The games room at La Réserve Firenze sets an oak billiard table beneath a gently vaulted ceiling and an antique tapestry of armoured figures. A dark bronze head on a stand, a long oak sideboard with earthenware lamps, linen armchairs and a slender torchère frame a space for unhurried evenings.

La Réserve Firenze Brings Residential Hospitality to a Renaissance Palazzo in Florence

Words by Yatzer

Via Santo Spirito 6, Florence, Italy

The aparthotel has evolved considerably since its late 19th- and early 20th-century origins, from serviced residences for affluent urbanites to practical accommodation for holidaymakers and long-stay business travellers. More recently, the format has been recast around design, privacy and the idea of living like a local, a trajectory that has now come full circle as luxury hospitality embraces private residences with hotel-level service. La Réserve is one of the brands shaping this more rarefied interpretation, and its first Italian address, La Réserve Firenze, brings the model to Florence’s Oltrarno district this October.

Occupying a restored 15th-century palazzo, the property comprises just six generously proportioned apartments, each conceived as a private Florentine home complete with the comforts and personalised services of a luxury hotel. Designed by French interior design duo Gilles & Boissier, it brings together architectural heritage, contemporary refinement and the personal sensibilities of its owners to offer a more authentic, residential way of experiencing the Tuscan capital.

A wrought-iron gate at La Réserve Firenze, crowned by a scrolling lunette with a heraldic shield of a tree, stars and a crescent, stands half open onto the entrance passage. Beyond the bars, olive trees in terracotta pots and hanging lanterns lead the eye towards daylight from the street.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

Under a wide summer sky, the rooftop terrace of La Réserve Firenze gathers wrought-iron and wicker seating on a herringbone terracotta floor. Beyond the planted parapet and an iron balustrade, the Arno and its lungarno palazzi lead the eye towards the Tuscan hills.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

Looking up at the corner of La Réserve Firenze, rusticated quoins climb towards deep timber eaves, framed against a strip of blue sky by the overhanging roofs of neighbouring buildings. Arched windows, oculi and stone-framed blind panels animate the warm ochre facade.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

  • Slanting sunlight crosses the restored facade of La Réserve Firenze, where rusticated stone quoins anchor the corner of the palazzo. Arched upper windows set in stone surrounds, barred ground-floor openings and a pedimented portal articulate the ochre render in the classic language of Florentine Renaissance architecture.

    Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

  • The street entrance of La Réserve Firenze on Via Santo Spirito, where a rusticated stone arch frames a weathered wooden door left ajar. A heavy iron knocker, a worn stone step and a glimpse of a glazed lantern and wrought-iron gate within hint at the quiet world beyond the threshold.

    Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

  • A barrel-vaulted entrance passage at La Réserve Firenze, paved in worn stone flags and lined with olive trees in terracotta pots. An antique bench with a carved, scrolling painted back rests against the wall, while glazed lanterns hang before a wrought-iron lunette and gate leading deeper into the palazzo.

    Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

A wider view of the courtyard at La Réserve Firenze, framed by the broad leaves of potted banana plants. Coral cushioned iron chairs and a backgammon set occupy the foreground, while wicker armchairs and a striped sofa gather beneath the lion's-head fountain, enclosed by the palazzo's tall ochre walls and arched openings.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

  • Twin arches framed in grey stone divide the stairwell at La Réserve Firenze: one descends beneath a barrel vault towards a light-filled arched window, the other climbs a flight of worn stone steps. Scrolled iron handrails, plaster sconces and a herringbone terracotta floor articulate the palazzo's original Renaissance architecture.

    Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

  • A classical female bust on a fluted column stands sentinel beside panelled oak doors left ajar on a landing at La Réserve Firenze. A ring chandelier of plaster cups, warm plastered walls, painted door surrounds and wide oak boards bathed in low light create a scene of theatrical stillness.

    Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

  • A large classical relief of robed processional figures, its edges left ragged like an excavated fragment, dominates a hallway at La Réserve Firenze. Beneath it, a rustic trestle console stands on herringbone terracotta, while dark timber beams, an iron lantern and a stone-framed doorway draw the eye through a sequence of rooms.

    Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

The project is the brainchild of Olivia and Grégory Marciano, a Parisian couple who relocated to Florence with their family in 2019. Captivated by the city’s cultural heritage and way of life, they recognised the potential of a historic palazzo that had been converted into student accommodation. After acquiring the property in 2022, they embarked on an ambitious four-year restoration, enlisting Gilles & Boissier to reimagine its interiors. Their vision found a natural partner in Michel Reybier, founder of La Réserve Hotels & Private Homes, whose approach to hospitality centres on creating intimate, distinctive addresses rooted in their surroundings.

Central to the transformation was the desire to recover the palazzo’s architectural character while adapting its spaces to contemporary living. Gilles & Boissier approached the renovation with a light but assured touch, preserving and restoring original features including ornate coffered ceilings, frescoes and intricately carved woodwork. Rather than attempting to recreate a period interior, the designers introduced understated contemporary furnishings and a restrained material palette that allow the building’s Renaissance heritage to take centre stage. Traditional cotto terracotta flooring, local stone and Siena travertine in the bathrooms reinforce the connection to Tuscan craftsmanship, while warm neutral tones and natural textures lend the interiors a sense of continuity and calm.

A large black-and-white photograph of a weathered classical bust hangs above a brown linen banquette in the lounge at La Réserve Firenze. An oak bookcase lit by a slim wall light, a round stone-topped table bearing a plaster head and a glimpse of the painted frieze above build a dialogue between antiquity and the present.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

Beneath a painted coffered ceiling with rosettes and garlanded friezes, two oak bookcase towers frame an antique tapestry of classical figures in a wooded landscape at La Réserve Firenze. Deep brown banquettes with contrast piping, round stone-topped tables and shelves of books, ceramics and fragments give the lounge a scholarly calm.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

  • A dining room at La Réserve Firenze is framed by a painted Greek-key border on the ceiling and a pair of white acanthus ornaments on the walls. A dark oak pedestal table with leather-upholstered chairs and a bench stands on a woven rug, with olive branches in earthenware jars echoing the soft ochre palette.

    Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

  • A barrel-vaulted corridor at La Réserve Firenze, lit by glazed iron lanterns and sculptural bronze sconces, leads to an arched opening and a classical statue on a plinth. A marble bust on the deep windowsill, an antique carved bench and a large green abstract canvas punctuate the long run of wide oak boards.

    Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

  • A double console basin on polished nickel legs stands against glazed, hand-finished tiles in a bathroom at La Réserve Firenze. A lantern pendant hangs before a large dark-framed mirror whose reflection opens onto an enfilade of doorways, while a stone floor and linen curtain keep the palette soft and luminous.

    Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

A pared-back oak four-poster bed occupies a bedroom at La Réserve Firenze, its walls divided into two warm ochre tones by a timber dado rail. An antique chest, a leaning dark-framed mirror and a classical relief above a turned-leg console add texture and history to the calm, enveloping scheme.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

A carved stone fireplace with fluted, scrolled corbels anchors a living room at La Réserve Firenze, its mantel lined with a procession of earthenware jars. Clouded plaster walls rise to a dark beamed ceiling, while a stone-framed doorway offers a glimpse of a painted bedroom beyond.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

A high-ceilinged living room at La Réserve Firenze, where a grid of twelve classical profile medallions rises above a linen sofa flanked by urns of olive branches. Dark timber beams, two oversized dark-framed mirrors and a sculptural white chandelier give the softly plastered walls a quietly theatrical edge.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

A bedroom at La Réserve Firenze enveloped in restored painted decoration: trompe-l'oeil pilasters, ornamental panels and dancing classical figures in muted stone tones. A dark-stained four-poster bed, a classical bust and a linen-panelled cabinet introduce a contemporary restraint that lets the room's painted grandeur lead.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

