Continentale, Florence, Italy

A part of the Ferragamo collection, the Continentale design hotel – located close to Florence's Ponte Vecchio – certainly lives up to the smart reputation of its two elder sisters, the Lungarno and the Gallery. The design is sharply contemporary, but with hints of both La Dolce Vita and of the golden-age of Hollywood. In the Continentale's little reception hall there is a 50’s atmosphere in the air, enhanced by yester-year movies shown above the modern fireplace. Audrey Hepburn would not feel out of place in the corner seating area, with its black-and pink-armchairs… and who needs Tiffany’s with all the famous Ponte Vecchio jewellers right outside?

The facilities

A curious lift equipped with sofas and cushions takes you up to the lounge bar and to an immaculate reading room. You can sit (or better, lie) on the Continentale's sofa-beds positioned in front of huge windows overlooking the busy Lungarni, and you know you have found the best place in Florence for people-watching. However, there is a place in the Continentale where you truly forget about the rest of the world: the Sky Lounge Terrazza de Consorti, an intimate bar reserved for the design hotel's guests, offers 360-degree views over the Florence's roofs, with Palazzo Vecchio and the Brunelleschi dome on one side, and the Ponte Vecchio on the other. Perfect for an evening drink while the sun sets over the Arno River.

The rooms

The 43 rooms at this design hotel are not enormous, but they feel airy, with plenty of natural light during the day and some funky mood lighting for the evenings. White is the dominant colour for spreads, voile bed sheets and light curtains. Wardrobes have been conveniently placed in the Continentale's bathrooms, which then become cosy toilette and changing areas. Deluxe and superior rooms are bigger and also offer great views over the Arno River, the Florentine rooftops or the Vasari corridor – some of these rooms have terraces. If you feel like splashing out, you can have your own designer private apartment by booking the best room in the boutique hotel: the spectacular Penthouse Suite, nestled on top of the medieval tower. You will have two queen beds (or king upon request), top class facilities and a breathtaking view over the Ponte Vecchio and the Florence's river banks.