Fittingly for an artistic residence, Numeroventi’s home, Palazzo Tassi Galli, reflects Florence’s cultural heritage; built in 1510 by merging several 14th century merchant houses, it was later extended and embellished with paintings, frescoes and sculptures by 17th century Baroque masters Fabrizio Boschi, Ottavio Vannini and Francesco Furini, as well as a grand neoclassical staircase. Having served throughout the centuries as the governor's palace, a ministry, and even a syrup factory, the palazzo evidently reflects the city’s storied history. It also holds a special place in Rampolla's heart: his grandmother’s uncle, entrepreneur and theatrical impresario Girolamo Pagliano, bought the building in the 19th century turning parts of it into a production facility for a medicinal syrup he had invented – Rampolla’s grandmother also lived here when he was growing up just as he did briefly when he was a university student.

Numeroventi’s heart beats in the palazzo’s central courtyard; once a historical market square, as the medieval octagonal pillars attest, it now functions as a serene outdoor lounge, meeting place and event space under the watchful eye of Hercules and Iole, a 17th century marble statue by Florentine sculptor Domenico Pieratti. An imposing neoclassical staircase leads to three loft apartments imbued with stillness and lightness. Swathed in muted colours and natural finishes, and sparsely furnished with vintage mid-century furniture which Trotter has sourced from all over Europe, the sunlit lofts are a showcase of minimalist soulfulness. Taking advantage of the five-metre-high ceilings, mezzanine levels were added in order to provide separate sleeping quarters without diminishing the main living area, a gesture that also allows guests to admire the building’s centuries-old ceiling frescos from up close.

More frescos can be found on the top floor housing two suites, a guestroom and a lounge and exhibition space. Espousing the same Scandinavian minimalist aesthetic as the second-floor apartments, these spaces nevertheless feel lyrical thanks to the fading colours of the frescos and the rich textures of the crumbling plasterwork, purposefully preserved in their weathered state in order to evocatively capture the building’s storied past as well as convey the bittersweet beauty of the passage of time.

Through welcoming established and emerging artists, fostering collaborations, organizing workshops and exhibitions, and hosting receptions and dinners, courtesy of a roster of international chefs in residence, ultimately Numeroventi celebrates contemporary creativity and cultural exchanges in what can only be described as overwhelmingly Renaissance-like style.