A carved and painted coffered ceiling in deep blue and gold crowns a shared living space at La Réserve Firenze. Below, a headless classical torso on a timber stand sits between oak sideboards and framed works on paper, while art books on a long table and a potted citrus tree lend the room a lived-in ease.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

A large photographic print of a classical marble head in profile hangs above an oak sideboard flanked by black ceramic lamps at La Réserve Firenze. In the foreground, tables stacked with monographs on Cy Twombly, Donatello and Gerhard Richter sit beside earthenware vessels and a leather-backed bench.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

Equally important is the decorative layering that gives the property its distinctly residential atmosphere. Historic tapestries, antique furnishings and original artworks, many drawn from the Marcianos' personal collection, sit comfortably alongside contemporary furniture, bringing character and individuality to each apartment. An eclectic selection of art books and objects further softens the formality of the historic architecture, introducing the relaxed intimacy of a family home.

A weathered polychrome figure, its painted drapery flaking to reveal the material beneath, stands on a carved stone pedestal between linen-curtained arched windows in a bedroom at La Réserve Firenze. In the foreground, an antique chest carved with a sunburst emblem anchors a pale oak four-poster bed.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

An oak four-poster bed anchors a bedroom at La Réserve Firenze, its windows dressed in linen with tailored pelmets and framing a patchwork of terracotta rooftops. A pair of rust linen armchairs, a stone-topped nightstand and a small framed architectural drawing keep the palette earthy and calm.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

  • Framed by a pair of dark oak doors, a freestanding bathtub with softly curved sides takes centre stage in a bathroom at La Réserve Firenze. Polished nickel fittings, a banded travertine wainscot, a wall-mounted pendant and panelled double doors set a palette of cream, smoke and stone.

    Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

  • Banded travertine wraps a double vanity at La Réserve Firenze, its dark oak frame and polished nickel taps lit by a pair of suspended plaster-shaded pendants. A heavy timber mirror catches fragments of the painted ceiling above, while a classical plaster bust lends the composition a quietly sculptural presence.

    Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

  • A painted ceiling with a central mythological scene presides over a long bathroom at La Réserve Firenze. Glazed oak cabinets frame the view towards a freestanding bathtub beneath an arched window, accompanied by a skirted armchair, a dark folding screen and a double vanity in travertine and oak.

    Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

A painted ceiling of rose lattice, blue ribbon scrolls, rocaille cartouches and floating putti crowns a bedroom at La Réserve Firenze. Below, a dark four-poster bed with ball finials, crisp white linen and plaster-textured lamps keeps the room grounded, while arched windows draw in the light from the street.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

Seen from another angle, the terracotta-toned dining room at La Réserve Firenze reveals a framed work of a domed city skyline scattered with birds. A conical plaster pendant, a slim black wall light and antique lion-finial chairs around a round table bring warmth and intimacy, framed by olive branches and a weathered cabinet.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

A ring chandelier of plaster cups hovers above a slipcovered linen sofa in a living room at La Réserve Firenze, facing a biomorphic black coffee table on a jute rug. White acanthus wall ornaments, stone-topped iron consoles and a window onto a sgraffito facade complete the restrained, sculptural scene.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

Pale limewashed timber beams span a top-floor living room at La Réserve Firenze, where a large abstract canvas of black brushstrokes on ochre presides over a linen sofa. Slipcovered armchairs in indigo and mustard, a rustic coffee table, a jute rug and a window onto terracotta rooftops give the room a relaxed, collected warmth.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

Ranging from one to three bedrooms, the six apartments offer generous living and dining areas, comfortable bedrooms and fully equipped kitchens, with the three-bedroom duplex also featuring a private rooftop terrace overlooking Santo Spirito and Palazzo Pitti. On the ground floor, a series of shared spaces extends the residential experience beyond the apartments: a lounge, a library devoted to Italy, art and design, and a games room with a billiard table provide places to relax or socialise, while a well-equipped gym caters to more active routines. There is also a bar that invites guests to mix their own drinks, and a verdant courtyard, watched over by a lion's-head fountain, which offers a secluded retreat from the city.

