History
The Hotel Bernini Palace, a prestigious five-star hotel in the heart of Florence, is a 15th-century palazzo a stone's throw from Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery.
Overlooking the Palazzo Vecchio and near the banks of the Arno, it is based in one of the most representative settings in the city. Over the course of its history, it has borne witness to events like those which led Florence to become the capital of the Kingdom of Italy from 1865 to 1870.
Frequented by parliamentarians and other important figures, it was a place of political meet-ups and debate, a past which lives on today in the circular frescoes which decorate the Sala Parlamento, that now hosts guests for breakfast.
the palazzo
In the heart of the oldest part of Florence, between the first circle of the Roman city and the mediaeval one, is Borgo dei Greci, an area steeped in history and located between Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza Santa Croce. It is a place where the memory of the city is still tangible, as evoked by the verses of Dante Alighieri, who in Canto 16 of his Paradiso mentions the Greci family. This is the setting for the building which today is the Hotel Bernini Palace, but whose origins date back to the 14th century, when it was the property of the Della Pera family, ancestors of the historic Peruzzi family, a powerful dynasty of bankers with interests all over Europe.
In testament to this past, a slab of marble above the main entrance still today bears Dante’s famous verses: “Nel picciol cerchio s’entrava per porta che si nomava da quei della Pera” (One entered the small circuit by a gate Which from the Della Pera took its name!) – Paradiso, Canto 16. On the Via dei Leoni façade it is also possible to see the succession of low arches of the first storey of the ancient 15th-century palazzo, a visible trace of the architectural stratifications which have marked its history.
The building has been linked to the tradition of hospitality for centuries. As far back as the 17th century it was the only hotel in Florence with running water and a shelter for wayfarers’ animals. Around the mid-19th century it is remembered as the location of an elegant hotel, known as Albergo dello Scudo di Francia. Nevertheless, it was in the period when Florence was the capital of the Kingdom of Italy (1865-1870) that the building experienced its first great moment of splendour.
The Scudo di Francia was transformed into the Hotel Columbia Parlamento, becoming a meeting point for the political life of the age. Thanks to its privileged position, it was frequented by parliamentarians, who met in the Palazzo Vecchio, and senators, who met in Palazzo Pitti. Some chose it as their residence, while others filled it during mealtimes, transforming it into a location of debate and dialogue, where informal conversations led to alliances and decisions destined to mark the first years of the kingdom.
The extensions and transformations which defined the current appearance of the palazzo date back to this period; they represent a measured reinterpretation of the Renaissance architectural styles, alongside extremely elegant interiors, with velvet and damask, in keeping with the high standards of the rich Italian and European bourgeoisie.
Service of the highest level was guaranteed to these illustrious guests. With the transfer of the Italian capital to Rome, the hotel went through a period of lesser fame, which lasted until the 1980s, when major renovation works were carried out.
This led to the protection and showcasing of the palazzo's 19th-century memories, giving back extremely valuable historic and architectural heritage to the city.
One of stand-outs of the Hotel Bernini Palace's treasures is the large frescoed room on the first floor, which is today the breakfast room, and was once known as the Buvette del Parlamento. Along the walls are portraits of the leading figures of the Italian unification movement, the Risorgimento: in the centre Giuseppe Garibaldi, surrounded by important Tuscan figures — including Nero Corsini, last minister of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, Giuseppe Montanelli, Cosimo Ridolfi, Vincenzo Salvagnoli and Manfredo Fanti — flanked by Piedmontese exponents such as Cavour, Brofferio, Balbo, Gioberti, La Marmora and Valerio, alongside Giuseppe La Farina. Daniele Manin also appears among the faces, an homage to the protagonist of the Republic of San Marco of 1849, while the absence of Giuseppe Mazzini is striking, yet consistent with his republican ideals which prevented him from swearing allegiance to the king and joining parliament. On the ground floor, a 16th-century loggia was also brought to light during the restoration works in the late 1980s, which had previously been almost hidden from sight. The same works also revealed a series of niches decorated with female heads adorned with curious headgear, a reminder of an old exhibition held in the hall in the early 20th century.
The history of the palazzo is not just heritage to admire: it lives on in the services and hospitality provided today. The attention to detail, personalised care and refined atmosphere which characterise the Bernini Palace are the natural evolution of a century’s tradition of hospitality. All restoration and maintenance is guided by respect for the location's identity.
Conservation of frescoes, niches, original materials and historic proportions is an informed choice: preserving the palazzo’s authenticity means offering guests a unique experience, which is impossible to replicate elsewhere.
HISTORY: FLORENCE THE CAPITAL
The 18th of November 1864 was a date destined to make a profound mark in the history of Florence: the Italian parliament approved the transfer of the nation's capital from Turin to the Tuscan city. It was a first which arrived unexpectedly and was destined to last just six years, until 1870, but which radically changed the city's urban and social face. Parliamentarians, high-level officials of the kingdom and functionaries of the ministries, along with their families, came to Florence, launching it onto the international scene. The chamber of deputies was based in Palazzo Vecchio, while the senate met in the Medicean theatre of Palazzo Pitti. Demographic changes also ensued: from around 114,000 inhabitants in 1864, the population rapidly grew to over 200,000. In order to handle this growth, the city tasked architect Giuseppe Poggi with creating an ambitious urban expansion plan.
The transformation was profound: the increase in residential demand led to a significant rise in prices, the renovation of existing buildings, and the construction of new districts. Florence progressively took on the appearance of a modern European capital, inspired in particular by the Parisian model.
Among the most significant works were the demolition of a large portion of the ancient walls, replaced by wide tree-lined boulevards. Historic areas which had decayed, such as Camaldoli di San Lorenzo, made way for new architecture, such as the Mercato Centrale, designed by Giuseppe Mengoni, designer of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan and inspired by Les Halles in Paris. In this context of renovation, the city saw the birth of elegant boutiques, literary cafés and new commercial activities, reflecting the ambitions and dynamism of the new capital.
It was a period of great social, political and cultural ferment. In 1859 the first city daily newspaper, “La Nazione”, was launched, while Florence asserted itself as the main centre for artists and intellectuals.
These were the years of the Piagentina school, with painters such as Signorini, Lega, Abbati and Sernesi, committed to painting the Florentine countryside from life, and the famous works of Giovanni Fattori, including the Rotonda di Palmieri.
Already an essential stop on the Grand Tour, the city attracted some of the most important personalities in European culture, including George Eliot and Dostoevsky, who completed The Idiot in Florence in 1869, in the shadow of Palazzo Pitti. On the 20th of September 1870, with the Capture of Rome, this brief yet intense period came to a conclusion: Florence ceased to be the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, ceding this role to Rome. The city thus returned to expressing its most authentic vocation, that of the capital of art and culture.
Les Clefs d'Or
The Hotel Bernini Palace stands out for its concierge service, led by expert concierges who are members of the prestigious international association Les Clefs d’Or.
The welcome provided, the attention to detail and quality of service define the experience offered, with a team which is always available to anticipate and interpret guests’ requirements, helping make every stay unique and memorable.