Palazzo Portinari Salviati: A Harmony of Heritage and Contemporary Hospitality

In the heart of Florence, behind the walls of a Renaissance palazzo, lies a story dating back to the 13th century — reimagined for the 21st-century traveler. 

The building originally consisted of a cluster of houses belonging to Folco Portinari — father of Dante’s muse, Beatrice. By 1470–1480, his heirs had transformed it into a palazzo, possibly designed by Michelozzo. In the mid-16th century, Jacopo Salviati, a descendant of the Medici family, expanded the structure (1546–1578), including an inner courtyard adorned with tapestries and frescoes by Alessandro Allori.

Historic Layers and Significant Interiors

Over the centuries, the palazzo served various purposes: as an educational institution, a ministry, and the headquarters of a bank. Only in 2022, after extensive restoration, was it transformed into the Your Place in History hotel complex.

The Artistic Heart and Architectural Restoration: the palazzo is structured around two main courtyards:
— Cortile di Cosimo I, with its central statue of Duke Cosimo beneath a glass canopy, finished in Bardiglio and Carrara marble, inspired by a 13th-century portal fresco;
— Cortile degli Imperatori, where frescoes by Alessandro Allori (16th century) depict scenes from the Odyssey, the Labors of Hercules, and the comic Battle of Frogs and Mice (Batrachomyomachia).

Reinterpretation for 21st-Century Hospitality 

Today, the palazzo is divided into 13 exclusive luxury suites, each a “journey through time.” The suites are equipped with smart-home automation while preserving historic elements: terracotta floors, marble, 18th-century frescoes, and coffered ceilings bearing the heraldry of the Portinari and Salviati families. A gallery painted by Tommaso Gherardini connects the residential spaces and enhances their artistic character.

A Sensory Space: Gastronomy and Spa

In the Cortile degli Imperatori, the Michelin-starred restaurant Chic Nonna by Chef Vito Mollica offers a multisensory dining experience framed by Renaissance forms and decorative arches. The integration of gastronomy and wellness transforms the palazzo into more than just a place to stay — it becomes a carefully curated cultural experience, celebrating Tuscan heritage through seasonal produce and refined presentation.

Beneath the building, former banking vaults have been transformed into the Vita Nova Spa, featuring a pool, hammam, and sauna — a neoclassical wellness space harmoniously woven into the historic context.

The Synthesis of History and Modernity

Palazzo Portinari Salviati is an outstanding example of how architectural heritage can be seamlessly integrated into a contemporary hospitality model. The project has carefully preserved frescoes dating from the 12th to the 18th centuries, in close collaboration with heritage authorities, while offering all the functions of modern luxury — from fine gastronomy and wellness to unique historic suites that immerse guests in the spirit of Renaissance Florence.