A 13th-century palazzo on Piazza Santa Maria Novella, with original frescoes, Carlo Scarpa interiors, and one of Florence’s few rooftop pools.
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Grand Hotel Minerva occupies a medieval palazzo on Piazza Santa Maria Novella, one of Florence’s most architecturally significant squares. The 97 rooms and suites retain original frescoes and coffered ceilings dating to the 1300s, alongside works by Emilio Greco, Renato Guttuso, and Giuseppe Chiari. Carlo Scarpa’s 1957 renovation introduced modernist precision without erasing the building’s historic fabric.
The hotel sits directly opposite the marble facade of Santa Maria Novella. The Uffizi Gallery, the Duomo, and the Oltrarno district are all within walking distance, as are the city’s principal shopping streets.
What separates Minerva from Florence’s other historic hotels is the combination of verifiable artistic heritage and a functioning rooftop pool above a 13th-century structure. The 360-degree skyline views, the Scarpa-designed restaurant, and the immediate proximity to the square make this the most contextually rich option in the city for travelers who treat architecture as part of the itinerary.
La Buona Novella is the hotel’s main restaurant, designed by Carlo Scarpa and overseen by Tommaso Calonaci, a three-time recipient of the Cappello dell’Espresso award and one of Italy’s more closely watched emerging chefs. The menu draws on Florentine culinary tradition, with large windows looking directly onto Piazza Santa Maria Novella.
The rooftop bar serves the hotel’s signature Terrace Negroni alongside gourmet snacks, with unobstructed views across the Florence skyline.
The Calidarium is the hotel’s dedicated wellness space, designed around the Roman hot-plunge bath tradition. The centrepiece is a spacious Jacuzzi hot tub available for private hourly hire by hotel guests. The format suits recovery after a day of sightseeing rather than a full spa programme.
Facilities are intentionally focused: there are no treatment rooms or gym on record. The Calidarium is the primary wellness offering, positioned as a private, bookable amenity rather than a shared facility.
Grand Hotel Minerva is on Piazza Santa Maria Novella, in the historic centre of Florence. The 13th-century church and its marble facade are directly opposite the hotel entrance. The Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, and Mercato Centrale are all reachable on foot, as are the Via Tornabuoni luxury retail corridor and the main concentration of Oltrarno restaurants.
Florence Santa Maria Novella railway station is a three-minute walk. Florence Peretola airport is approximately 20 minutes by taxi. Pisa International Airport is around 90 minutes by road or rail.
The 400-square-foot Suites accommodate up to three adults, with a large double bed and a living area fitted with a sofa bed. Bathrooms are Italian marble throughout. Views vary by room but the category generally overlooks the piazza or surrounding historic fabric.
A workable configuration for two adults travelling with a child, or for a solo traveller who wants the additional space. The sofa bed makes the layout functional without the footprint of the larger duplex options.
At 700 square feet across two levels, the Duplex Suites are among the most architecturally distinctive rooms in the hotel. Each floor has its own Italian marble bathroom. The main level holds a large double bed and living area; two day beds provide additional sleeping for up to four adults. Views take in the square and the facade of Santa Maria Novella directly.
The right choice for guests who want the strongest visual connection to the building’s historic context. The split-level layout also offers a degree of privacy between sleeping areas that the single-floor suites do not.
The largest configuration in the hotel at 800 square feet, the Terrace Family Suite sleeps up to six and includes a fully furnished private terrace. Two bedrooms offer either a large double or twin configuration; two day beds add further flexibility. Both bedrooms have Italian marble bathrooms. Views face the inner courtyards and garden rather than the piazza.
Designed around families or groups requiring two distinct sleeping areas and outdoor space. The garden-facing orientation is quieter than the square-facing rooms, which makes it a considered choice for families travelling with young children.
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