25hours Hotel opens in Florence inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy

The 25hours Hotel Company will open its first Italian property, the 25hours Hotel Piazza San Paolino, in Florence on September 13. Founded in 2005 by Stephan Gerhard, Ardi Goldman, Christoph Hoffmann, and Kai Hollmann, the group currently operates 12 hotels in German-speaking countries and Paris, with future openings planned in Copenhagen, Sydney, and Melbourne. The hotel is housed in the historic Monte de' Pegni complex, a former monastery attached to the church of San Paolino, near Piazza Santa Maria Novella and the Museo Novecento. The architectural restoration, led by GLA – Genius Loci Architettura, includes demolitions, restorations, and new constructions, adding 104 rooms with balconies to the original 66, plus a Garden Loft with a private garden and pool. The project also aims to revitalize Piazza San Paolino, creating a new forecourt accessible by steps and a ramp. Interior design, curated by Paola Navone and her studio, draws inspiration from Dante's Divine Comedy: Inferno and Paradiso scenes appear playfully in the bedrooms, while Purgatorio inspires the corridors. The hotel features a restaurant called San Paolino under a large glass dome, a Negroni bar with a restored wine hatch, and a typical grocery store opening onto the square. Navone also designed furnishings and tableware for the restaurant, and seasonal menu items will be based on her private recipe collection.