthel, vaunting an unmistakable mix of artisan craftsmanship, antiques and the flawless technology that has long characterized the Florentine company’s projects. Rooms and suites Helvetia & Bristol’s 64 rooms vaunt the care and artisan know-how that have restored the hotel to its original splendour. These renovations included the herringbone oak flooring, the original marbles in the bathrooms – recreated following the pattern of the veining and recovering almost 100% of the polychrome slabs, which are by now extremely rare – the Murano glass chandeliers, opalines, curtains and wallpapers, all made in Italy, many even in Florence. Other elements of the renovation included meticulously-restored furniture, paintings and other furnishings, each one chosen and installed with great care. The mix of new elements and restored furniture that belonged to the hotel’s original collection – all skillfully measured – have created a unique atmosphere of discreet and captivating luxury. At Helvetia & Bristol, it’s impossible not to feel inspired, to feel a deep sense of wonder, allowing yourself to be pampered by the absolute comfort that characterizes each room. The Junior Suite and Junior Suite View, which offer exclusive views of piazza Strozzi, boast an aristocratic elegance. Comprised of a sitting room with sofas dressed in exquisite Italian velvet and a sleeping area with a spacious bed covered in monogrammed sheets, the suites’ walls are decorated with wainscoting, mirrors and original or newly-made and equally sophisticated tapestries. The fine, Italian fabrics were made by Nobilis, Rubelli and Tessiture di Rovezzano. The large bathtubs in dual-toned marble all come with toiletries by Terme di Saturnia. In one of these suites in particular, the creations by the Antico Setificio Fiorentino are on full display. The tapestries and padded furniture are made with Frescobaldi damasks, a magnificent and historic design with a satin background, made ad hoc with an impressive red and purple pairing. The division between the Suites’ sitting rooms and sleeping areas is even more distinct, allowing guests to truly enjoy the comfort and elegance of the furniture and setting. The antique furniture, vases and paintings, trimmings and refined tapestries reflect the shifting light as it pours in through the large windows, also original pieces that were perfectly restored, framed by curtains made of priceless silk taffeta. In some of the suites, the queen-size beds are covered by delicate wrought-iron and brass canopies made by Florentine artisans. The Heritage Suites, all of which overlook piazza and Palazzo Strozzi, vaunt a charm rooted in the hotel’s history, decorated with extraordinary antique pieces and nuances of exquisite fabrics, priceless taffeta curtains, brass and crystal lamps made especially for the spaces and mirrors with lavish, engraved frames. In the two Panoramic Suites, the view looks out over the rooftops of the historic centre, the cathedral and Brunelleschi’s Dome. Restaurant and Bar & Lounge: Bristol Winter Garden and Il Baretto del Bristol At the Bristol Winter Garden, Executive Chef Pasquale D’Ambrosio is behind the sophisticated, contemporary and impressive menu. D’Ambrosio’s is a personal style, made all the more expressive by his immense passion for poetry and theatre. Authentic flavours are at the heart of the chef’s refined dishes, strongly inspired by his origins in Campania and vaunting influences of Tuscan flavours: from fettuccia di Gragnano alla Nerano, tasty clams and Calvisius caviar to Cinta Senese pork belly, apples from the Casentino mountains, burnt endives and Miele di Spiaggia, the dishes can be enjoyed in the evocative ambiance of the Winter Garden.