The emphasis on residential independence does not come at the expense of hotel service. Breakfast is prepared to order by a housekeeper, who discreetly arrives at the requested time to cook and set the table; for other meals, guests can order from nearby Trattoria Cammillo or arrange for a private chef. A dedicated house manager attends to the day-to-day details of each stay, while the round-the-clock concierge can tailor experiences to individual interests, from private cultural visits and wine tastings at Tuscan estates to tennis at the Marcianos’ nearby property.

A lion's-head fountain set into a niche watches over the courtyard at La Réserve Firenze, where coral-cushioned iron chairs, wicker armchairs and a striped sofa gather among banana plants in terracotta pots. A backgammon set on a folding table and a window with a scrolled stone surround suggest long, unhurried afternoons.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

  • A vaulted reception room at La Réserve Firenze pairs an antique refectory table and high-backed upholstered chairs with a classical head on a stand. A wall cabinet of hanging keys, carved stone capitals, a terracotta amphora on an iron stand and a barred window onto the street complete the scene.

    Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

  • An antique tapestry of a hunting party, with hounds, horsemen and a hilltop castle, hangs above a long oak sideboard at La Réserve Firenze. A fractured white marble torso on a slim stand sits at its centre, flanked by sculptural lamps and stone urns overflowing with olive branches.

    Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

A round dark oak table at La Réserve Firenze holds monographs on Brancusi and Donatello around an antique urn spilling with pale pink blooms. Behind it, a large abstract canvas of a single sweeping gesture hangs above a long oak sideboard, with an amphora on an iron stand and a rough-hewn stone fragment nearby.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

Cross vaults spring over a ground-floor lounge at La Réserve Firenze, where a painted coat of arms crowned in grey and an antique verdure tapestry anchor the walls. A moss-green slipcovered sofa, linen armchairs, oak bookcases, a travertine-topped side table and a faded patterned rug create an atmosphere of lived-in scholarship.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

Three oak bookcases filled with travel and design titles line the vaulted lounge at La Réserve Firenze, behind a green linen sofa with striped cushions. A tall verdure tapestry, a weathered terracotta amphora, a second painted crest and marble mortars on a rustic coffee table layer the room with history and texture.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

  • The games room at La Réserve Firenze sets an oak billiard table beneath a gently vaulted ceiling and an antique tapestry of armoured figures. A dark bronze head on a stand, a long oak sideboard with earthenware lamps, linen armchairs and a slender torchère frame a space for unhurried evenings.

    Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

  • The gym at La Réserve Firenze occupies a barrel-vaulted room lit by a tall arched steel-framed window onto the street. Technogym equipment, a curved manual treadmill, timber weight racks and a mirrored wall share the space with a terracotta amphora and linen curtains, softening the functional brief.

    Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

Ultimately, La Réserve Firenze owes its appeal to the way architecture, personal taste and discreet hospitality come together to create the feeling of a genuine Florentine home. In a city where history is ever-present, it offers the pleasure of inhabiting that history rather than merely admiring it.

Two green chaise longues with white piping sit on herringbone terracotta on the rooftop terrace of La Réserve Firenze, flanked by citrus trees in garlanded terracotta urns. Beyond a planted parapet and iron railing, a stone bell tower rises against a clear sky above a patchwork of tiled roofs and wooded hills.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

The rooftop terrace at La Réserve Firenze looks out across the Arno to a sweep of ochre palazzi, domes and bell towers, with hills rising beyond. Green-cushioned iron sofas, wicker armchairs in striped upholstery and weathered steel planters of plumbago, rosemary and citrus trees frame the panorama.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.

Framed by soft-focus plumbago on the terrace of La Réserve Firenze, the Arno curves beneath an arched stone bridge, its still surface mirroring the pale facades of the opposite bank. Terracotta rooftops, a distant bell tower and blue hills complete a quintessentially Florentine view.

Photography © Matthieu Salvaing.