Andiamo! Citalia Magazine Autumn 2023

Secrets of a Hotelier
with Brunelleschi Hotel
Have you ever wondered what it's like running a historical and superior four-star hotel?
Citalia spoke to Fabiola Menchetti, Director of Sales & Marketing at Brunelleschi Hotel in Florence.
I was never meant to work in
Florence, let alone fall in love
with the city. I come from Siena,
and so we are historical enemies
of the Florentines - the only
battle we ever won against the
Tuscan capital was the 1260
Battle of Montaperti.
I’ve spent my career working in
luxury properties across Italy,
from the Tuscan countryside to
Syracuse in Sicily.
In 2008 I was happily working in Genoa’s best five-star property on
the Ligurian coast, just a few steps from the sea. The General Manager
there told me he was leaving for a new adventure in Florence where
he was going to pick up a traditional old, tired hotel and bring it new
charm. I wished him luck.
One year later he called me up, “I am here in the heart of Florence on
a construction site, but this hotel is going to become a legend, will you
join us?” How could I refuse this challenge? And that’s how I ended up
at the Brunelleschi Hotel well over a decade ago.
Funnily enough, Brunelleschi Hotel had a partnership with Citalia even
before the restoration, so I’ve known the team since the early days.
This is not only a long-lasting partnership but a real friendship, built on
strong mutual trust and full confidence. We talk the same language,
and we know we can rely on each other.
I feel what makes Brunelleschi Hotel so special is
its heritage, as it provides its soul and character.
The hotel was created from three different buildings right in the heart
of Florence’s Old Town. The most ancient is its Byzantine Pagliazza
tower, built around 572 AD to act as a watchtower to see enemies
coming towards the city. It’s the oldest in Florence and so many visitors
come to see it. In the 12th century the tower then became a women’s
prison and the name ‘pagliazza’ comes from the uncomfortable straw
bed that would cover the floor the women slept on.
At a later date, St. Michael’s Church was built near the tower, and it was
renovated in Romanesque style in about 1100 AD. The church remained
active until 1785, then the building became a very simple home.
In the 18th century, the tower and the church were
incorporated into a big urban block and for centuries the
buildings were closed. Then in 1980 Italo Gamberini had the
idea to liberate the buildings and the tower.
During that time, they found ancient Roman remains and
important Renaissance ceramics in the basement - so a
museum was created to exhibit this extensive collection.
Guests can visit the relics anytime - all you need to do is ask
the concierge who will give you access.
When I joined during the 2010 refurb, the hotel was given a
full restyling of the buildings. It took the architect much effort,
but the result is that it’s full of charm and elegance. Every single
corner and suite in the hotel are decorated in a unique style,
with furniture handpicked from the city’s antique shops.
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