Continentale Style: A Chic Address in Florence
Hotel Continentale
Florence, Italy
1950s Italian Chic, $$
Italians care a great deal about their bella figura. Google might translate this as "beautiful figure," but the intended meaning is deeper and more subtle. Having and giving bella figura means you're presenting yourself well, not only in your dress but also in your behavior: It's the impression you make and leave behind. It means not embarrassing yourself — or, perhaps more importantly since this is Italy, your parents and grandparents. Exhibit good manners, good style, and a warm demeanor, and yours is a bella figura. Act boorish or entitled, rude or sloppy, and yours is a brutta figura. Ugly. Not the look you want.
If hotels can be said to have a bella figura, Hotel Continentale in Florence more than fits the bill. In part, credit goes to its pedigree: Like sister hotel Portrait Firenze, it’s one of the Lungarno Hotels owned by the Ferragamo family, fashion royalty in Italy. Add to that its look by noted hotel designer Michele Bönan, who took inspiration from 1950s and 1960s Florence, a post-war heyday of fashion, creativity, and fun. Its location is another bonus: both totally central, at the foot of the Ponte Vecchio, and historic, in a medieval tower that was one of the few buildings left after World War II. And finally, the hotel's reasonable price point is the feather in the cap: An affordable stay in a very pricey town, four-star Continentale more than proves that style and money don't have to go hand in hand.
The Vibe: Midcentury Italian glamour.
Standout Detail: The sea of crisp, cool white every where you look.
This Place Is Perfect For: Travelers with style that exceeds their budget. The entry level rooms are a great value.
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