Florence city full of art and history

The Aparthotel Residence San Niccolò is realized in a glamorous Mansion dated back to the XIX century, located on the Arno riverside near the Tower of the Mint, right in front of Michelangelo hill.

In Medieval times the florentine defensive Walls surrounding the original city centre included this area: the Tower of the Mint, where the Golden Fiorino was coined, was part of those walls, and all around rose fortified buildings and mills on the river. There was also a secret passage under the Arno that joined the Tower of the Mint with the Tower San Niccolò on the two opposite river banks. Today this passage is not viable because it is invaded by the water.

In the XIX century the town plan was basically modernized. From 1865 and for the wohle period when Florence was Capital of Italy , the Architect Giuseppe Poggi accomplished the “Risanamento” (Regeneration), a deep transformation of the city look. Especially in the outer zones of downtown, he created the Viali following the model of Paris Boulevards, destroying the ancient walls and saving only the medieval Towers and Gates, locating them in the middle of wide round squares surrounded by new rich Mansions in neo-Renaissance style that should accomodate the just arrived wealthy noblesse and bourgeoisie.

The Arch. Poggi extended the Viali also to the other riverside, reaching the opposite hill where he created, right on the top of it, a magnificent panoramic square: Piazzale Michelangelo.

At that time the area all around our Residence changed completely: the walls were demolished, the Tower of the Mint remained in the middle of the Viali, and the old buildings were trasformed into prestigious Mansions.

Our Mansion dates back to that period, probably rose directly from original projects of Arch. Poggi in the place of an old fortified building or mill to become the rich Home of a newly arrived Lord following the King to Florence.

The building has an elegant stucco facade recently refurbished, and it is composed of three floors like most noble mansions, with a large stone staircase reaching the 3rd floor, and a secondary narrow staircase that from the upper floor leads to the roof terrace.. open 360° on the Florence panorama, this fabulous terrace allowed the Lord and his family to enjoy a breathtaking view on the town.. the same that is reserved today to our Apartment Deluxe Guests.