Travelling from Pisa Airport (Ryanair from Manchester) to Florence on the unappealing-sounding Pismover train, the landscape soon gives way to lush forests of pine trees, Italianate houses and vineyards and then Florence itself, birthplace of the Renaissance and the must-see city for anyone interested in art, architecture and of course romance!
We head for Hotel La Gemma, a divine boutique hotel created with love by five siblings of the Cecchi family (the hotel name is actually made up of initials of the quintet’s own forenames). It’s a true gem in the heart of the city, literally minutes away from sightseeing hotspots like Piazza della Repubblica, the Ponte Vecchio, Piazza del Duomo and via de’ Tornabuoni. The colour scheme combines relaxing forest greens and pinks with wallpaper accents. The result is modern, elegant and utterly romantic.
One of the hotel’s main advantages is its discreetness. Tucked away off one of the main shopping streets with Miu Miu, Prada and Zara just two minutes stroll away, it’s a dreamy hideaway set within the stunning 19th-century Palazzo Paoletti that has been considerately and tastefully designed to suit modern travellers who want mod cons coupled with distinctive design.
Each of the 39 rooms in this hotel is unique. For my stay, I had a sitting room with a view of Le Duomo’s famous cupola. The bed was king-sized and luxurious with crisp white linens and blush pink bedspread. An ode to Art Deco decadence but with a decidedly contemporary ambience. Lovers who come here can play their own soundtrack on a Marshall Bluetooth speaker in the room or browse thousands of channels on the TV if they want to take in a rom-com.
Embracing the luxury of La Gemma means you can even have activities curated to suit your mood. This could be anything. A visit to the famous Uffizi gallery, crammed with art from such greats as Botticelli, Michaelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci, or the playful Gucci Museum with its inspired displays of bags and clothing. Or you could head off as we did to one of the most exclusive private perfumeries in Florence.
At Profumoir, the experience is an olfactory sensation. Here, you can learn all about the heady fragrances which make up the perfumery’s collection. On our visit, for example, we go through the selection of seven base fragrances ranging from sweet jasmine to incense, considered one of the most spiritual ingredients that we are told: “connected people to the higher powers.”
Then there is the chance to create a personalised perfume with the help of the highly trained staff. As a Valentine’s treat a must is the special couple’s experience aimed at creating a bespoke fragrance for the both of you. The ultimate expression of love!
Our visit ends with smouldering charcoal laced with Oud and frankincense in a very special incense ceremony before we head out into the winding streets back to the hotel.
La Gemma’s intimate restaurant LUCA helmed by chef Paulo Airaudo offers up an exquisite taste of Italy with elegance and refinement and its tasting menus are memorable allowing us to indulge in delightful dishes such as pigeon encased with soft melting pasta, goat cheese flan with persimmon caramel.
This is in contrast with the more traditional dining experience at the bustling Trattoria Marrione on Via della Spada, where the chianti flows with the conversation and steaming plates of pasta to share.
The next day, despite the hangovers, we take a food and wine tour courtesy of the very knowledgeable and entertaining Linda Sorgiovanni of Italy Customised. Breakfast at La Gemma is too good to resist, but so too are the delights that await at Slitti a family-run chocolate business. (Andre Slitti invented the chocolate spoon!) And the local indoor market where there’s more wine and lots to ensure that you get a true taste of Italy.
Janet Reeder was a guest of Hotel La Gemma
Via Dei Cavalieri 6R, 50123, Firenze (IT) www.lagemmahotel.com
By Janet Reeder
