Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

One of the most common complaints about the big luxury chains is that they tend to exhibit a certain sameness of style, no matter the location. But whatever you might say about the Four Seasons Firenze, you certainly can’t get away with saying that. Never mind the museums and the galleries — you could give yourself an attack of Stendhal syndrome without even leaving the hotel, especially if you walk in expecting a more typically beige sort of luxury.

It’s a converted Renaissance-era palazzo, of course — well, not “of course,” but honestly, this is what a Florentine luxury hotel ought to be, right down to the frescoed ceilings. Imagine living like the Medicis did, but with less murderous intrigue and more satellite television channels; for underneath a layer of Renaissance opulence, the Four Seasons is as utterly modern a luxury hotel as you’ll find anywhere.

After all, when you’re talking about a Four Seasons, there are some features that are absolutely obligatory. They’ve managed to squeeze in not just a spa but an outdoor pool as well, and not one but two Italian restaurants. And you’re in the city center — so if you can take a little more Renaissance beauty, you’re just a brisk walk to the Duomo or the Uffizi.