Hotel Lungarno, Florence, Italy

In Italian, Lungarno means on the banks of the Arno River, which is exactly where the very cool luxury hotel is located in Florence, a stone's throw from the Ponte Vecchio. The entrance is off the wonderful Borgo San Jacopo, which is best for antique shopping.

The facilities

As part of the Ferragamo outfit, the style at this Hotel Lungarno is modern British country house with Vogue interiors. Beautifully executed, the downstairs of Hotel Lungarno boasts mulberry colour carpeting, cream walls with detailing, piping and some furnishings picked out in rich blue. The grand final touch has to be the original Cocteau crayon drawings which give this luxury hotel more character than any paint colour can.

Upstairs there are thick blue or beige carpets and well chosen antique furnishings. Guests also enjoy either cream or duck-egg blue walls, lined with original watercolours and limited edition prints.

Downstairs in Hotel Lungarno, the bar and breakfast area looks out across the river to the British Consulate. But the most delightful way to dine is to have breakfast served to you on your balcony while reading EM Forster. Service is Italian, and food is excellent in this luxury hotel.

Lungarno also sells knick knacks in its own interior design store across the road called 'Lungarno Details' - 'Ingredients of the ambience’, here, guests can preserve the memories of their stay in this luxury hotel forever.

The rooms

Half of the 73 rooms at Hotel Lungarno face the Arno River, many with balconies (for example rooms 652-655) with little wicker chairs.

The suites have deep blue sofas and most of the rooms at this luxury hotel have two windows, but certain corner rooms - for example room 871 - have three, so they enjoy the full extent of Florence’s sunshine. From the higher floors you can see the Pitti Palace and as far as the Piazzale Michealangelo.

Bathrooms are ultra modern in pinky/grey travertine marble with thick white towels.