In the beating heart of Florence, where the stones tell as many stories as the people, a new address sets its hushed rhythm. On the very elegant Via Calimala, a few steps from the Ponte Vecchio and the majestic shadow of Cathedral from Florence, the 5* hotel The Gem sets itself apart as a precious breath: a stop where the city's tumult gives way to a rare form of serenity.
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An address like a well-kept secret
You have to go through its doors to understand. Behind the facade of the Palazzo Paoletti, Built in 1895 by the architect Tito Bellini, La Gemma doesn't go for ostentation. It prefers a whisper to a clamour, elegance to showiness.
Carried by the inspired vision of the Cecchi family, this five-star boutique hotel reinvents Italian hospitality. You don't just stay there: you are welcomed. Like in an ideal Florentine home, where every object seems chosen with love, every texture considered for the eye and the touch.
Refinement as language
From the hallway, your gaze is captured by a palette of subtle greens. The design, orchestrated by the Milanese studio Designed by Gemini, reprises the geometric lines of Art Deco, between heritage and modernity.
The shades of green that run through La Gemma are not simply a decorative choice: they are its emotional signature. From the deep green of the drapes to the soft green of the subtly scattered details, the palette evokes Tuscan marbles, secret gardens, and the patina of time. These nuances distill an immediate sense of calm. At La Gemma, green becomes a language, that of a tranquil luxury, in perfect harmony with the Florentine soul.
The rooms and suites also tell a unique story. Delicate velvets, silk wall coverings, sculptural beds and marble-clad bathrooms create a setting where time seems to stand still.
Allure Spa, a true breath of fresh air in the heart of Florence
Nestled in the historic cellars of the palace, the Allure spa cultivates a unique, almost timeless atmosphere. Behind its stone walls, a profound, enveloping silence settles in. Dim lights glide over mineral materials, while the spaces invite complete disconnection. Here, exceptional care and massage become a ritual, driven by the expertise of the house. Biologique Recherche. A discreet retreat, conceived as a true breath of fresh air in the heart of Florence.
Italian food, reinvented
On the first floor, Luca's has established itself as one of the city's new gastronomic must-visits. Led by Chef Paolo Airaudo, who recently received a Michelin star, the restaurant embodies a contemporary vision of Italian cuisine. It delivers a highly precise gastronomic performance, where each dish on the tasting menu forms a chapter in its own right.
The journey begins with delicate finesse with a delicate consommé, a prelude to a series of amuse-bouches: a tartare of Fassona Piedmontese beef, served with a mortadella cornet, followed by a delicate bite of tuna and caviar. Next comes the homemade bread, a wholemeal loaf and still-warm grissini, enhanced by extra virgin olive oil. Laudemio, as a tribute to its Italian roots.
The sea always makes a subtle appearance in a dish of raw trout and purple shrimp, enhanced by a tomato water. Piennolo. Then, the parsley risotto is adorned with red prawns, playing on a delicate balance between sweetness, acidity and marine intensity.
The main course, a grouper served with a sauce Bagna càuda, will delight all gourmets, an almost comforting flavour.
Finally, the dessert surprises and delights: a goat's cheese flan, accompanied by strawberry caramel and balsamic vinegar, a bold signature that blends acidity and depth. A few mignardises conclude this journey, like a final precious touch.
Through this menu, Luca's expresses a signature cuisine, where each dish tells a story of perfectly mastered contrasts.
More than just a hotel, La Gemma is a soft and delicate invitation. An invitation to experience the city differently, in an exceptional setting where time, at last, seems to stand still.
The first instalment in the La Gemma Collection, destined to expand to Milan, Rome, and Capri, this establishment lays the groundwork for a renewed Italian hotel scene: rooted in its heritage, yet resolutely focused on the future.
Rooftop Hotel La Gemma.
In a city where everything seems to have already been written, La Gemma achieves a rare feat: to still surprise. And to offer discerning travellers what they now seek more than anything: the feeling of having discovered a unique place.
Hotel The Gem
Via dei Cavalieri, 2/C, 50123 Florence FI, Italy
Text : Laurence Grémy-Flamand
Photos : Dr and Laurence Grémy-Flamand
