Lonely Planet Review

Start saving now if you want to stay in this 16th-century Oltrarno palazzo. Or just be very rich. Besides rooms that are at once cavernous and over-the-top opulent, the staff bend over backwards to ensure that guests receive princely pampering.

Arriving late at night? No problem, they'll provide you with a welcome meal. Want a shirt made to measure? They'll send someone around. You can even choose the scent of your Bulgari hand soap. The idea is to make you feel like some 18th-century Florentine toff, and they succeed. Many of the rooms have elaborately frescoed ceilings, though they are so high off the floor that you need opera glasses to make out the highest cherubs. For a break from all the marble busts and trompe l'oeil trellises, head to the billiard room, where jazzy, modern animal prints dominate. And be sure to climb the 60 steps that lead to the rooftop terrace, where your evening (or morning) cocktail comes with panoramic views.