An iconic 150-year Florentine palace on historic Piazza Santa Maria Novella, combining Carlo Scarpa modernist heritage, restored 19th-century frescoed suites, and an extraordinary 6th-floor heated rooftop pool overlooking the Duomo.
Presiding over the sun-dappled Renaissance expanse of Piazza Santa Maria Novella, Grand Hotel Minerva stands as an authentic Florentine treasure. Originally constructed as an aristocratic residence and welcoming distinguished travelers since 1869, the hotel boasts an architectural heritage unlike any other in Tuscany.
In the 1950s, legendary Italian master architect Carlo Scarpa reimagined the palace’s interior, creating groundbreaking geometric staircases, light-flooded saloons, and artisanal woodwork that today are celebrated by design scholars worldwide. Following a multi-million dollar renovation in celebration of its 150th Anniversary, the hotel flawlessly fuses Scarpa’s modernist legacy with museum-grade 19th-century ceiling frescoes and contemporary boutique comfort.
High above the piazza on the 6th floor lies the hotel’s crowning jewel: a heated outdoor rooftop swimming pool and sky bar providing unobstructed 360-degree vistas stretching from Giotto’s Campanile and Brunelleschi’s Duomo to the cypress-crowned hills of Fiesole.
Each of the 97 guestrooms and suites offers an intimate harmony of Italian craftsmanship, soundproof tranquility, Italian marble bathrooms, and captivating views over Santa Maria Novella cloister or Florence’s historic center.
235 - 260 SQ FT
Quiet sanctuary appointed with rich wooden floors, custom Italian furnishings, double-glazed soundproof windows, and a luminous Italian marble bathroom with bathtub or walk-in shower.
270 - 300 SQ FT
Bask in prime views of Piazza Santa Maria Novella or the Giotto campanile. Highlights include Scarpa-inspired modernist wood cabinetry, generous sitting nook, and deep marble bathroom.
375 - 430 SQ FT
Generously proportioned open-plan retreat with an elegant living salon, convertible plush sofa, walk-in closet, and an expansive marble bathroom equipped with chromotherapy shower and soaking tub.
400 SQ FT + PRIVATE TERRACE
An exclusive top-floor haven featuring an expansive private furnished terrace equipped with sun loungers and outdoor cocktail seating overlooking the historic terracotta roofs of Florence.
550 SQ FT PALACE SUITE
The pinnacle of Florentine nobility. Gaze upward at painstakingly restored 19th-century ceiling frescoes, relax in antique-appointed salons, and step onto Juliet balconies overlooking the church facade.
From sunny al fresco dining in the piazza to rooftop sunset cocktails under the shadow of the Duomo, celebrate authentic Tuscan gastronomy reimagined with contemporary passion.
Led by Chef Tommaso Calonaci—two-time winner of “Il Cappello” national culinary award—La Buona Novella reworks traditional Florentine recipes using prime seasonal local produce. Dine intimately indoors or outside on the elegant piazza terrace from April to October.
Awaken in a light-filled breakfast hall facing the private internal garden, adorned with original paintings by Maestro Chiari. Features a generous American buffet and a dedicated “Tuscan corner” with local pecorino cheeses, Tuscan pastries, and fresh seasonal juices.
Open seasonally from May to September beside the heated pool, this is Florence’s premiere sunset rendezvous. Sip chilled Franciacorta, Italian aperitifs, or bespoke cocktails as twilight washes across Brunelleschi’s dome and the church towers.
Everything you need to know about planning your stay at Grand Hotel Minerva with Vincent Vacations.
Request bespoke VIP availability, locked-in Signature benefits, and custom itinerary curation with our Florence destination specialists.
Grand Hotel Minerva enjoys an incomparable vantage point directly on Piazza Santa Maria Novella. Step outside to behold the polychrome marble facade of the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella by Leon Battista Alberti, and wander leisurely along pedestrian promenades to Florence’s most celebrated treasures.