Along the banks of the river Arno, on the prestigious Lungarno Guicciardini, sits a noble building steeped in history and style - Palazzo Lanfredini. This is home to Lungarno Guicciardini, the latest addition to our curated selection of beautiful, luxury apartments in Florence city centre in the city’s prime locations and in historical palazzi. This particular and very unique palazzo exudes elegance and style and is surrounded by the most incredible Florentine architectural, cultural and artistic masterpieces. The apartment is located on the third floor with elevator, and you can really breathe in the importance and grandeur of the Renaissance as soon as you step in to this incredible palazzo. The same Palazzo is also home to the British Institute since 1917.
The meticulous restoration project is being carried out by our architects and interior designers namely, Ilaria Sassolini and Lorenzo Capogrosso. Both professionals closely follow the ancient Florentine tradition through the use of selected materials and specialised techniques that were used to adorn and enrich noble palaces dating back to the Renaissance period.
Upon entering the apartment you will be greeted by a bright corridor that divides the property into two distinct zones: the two bedrooms to the right and the open plan kitchen, dining and living room on the left.
The apartment will have a fully furnished classic-style kitchen with elegant marble bar table (and stools), perfect for breakfasts, a quick coffee before a busy day sightseeing, or a glass of wine before heading out for your evening meal. Furthermore, just imagine washing the dishes and looking directly out of the window over one of Florence’s most elegant bridges – the Ponte Alla Carraia and the lush green hills that extend up and surround Florence towards Monte Morello. Absolutely enchanting! Washing the dishes has never been such a pleasure! The modern marble yet classic kitchen will also be well equipped for you to be able to cook your favourite Italian meals and where you will be able to enjoy the Italian “dolce vita” - laughter, conversation, eating and drinking our wine (wine bottles included complimentary in your rental, and produced locally at the family winery in the heart of the Chianti countryside).
The living room will be a cosy and intimate space with elegant dining table to seat six. The walls will be decorated with majestic wooden boiserie expertly crafted by Florentine artisans in elegant grey tones. There will be a convertible double sofa bed. All windows boast relaxing views over the mesmerizing Arno River. The living room will follow a light grey colour scheme and will be equipped with all your usual comforts including Smart TV, WIFI and Marshall Bluetooth speaker.
Last but not least there are two spacious suites, each one with double bed and ensuite bathroom (and walk-in shower).
The windows from the bedrooms (and the bathroom from within one of the rooms) enjoy relaxing views on to an internal courtyard, the colourful terracotta tiled roofs and the historical bell tower and dome belonging to the ancient Church of Santo Spirito. All windows will have double glazing however the bedrooms that are located facing an internal courtyard will be naturally quiet. The bathrooms will be furnished in exquisite grey and white streaked marble from Carrara, in North Tuscany, the same area Michelangelo sourced marble for the Statue of David.
There will also be a custom-made marble floor (with grey Carrara marble) inlaid with bordeaux coloured dots in the entrance corridor whilst a decorative dark-parquet flooring with reclaimed wood laid in concentric squares will give the living room and bedrooms both a lived-in and classy effect. The other rooms will be adorned with different tones of grey, beige and taupe decorated with draperies that wrap around the walls, creating a very relaxing and cosy ambience.
Lungarno Guicciardini is a true Florentine home in a beautiful palace and the perfect base for your dream vacation in Florence.
History about the Palazzo Lanfredini:
The Guicciardini family from Poppiano in the Valley of Pesa, arrived in Florence during the third century and made their living out of commerce. The Lungarno where our apartment is situated takes its name from the Guicciardini family, situated between the bridges of Santa Trinità and Carraia in the zone of Santo Spirito. The Lanfredini Palace was constructed around 1501 on lands held by the ancient Lanfredini family. At the time Lanfredino Lanfredini was one of the Gonfaloniers of justice of Florence. The Palace became the property of the Guicciardini's in 1810. The Palace is mentioned in “Le Vite” by Vasari, who attributes the design of the building to Baccio D’Agnolo who built it on another Palace that belonged to the same noble family since 1435. A monumental staircase leads you to a loggia with Doric styled columns that opens on to the central court. The Palace's main architectural inspiration derives from Roman architecture.
Upon Lanfredino’s death, the property passed to his three sons. The Palace remained the property of the family until the end of the dynasty in 1741 with the death of the Cardinal Jacopo Lanfredini. The Palace then passed to the Cardinal's sister who had married in to the Corboli family, who held it for a century. The Palazzo then passed to the Bernini family where it became a hotel, then a shared property with an English man named Acton who, upon his death, gave his part to the British Institute of Florence - which is today the institute's library.
The facade doesn’t actually represent typical Florentine architecture, with its ashlar style facade, blackbirds, grotesque figures and coat of arms upon the upper levels. Reconstruction was necessary on the upper levels to repair the damage from the Second World War bombing.
Interesting Facts about the building & its history as headquarters of the British Institute:
Lungarno Guicciardini is indeed one of the loveliest riverside avenues in Florence, and since 1917 has housed the headquarters of The British Institute of Florence. Established by English and Italian scholars, it was the first British institute outside the United Kingdom. A beautiful building, permeated by a rarefied air of A Room with a View, open to all, where you peruse a book seated on one of the magnificent vintage settees while the ample windows afford exemplary vistas over the river. Many international residents and visitors see it as a home from home, a place to stop by for a moment, read a book or browse the periodicals … or simply catch up on email (the wi-fi is great!). King Charles and Queen Camilla's visited the Institute back in 2017, on the occasion of the British Institute of Florence's 100th anniversary celebrations. By becoming a Member, you have access to the Library whenever it is open (Monday to Friday 14:30-18:30), and also have borrowing rights to the vast 50.000 book collection. Patron and Gold Members also enjoy special access and discounts for a wide range of events and courses in Art History and Italian language. Furthermore, what would be more English than taking afternoon tea at the British Institute’s Harold Acton Library? While perhaps relatively modest in gastronomic scope, the weekly tea parties are the perfect opportunity to meet new people, chat amongst the bookshelves and enjoy the remarkable views of the river. The library’s afternoon tea parties are held every Thursday between 4:30 and 6pm. Open to all; a minimum donation of 1 euro goes towards supporting the library.
Please note that the apartment is non-smoking.
