Haute couture hotel: Portrait Firenze

The Lungarno Collection, owned by the Ferragamo fashion family, is adding to its four existing hotels in the group, all clustered around the Ponte Vecchio, with the all-suite Portrait Firenze on the banks of the River Arno on May 1.

Taking inspiration from the birth of Florence’s haute couture in the Fifties, the designer behind the bijou chain of hotels — Michele Bönan — has styled this hotel using dark floorboards and marble bathrooms, with monochrome fashion shots lining pale walls.

Each of the 34 suites is decked out with handmade furniture, kitchenettes stocked with gourmet products, personalised mini-bars and iPads (for the duration of the stay). Anything can be arranged, from personal trainers and in-room massage, to tours of Tuscany and a babysitting service.