Hotel Buzz: St. Regis Florence Completes 10-Month Restoration

Hot off the press! Starwood has unveiled a dazzling hotel in Florence, Italy. After a 10-month restoration, the property that was formerly called the Grand Hotel Florence has been reborn as a St. Regis- meaning it features the signature St. Regis Butler service and St. Regis Aficionado program, providing guests with insider access to once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Talk about historical grandeur! This hotel was originally designed in 1432 by Filippo Brunelleschi, the architect of the Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, and is one of the city's most culturally significant buildings. The 81 guest rooms-- including the opulent designer suite by Bottega Veneta-- are decked out with paintings, decorative antiques, frescos and crystal chandeliers-- thus paying homage to local Florentine artisans. Overlooking the Arno River, the hotel also features three Iridium Spa Suites for the ultimate in pampering. What we're most excited about? A stellar restaurant called Etichetta Pinchiorri, opened by the folks behind the Michelin three-star restaurant Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence.

Check out the photos of the St. Regis Florence.

Escaping the Heat in Florence at the Bars of Five-Star Hotels

What to do when it's broiling in Florence? When battling record-setting temperatures in August, one city visitor came up with a brilliant solution: five-star cocktail hour! As Zofia Smardz recounts in an article in The Washington Post Travel section, the best way to beat the heat is to retreat to the ritzy spaces that are cool as cucumbers (air-conditioning isn't the norm in Europe). She and her husband headed to the Hotel de la Ville, "the blissfully cool bar at the posh Hotel Lungarno," Hotel Brunelleschi, and the Hotel Savoy:

“Buona sera, signora!” call out the desk clerks as we enter the Savoy lobby. Everybody’s so welcoming! In the elegantly plush modern bar, the waiters hop to and we’re soon basking in climatic comfort. We raise our martini glasses in a toast to our smarts, then sip the drinks verrrrry slooooowly as the sweat evaporates from our skin. The waiter brings a tray of treats — mini-crostini, olives, cheeses — for us to munch on. And a second when we finish that one. We relax. We feel very cool. In every sense. This is the life!

The only downside to a week-long spree? When the credit card bill arrives back home.

Open-Air Massages with Views of Florence at the Villa San Michele

One of our top picks for lodgings in Florence, Italy? The Villa San Michele, an Orient-Express property housed in a former monastery that boats a 15th century facade attributed to Michelangelo. The location is killer; the hotel is nestled on a hilltop amid terraced gardens with unrivaled views across the Arno Valley to Florence. From the panoramic swimming pool, you can soak up the stunning views over the Tuscan hills. And that's not all. A brand new Massage Gazebo at the Villa San Michele is the perfect place for open-air massages with a view. Special offers: The hotel is currently running the "One More Night" offer where you get a third night for free when you stay two consecutive nights. Your daily room rate is pre-discounted by 33% and includes Full American Breakfast daily. Rates are valid only during selected periods and are subject to availability.

Related Article: Buon Appetito: Italian Cooking School in Florence at the Villa San Michele

Rooftop Yoga in Florence at the Continentale Hotel

Yogis traveling to Florence will want to check into a Lungarno Collection hotel. Owned by the Ferragamo family, this group of boutique hotels-- all stylish and divinely luxurious-- has debuted a new service for guests: Tuesday and Thursday morning yoga classes on the roof of the Continentale, ideally situated in the center of Florence, next to the Ponte Vecchio, with rooms overlooking the River Arno. To quote The Globe and Mail: "Sessions in the highly meditative, energy releasing Kundalini yoga are led by Amanda May, a graduate of L.A.’s Golden Bridge centre where lithe Hollywood celebs such as Madonna, Ellen Pompeo and Cindy Crawford have practised their poses." The hotel also has a dreamy sky lounge for cocktails under the stars.

Other Lungarno Hotels include Lungarno Suites Florence and the Hotel Lungarno.