Hotel Continentale
C. Italy: Tuscany: Florence
Any closer and this Ferragamo-owned hotel would be ON the Ponte Vecchio! It reopened in 2003 after a complete makeover. The feel of the hotel is very avante garde (especially the bathroom sinks!) with its stark interior and lighting, but the position is perfect. As one enters the hotel, there is a camera that projects live scenes from the Ponte Vecchio on one wall. Up a short flight of steps is the concierge desk. Up a few more steps and one finds the "movie room" with films available for guests' use, a bar with clock tables (hard to forget what time it is as these tables are also bedside in the rooms!), and a "relax" room with about six chaise longues overlooking the Ponte Vecchio, where guests can lie down and relax, hold hands, read a book, sip spumante, or whatever. There is a lovely buffet breakfast in the morning, and in the evening, guests can take advantage of delectable little hors d'oeuvres (complimentary) with their drinks (not complimentary!). One elevator that only reaches one floor looks like a swing on a summer porch loaded with pillows. Very clever, but the other elevator is the one that reaches all but the 6th and 7th floors. Standing alone on the 7th floor, the penthouse suite is a bi-level suite with a bathroom and two showers upstairs, all with view of the Ponte Vecchio. One has to climb two flights of steps to reach the entrance to the suite and another flight to go to the bathroom and closet. (Great way to keep those kilos off in Florence!) Guest rooms are beautifully done in white with THE most comfortable beds. The staff is young and very accommodating. There is no restaurant at the hotel. However, the Fusion Bar at the Gallery, Hotel Art - another Ferragamo hotel located directly across the street - is an excellent and convenient choice for those who appreciate fusion fare.