Rome is the religious epicentre of Italy, but Florence is a city at the heart of one of the most famous cultural movements in Europe. Earlier this summer, award-winning Munich-based group Ruby Hotels debuted its 19th hotel in Tuscany’s capital city, the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Named after Beatrice Portinari, Dante Alighieri’s muse and subject of his first sonnet in La Vita Nuova, Ruby Bea Hotel & Bar is a love letter to the artists who drove the movement forward.

Steps away from San Marco, home to the statue of David at the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze and world-famous botanical gardens, the hotel echoes the stone and marble used by Renaissance fine sculptors in the interior design of its 24-hour bar. Marble tabletops, exposed stone walls and bronze tones reflect the statues found within the city, while the arched mirrors and vaulted features of the countertop seating area are reminiscent of the Roman Colosseum and Florentine arcades, built by Italian architects such as Filippo Brunelleschi. Inspired by those that came before them, the art and architecture of the Italian Renaissance revived ideas from ancient Greek and Roman art, returning to a form of classical antiquity and combining it with a modern way of thinking.

In the spirit of the Renaissance, Ruby Bea Hotel plays with perspectives, employing unexpected angles and surprising interactions. Convex mirrors adorn the designed bedrooms – each one of the Ruby Bea’s 118 uniquely appointed rooms a reflection of the hotel group’s “Lean Luxury” philosophy (think: warm wood panelling, glass-walled rain showers and Ruby Care aromatherapy products, which ensure laid-back comfort across the hotel group’s entire collection). Three-dimensional art pieces are an extraordinary addition, revealing to guests a new view of classic masterpieces when seen through 3D glasses. Experience Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa as it has never been seen before, bringing to life a reimagined Renaissance.

The 5,282sqm space is complemented by warm tones of terracotta, red and gold and the roof terrace offers a taste of la dolce vita with monochrome striped parasols and live music performances for guests to enjoy over Ruby Bea’s signature cocktail and Italian-inspired snacks. Guitars are even available to rent for those adept in the musical arts.

For those following in the footsteps of Italy’s innovators, Ruby Dante Workspaces offers private offices, soundproof meeting rooms and a roof terrace for alfresco working – the perfect setup for aspiring creators. Located on the top floor, and including 36 workstations, the co-working space is designed for productivity. Everything from the ergonomic chairs and height-adjustable tables to the barista-grade coffee machine is carefully considered for digital nomads. Ruby Dante Workspaces even offers after-work events.

Perhaps the most famous sculptor to come out of the Renaissance, Michelangelo, once remarked, ‘I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.’ In the world of luxury travel, the Ruby Hotels group is a kind of modern-day sculptor, carving works of liveable art from the stones of a city. And what better setting than a city noted for its culture, architecture and craftsmanship? But then, that can be said for all of Ruby Hotels’ destinations.

ruby-hotels.com