Carlo Scarpa's Rooftop Terrace and Pool at Grand Hotel Minerva in Florence

Carlo Scarpa, together with architect Edoardo Detti, designed a rooftop terrace with a swimming pool for the Grand Hotel Minerva in Florence in 1964, during Italy's economic boom and a period of urban transformation. The project, built atop a 14th-century palace, is one of Scarpa's lesser-known interventions and anticipated the contemporary rooftop culture by decades. The terrace avoids monumentality, using clean lines and controlled geometries to create a suspended living room overlooking Florence's skyline, including Brunelleschi's Dome. Shortly after its opening, the 1966 Florence flood heightened the city's focus on heritage protection, making Scarpa's demonstration of modern architecture coexisting with historical fabric particularly significant. Over the decades, the rooftop evolved from an exclusive hotel amenity to a more public space, embracing aperitivo culture and mixology. For the 2026 summer season, the terrace relaunches with a gastronomic proposal by chef Edoardo Papiani and a cocktail menu by bartender Dariosh Kohnehkar, featuring drinks like Terrace Negroni and Mediterraneo Spritz. The hotel also renews its restaurant La Buona Novella, blending Tuscan tradition with contemporary cuisine.