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 In one of the leading angles in the heart of Florence, a short stroll from the world famous Duomo, where art and history blend together, the Hotel Tornabuoni Beacci awaits its guests in the ambience of the Minerbetti palace and Strozzi del Poeta palace, the charming rooms express the prestige of its exclusive location in a world without time.
Since the time of the Renaissance, the hotel has been famous for its hospitality. Known as the "guest quarters of the Strozzi Palace" in the 15th century, from the illustrous Strozzi family and their guests, at the beginning of the 800's it became known as the "Locanda del Pellicano" while until the end of the century and until 1918 it was named "Grand Hotel of Europe". After this time it took the name of Pensione Tornabuoni Beacci and since 1978 the management and in fact the ownership reverted to the Bechi family with the name of Hotel Tornabuoni Beacci. |
 The rooms are panoramic and enjoy one of the most splendid views of the monuments of Florence. The furnishings reflect an antique Florentine house with paintings and carpets of value. The decoration lend to the extraordinary taste, where every detail is given to the care of the guests. The atmosphere awaiting our guests, gradually and gently takes one back to other times, a bygone era.
Entering, and seeing the stairs, one will have the sensation of living in ancient history. Crossing the halls, you can admire the antique furnishings from the '600 and '700. Restored with passion and love by the artisans of Florence, the sensation of "living in history" and the possibility to enjoy a precious heredity, founded by those who love beauty. |
 Also available to guests is a comfortable living room, a roof garden with seasonal and colourful plants where you are invited for breakfast, and weather permitting, dinner. The dining room is rich in atmosphere and a welcome place to enjoy the antique flavours of Tuscany. At your leisure, one can have a look at the guest registry and comments of illustrious visitors to the hotel in the years of the 1920's.
The Bechi family enjoys the culture of hospitality. The services offered come from the experience in the hotel sector and the continuing improvements in the operation of the hotel. It is the guests, their needs and the satisfaction of their stay in Florence which guides our staff to assistance. Under the care of the hotel, one will feel at home. To this we add the warm decorations of the rooms - every comfort available - and the high level of gastronomy of the restaurant. |
 A bit of history...
A short stroll, just one hundred meters from the Minerbetti Palace was the antique Caffè "Doney" which was the meeting spot of the English: "passing through or residents - and they were many - who came from the villas or from the hillside every day into the city at the sacred hour of tea..."
Origins of the Minerbetti dynasty in Florence
And among the famous clients of the Caffè Doney, the Minerbetti, who had already taken on the aspect of the Florentines even though they were English - at least in origin - were the Minerbetti. It was just before the '200 when they arrived in the city of Dante, fleeing from England, when one of their family, the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket was assassinated in his cathedral. |
 The Becket family decided on exile and a member of the family, not exactly the principal, chose Florence, hence this "minor" Becket became Minerbetti. The family purchased a home on the Via della Vigna Nuova, near the home of the Rucellai, and following that, -- it was the 50's in the 15th century - they transferred to the house on the corner of Via del Parione and Via dei Legnaioli, today named Via de' Tornabuoni. At that time, the street was very narrow, and it was enlarged to give room to the square where the Buondelmonti Palace and the Spini Palace had their entrance, followed shortly after by the Bartolini Salimbeni Palace.
Between 1300 and 1700
The Minerbetti family were peace loving and dedicated themselves to the maintenance of peace. Andrea Minerbetti, Gonfaloniere of Justice in 1434, when Cosimo the Elder returned from exile in Venice, declared that whoever generated the conflict with the Medici should be removed (...). Another Minerbetti who occupied an important role in the city was Giovanni Minerbetti. In 1560, he was Ambassador to the court of Spain under Cosimo I de' Medici. Thirty three Priors and twelve Standard Bearers: it is a number to be proud of. |
 The Minerbetti can also be found in prestigious positions of public administration even when, at the end of the reign of the Medici, the Lorena era started. The Minerbetti family existed until 1771 but had no male heirs to their dynasty. The Palace on the via de' Tornabuoni maintained its simple characteristics during the century. Of solid construction, a powerful aspect with its eight windows for each of its three stories, on the right, an arched entranceway, today closed, which was a passage way along the via de' Tornabuoni which continues to be a colourful and exclusive avenue. |
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