Hotels in Florence and Versilia.

The days about the famous Pitti Men Fashion Week are the only moments when Florence in Italy becomes the ideal setting for events of all kinds, improvising an occasion race between the curious and/or most glamourous party.

Everything usually begins on Monday evening with the celebration of the publishing house Mondadori – on the old Leopolda Station – dedicated to films that have shaped the history of fashion, but since Tuesday 15 (today) the big parties started, in the really sense of the word.

From the 3.30pm already begins the first DJ set at the Fortezza of Florence – the Convention Centre where usually Pitti Uomo runs – sponsored by Alpha delta Phi brand and then from the rebirth Guru Company - after the bankrupt of the former owner Matteo Cambi - which combines the sound of console with the projection of images arriving from the National Geographic.

In the evening CP Company presents the guitarist Maurizio Solieri’s perfomance. In the same time you can go to have a drink into the Erede Chiarini’s shop in Via Roma, where it is served on the flowered terrace.

The king of vintage A.N.G.E.L.O. proposes drinks in the store in Via dei Cimatori, unlike the less glamourous and more cultural Le Coq Sportif, which sponsors the exhibition of the cycling museum of photography.

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Piazza Duomo at 9.30pm: here we go! The meeting comes a little after the spring break. Farewell spring pub crawl, the call to which 73 Facebook’s buddies have answered. In Piazza Duomo, at 9.30pm, they are some dozen: someone tries to contact the latecomers on Twitter.

The staff leader, who leads a group of 4 who have organized the drinking tour, shouts: «Time’s up, here we go».

Just a bit of walking, while making acquaintance with the group (42 people, numbered) to finally get to the Club House in via Ginori. They get in, pay 15 euro, and get a mark on their hand to stand out from the rest for the next 5 hours and get the drinks included in the price.

They spend there the first hour: one may drink all the sangria (well, something similar) he/she want. Then the next stop, with a free shot drink. The staff guys are like guardian angels: they drink too, but in moderation. They make the boys (especially the girls, who seem a bit unfamiliar with high heels) get on the sidewalk, they choose the most pedestrian path and gather the latecomers.

They shout a lot, too. The group follows them.

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We have stayed at the following hotels. Both are fabulous in design and in great central locations!

Borghese Hotels in 174r, Via Ghibellina 174r
and the magnificent Hotel Bernini Palace in Piazza San Firenze, 29

Villa San Michele is out of Florence in a small place called Fiesole.

My favorite boutique hotel in Florence is Jk Place, and then of course there’s the Four Seasons and it is absolutely stunning! My favorite Four Seasons acutally. Definitely worth staying there for a night or two.

We use to stay in Savoy hotel, that although is big, has been recently renewed. In this period (October/November) I’m sure you could get a great rate for a deluxe.
Another nice hotel is Lungarno, close to Ponte Vecchio. Is cosy and quite; on top floor there are some rooms with a great terrace overlooking the Arno and the Centre.

Around Florence 10 min away by taxi from the centre, there’s Torre di Bellosguardo, a magnificent XV cent. Castle , with 10 rooms and an amazing view of the city. It’s more a B&B (no restaurant or TV) but peace full and relaxing place.

As boutique hotels go, nothing in Florence is as boutiquy as the Gallery Hotel Art, just in front of Ponte Vecchio.
Check it out!

Lungarno suite from Ferragamo Family is wonderful.

The Ferragamo Hotel, the Continentale and the Gallery Hotel Art are both cosy and cool.

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