1865 Residenza d'epoca

A charming couple transforming their home into a bed-and-breakfast isn’t exactly newsworthy, but then again, not every charming couple owns a 19th-century Florentine guest house. 1865 Residenza d’epoca pays tribute to Florence’s brief tenure as Italy’s capital without feeling like a museum piece. Rather than stocking their five guest rooms with imposing antiques, owners Michel and Cinzia opt for a lighter touch. Sure, chaise lounges stretch out beneath wall-to-wall ceiling frescoes, but there are plenty of modern boutique signifiers, too.

Each room is named in honor of a famous writer who lived in Florence around 1865, the year of the building’s construction. This might be a familiar art-hotel gimmick, but it doesn’t feel forced — you won’t find any glittering quotes adorning the walls. Think of it as just another charming wrinkle in the city’s rich history, and a good reminder of the design work that went into setting the guest rooms apart from one another. At first blush, the aesthetic seems to rely on dark floorboards and damask drapery, but any old-world elegance is balanced out by sharp modern style — the travertine bathrooms, for example, could be transplants from a sleek urban retreat.

There’s no courtyard or restaurant, but in the manner of high-end guesthouses, 1865 Residenza d’epoca compensates splendidly. Breakfast is home-cooked every morning, and served in the aptly named Red Lounge. For anyone missing an outdoor space, the views of the neighboring Wilson Gattai gardens deliver ample greenery.

• 5 Rooms
• Style: Contemporary Classic
• Atmosphere: Quiet
• 1 Guest Review

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