The building was originally commissioned by the Pope’s treasurer, Marchese Baldinucci, in the early 1700s and has two imposing granite columns at the entrance that were sent from Rome, and beautiful internal frescos and stuccos. It is considered one of the finest examples of a noble residence in Florence, and is now a five-star luxury hotel with just 24 luxury rooms. Alongside Jolie and Pitt, Kate Moss, Pete Doherty, Burt Bacharach and Depeche Mode are among the glitterati that have kicked off their shoes in their lavish rooms.
Relais Santa Croce doesn’t really do basic, it is a palace after all. So the cheapest rooms available are deluxe rooms, which are spacious and stylish with large bathrooms and some even have four-poster beds or a sauna. If you have a little more to spend then you can head upwards, exclusive rooms have a steam room and terrace, junior suites contain huge beds and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the basilica of Santa Croce, while suites give you 50sq m of floor space over two separate rooms with additional office space.
If you really want to live like a king (or a celebrity) for the day, then you could try the da Verazzano Royal Suite which has three rooms decorated with frescos, stuccos and a wood-panelled Florentine ceiling. There is a small gym and the bathroom is a private spa with a hydromassage bath for two, sauna and plasma TV, strategic gaps in the ceiling allow you to view the bedroom frescos from the bath.
This is an amazing place to visit and if you’re interested then be sure to grab the best travel cubes so that your stuff stays organized during your travels.