This 15th-Century Palazzo in Florence Was Transformed Into 6 Luxe, Full-Service Apartments

Who says you can’t teach an old palazzo new tricks? That’s what Grégory Marciano and his wife, Olivia, have done in establishing La Réserve Firenze, which debuted this fall in Florence’s Oltrarno neighborhood. It’s a 10-minute walk from the Piazza della Signoria (where the Medicis once ruled), but it couldn’t feel farther away from the tourist mobs on the busier side of the Arno River. From left: Archways accent stairs at the property; a dining room on the piano nobile. Mathieu Salvaing “This is a street where Florentine people live,” says Marciano, who moved here with his family from Paris in 2019. Appropriately, the couple has turned the 15th-century structure—which had been a warren of studios for foreign students—into just six generously size, fully serviced apartments. With its comfortable Modernist design, which the French firm Gilles & Boissier created with extreme sensitivity to the building’s history, the stylish result is executed with privacy in mind: It’s as well suited to high-profile types who don’t want to make new friends crossing the lobby as it is to newlyweds on an extended honeymoon. Plus, it’s true to how well-heeled Italians savor la dolce vita: “If you really want to experience living like a Florentine family right now, this is very similar,” he adds. They’ve even taken that feeling one step further by opening up their own villa, which previously belonged to a member of the Gucci family, to guests who want to take advantage of its tennis court. Letf to right: Original frescoes in a bedroom; the three-bedroom duplex’s private terrace. Mathieu Salvaing This residential, high-touch offering tracks with what seasoned travelers are increasingly asking for. “We’ve got those people that [say], ‘I want my apartment… but I want somebody who’s going to bring me a Coca-Cola at two o’clock in the morning,’ ” says Andrea Grisdale, C.E.O. and founder of Italy travel specialist IC Bellagio. And right now, during the offseason, happens to be an ideal time to soak up even more authentic culture. Dine at one of the city’s hot spots in the summer, and “there is no way that the owner is going to sit down with you at the end of the meal and have a limoncello,” Grisdale adds. Fortunately, she shared a few more locations where you also might genuinely feel like a local. From about $1,500 Come si dice “hit list”? We asked Grisdale for the places she and her guides recommend for a true Tuscan experience. The Classic Restaurant: Cibrèo Don’t expect pasta. This Florentine favorite focuses on turning peasant dishes, like stuffed pigeon, into fine dining. The Coffee Shop: Dinicaffè Come for a tour of the only coffee roaster in Florence’s historic city center and leave with a bag (or three) of its single-source beans. The Aperitivo Bar: Giacosa 1815 Long heralded as the birthplace of the Negroni, this bar is so inviting that people who start their evenings here often return after dinner for a digestivo. The Leather Shop: Il Bisonte Florence is a leather lover’s dream, and Il Bisonte allows you to buy goods made by artisans who all work within a 19-mile radius of the boutique. Authors Justin Fenner Lifestyle Director Justin Fenner is Robb Report's lifestyle director. He's been covering style, grooming, and watches for over a decade, traveling across the world to examine how these topics intersect with the broader… Read More