"A 19th-century townhouse hotel undergoing a five-year, city-focused renovation that emphasizes local craftsmanship and an only-in-Florence palazzo atmosphere; the 89 rooms include a lavish 1,000-square-foot two-bedroom presidential suite with four-poster beds and museum-quality decorative pieces. The property adds a more casual café that complements a nearby famed fine-dining institution, and a new spa will occupy the site of original Roman thermal baths with visible archaeological panels, a Finnish sauna, hammam, gym and relaxation rooms." - Annie Fitzsimmons