Riva Lofts Florence

The sense of hundreds of years of history drifting through the air and following you down every one of Florence’s mesmerising medieval streets is more or less inescapable. This is the city of Michelangelo, Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci, of towering spires and mighty domes, grand palazzos and picturesque piazzas. The enchanting views across the Arno River, with the whole city glowing as the golden sunset light and reflecting off the surface of the water, have remained almost completely unchanged for the last 700 years or so. You can’t help but feel yourself fall under the spell of the city’s ancient charms, but that doesn’t mean that a spot of modernism here or there isn’t a refreshing change.

The Riva Lofts provide exactly that. Conceived by the property’s owner, illustrious architect Claudio Nardi, each of the eight luxurious suites are notable for their contemporary design, forming a bubble of modern style at the heart of the Renaissance city. Hand-picked designer furnishings, ultramodern light fittings and fixtures, modern artwork and a smattering of eye-catching, eccentric details make for an elegant and understated décor which is unashamedly grounded in the 21st Century. Yet even here, the historic soul of Florence still manages to permeate the stylish rooms and corridors, wafting in through the original arched windows and seeping through the cracks in the rough stone walls. The 19th-century building was a factory and artisanal workshop in a former life, and this unique blend of the old and the new creates a rustic industrial-chic effect.

Claudio Nardi may be the brains behind this remarkable design, but it is his daughter Alice who is now the star of the show. She runs the complex of spacious, private studios, with the friendly and personal touch you would expect from a B&B and the meticulous attention to detail which is more typical of a four or five-star hotel. While it is lovely to receive a warm and personal welcome when you check in and every time you return to the Riva Lofts, in truth the studios are perfectly self-sufficient and private, meaning that you shouldn’t need to call on the staff too often. They each have their own private entrance, and come equipped with not only a bedroom and bathroom but also a living space and a modest but well-appointed kitchenette.

In case you find this isn’t quite enough space for you (I suppose you’re allowed to be greedy on holiday!), the communal areas provide further scope for luxurious relaxation. The verdant garden, centred around the shimmering swimming pool and featuring various hammocks, benches and sculptures, provides a welcome respite from the heat of the city in the summer and a peaceful spot to stretch your legs in the winter. And then there is the communal living room in the barn, where the old-fashioned soul of the building can really be felt. Bookcases line the walls and a flickering stone fireplace warms the whole space, while there is a large television and self-service ‘honesty bar’ to help you unwind. It is in this authentic space that breakfast is served every morning, a veritable Italian feast including home-produced yoghurt, oil and honey from the Nardi family’s nearby farm.

If there is one thing which really sets the Riva Lofts apart (literally!), it is probably the location. This may seem strange considering its quiet and out-of-town surroundings, 2.5 km along the river from the Ponte Vecchio, but there is something magical about arriving into town on one of the free-to-use retro bikes, glimpsing the city’s majestic spires gradually come into sight. The journey only takes around ten minutes or so, and in case this prospect doesn’t appeal there are also two stops on the new Florence tram network within 200 metres of the hotel, making public transport extremely convenient. What you get with the location is a much more peaceful and authentic atmosphere than can be found in the bustling, touristy lanes of the historic centre, making the Riva Lofts the ideal riverside sanctuary for anyone wanting to do the Florence city break a little bit differently…