Former Guild of Hoteliers residence becomes Art Deco hotel
Florence has welcomed a new hotel on its Via Calimala, with the opening of La Gemma Hotel. The property, which was formerly the residence of the Guild of Hoteliers, has been designed to capture the glamour and style of the city.
Set within the 19th century Palazzo Paoletti, designed by Italian architect Tito Bellini, the hotel sees Art Deco and an old-school sophistication fused with the green marble and pink-hued stone colour palette of the nearby city cathedral.
Throughout guestrooms, bold, geometric patterns and textiles meet Italian velvet bed linen and marble bathrooms – furnished by Devon & Devon, with ceramics by Gio Ponti – to create a property aligned with Florence’s glamour.
The brainchild of Florentine family the Cecchi’s, La Gemma Hotel provides a range of additional experiences for guests, from lounging in the cocktail bar to visiting its Allure Boutique Spa, housed in the property’s cellars and comprising a Turkish bath, hydro-massage bath, ice showers and two therapy rooms.
On the first floor of the building, meanwhile, is LUCA’s by Paola Airaudo, a dining concept showcasing Tuscan cuisine in the Michelin-starred head chef’s trademark contemporary style. The dining space is broken up by soft arches, while panelled walls, an open wine cellar and hand-crafted bookshelves add further charm.
