La Gemma

Another visit to Florence, another instant tear when I catch sight of Brunelleschi’s masterpiece tearing through the skies. With each visit, the city seems to welcome me with tears of admiration. This time, I found refuge at La Gemma, a hotel that quickly became a second home.

La Gemma’s motto is “Inspired by family, Driven by Love,” and I couldn’t agree more.

Located on Via dei Cavalieri, just a few meters from some of the city’s most idyllic spots like Piazza de La Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, or Piazza dell Duomo, La Gemma is an exquisite and tasteful boutique hotel.

Opened in June 2023 by the Cecchi family and housed in the Palazzo Paoletti designed by acclaimed architect Tito Bellini in 1875, where the Corporazione degli Albergatori once operated, La Gemma is like an emerald shaped by a family deeply involved in art, architecture, fashion, and design. The hotel perfectly captures a blend of discreet, intense, and eclectic art.

First impression

My immediate memory of our arrival is the friendly smile of one of the staff members, later revealed to be Gian Luca, the Director of Food & Beverage! Francisca fell asleep in the stroller, so we walked outside while João checked in. Gian Luca came over, smiled, and greeted me with a genuine “Buongiorno“!

Our room was still being prepared (it was very early), so the concierge arranged a last-minute reservation for us at one of Florence’s classic restaurants.

We returned after a lovely lunch at Osteria Delle Tre Panche and a stroll to see the most special dome in the world, the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore.

A small, cozy reception, with emerald green and the shine and reflections of golden mirrors. On the left is a bar area with a cosmopolitan atmosphere; on the right is an elegant and sober living room with subtle artwork and soft lighting.

The atmosphere immediately seemed Art Deco to me!

It’s interesting to be in a building, once a 19th-century Florentine palace with decor details reminiscent of Brazil, featuring paintings and wallpapers with tropical motifs and architecture reminiscent of the Roaring Twenties! Such an unusual combination that fits so well in historic Florence!

A special touch was the presence of a Portuguese-speaking staff member, making the stay even more welcoming. While completing the check-in, I sat in the small living room and felt at home. The fact that La Gemma reminds me so much of our Uffizi Clinic contributed to this!

Some details still seemed a little disorganized, but the hotel was only a few months old when we visited, so we can conclude that it is perfectly normal, and logistics and operations may not be at their best yet.

Rooms
The hotel is relatively small, with only 39 rooms, divided into four types – Superior, Deluxe, Loft Suite, and Penthouse Suite. We stayed in a Loft Suite with a charming small terrace that delighted my late afternoon coffees. A room with a kitchen area, induction hob, refrigerator (Mini bar filled with complimentary non-alcoholic drinks for the stay and replenished daily), and a sink that was very useful for washing all the utensils needed for traveling with children. The living room had a sofa, TV, and a desk.

The decorative pieces were of unmatched elegance. Without extravagance but with details of simple luxury. The predominant colors, as in the rest of the hotel, are greens and light pink, inspired by emeralds and perhaps the color palette of the neighboring Duomo!

In the bedroom, a large and extremely comfortable bed with incredibly silky sheets made our nights better.

The bathroom was spacious, elegant, and entirely in white marble. I missed a bathtub to relax at the end of the night.

High praise for the quality of Votary amenities, locally produced. It’s one of the best shampoos I’ve tried in a hotel.

Restaurants
The hotel has a beautiful bar and winter garden with a cosmopolitan yet familiar atmosphere, characteristic of La Gemma Hotel.

The cocktail menu is quite interesting, and there was time to try the Negroni in a very relaxed and lively conversation with the team. Well… João had time for that! I had to go put the child to sleep!

Next to the bar is the beautiful Luca’s restaurant, with the signature of the celebrated Chef Paulo Airaudo. He has become famous for his restaurant Amelia in San Sebastián (**Michelin) and several other projects worldwide.

This is where we had breakfast every day, where the eggs brightened our mornings.

There may have been a need for more systematization in timings and how the dishes are presented, something that will improve over time.

Good bread, good pastries, good eggs with excellent preparation, but wrong timings in service, inconsistency from day to day, and some things in small quantities.

I would say it seems like a young team, still working together for a few months. However, a very high note goes out to the friendliness of the entire team and the constant care for Francisca.

At dinner, the case changes, and everything becomes more serious, refined, and romantic, including the service. We also tried a tasting menu here, leaving notes for a promising future, but João will talk about that in another post.

Services
La Gemma is a small, intimate, and family-friendly hotel, but it has the usual services of any luxury hotel, and some that only hotels attentive to their guests’ needs can have. It has, of course, 24/7 room service, on-request transportation, and a concierge.

But it has much more than this; it has a program called Golden Key with over 20 activities and experiences that can completely transform any traveler’s stay. From truffle hunting in Tuscany to a hot air balloon ride to appreciate the perfect nature of Val D’Orcia. Including exclusive dinners in inaccessible locations, visits to private studios of sculptors in the creative act, or even weddings. La Gemma is willing to make everything we can imagine and what we can’t imagine happen.

Another highlight of the hotel is the Allure Spa, a true oasis of serenity in the center of Florence. With a water circuit consisting of a huge jacuzzi, a Turkish bath, and a cascade of cold water, it is the place to be noticed after a day of miles and miles in the art city.

Service
The young team, under the leadership of experienced directors, is extremely friendly and committed to the art of welcoming guests. They are sincere in their smiles, and it is visible how eager they are to evolve and transform La Gemma into the choice of tourists seeking authenticity and a family atmosphere.

La Gemma is a very recent hotel, and minor service flaws are visible but easily compensated by the team’s kindness.

We return to Florence every year, and I can guarantee that the minor flaws we experienced will have been completely eliminated on our next visit to make way for impeccable service.

However, I want to emphasize that the friendliness of the team and, especially, Gian Luca was one of the best showcases of hospitality I have ever had in a hotel.