Matteo Gentile

General Manager of Hotel Lungarno, Firenze

Things to do in your city

Giardino di Boboli - one of my favorite sites in Florence is the Boboli Garden and its botanical collection with over 200 species of lemon trees dating back to the Medici era, along with roses dating 1900.
San Miniato Al Monte - an antique abbey standing atop one of the highest points in the city. It has been described as one of the finest Romanesque structures in Tuscany and one of the most scenic churches in Italy.
Leica Store Florence is the place where all photography lovers can find the entire range of Leica products, with many models available and ready to be tested. It is also an environment where to admire photographic exhibitions, participate in encounters with some of the most significant contemporary photographers, or moments of confrontation with photographic critics and photo editors, along with many other initiatives.
Fratelli Piccini. Step inside the oldest jewelry boutique on Ponte Vecchio and enter a scintillating world. A rainbow of diamonds, the shine of the finest white, yellow and rose gold and the bold glistening colors of precious stones lie within, tempting you into the seductive world of high jewelry. Succumb and revel in its beauty, sophistication, and artisanship.
Why should one choose your hotel

Breath-taking views of Ponte Vecchio and Arno River.
The gourmet restaurant Borgo San Jacopo, 1 Michelin star, where you can experience masterful, world class gastronomy right in the heart of Florence.
An incredible art collection that features more than 450 works, including works by Picasso and Cocteau, offered in a variety of themed itineraries to our guests, with the many pieces accompanying our guest to their rooms, of which many are themed and dedicated to the work of a unique artist, such as the Venna or Francesconi suite.
The incomparable cocktails of our Picteau Bistrot & Bar and its unique front row view of the Ponte Vecchio and the Arno river, to be admired just as if you were cruising on a boat.
What's new in your hotel
The seasonal menus signed by our Executive Chef Claudio Mengoni.
Inspiration to feel like a local in your city

The view of Florence from Villa Bardini
Historical canoeing club under the Uffizi where to enjoy lunch
L’antico Setificio with an original loom by Leonardo Da Vinci
The Limonaia in the Giardino dei Boboli with over 100 species of lemons dating back to the Medici family
La Terrazza del Continentale
Favorite places in the hotel
The corner with the fireplace on which the artwork of Picasso proudly stands out: a privileged location where I feel completely surrounded by the Beauty. Of the art, of the hotel, of the river, of the city.
Where do you spend your day off
I love football and despite being an avid AC Milan fan I often like to go to the Fiorentina stadium when I can.
Secret places in your city

Stibbert Museum & Garden - Perfect for history and military buffs, the Stibbert Museum is one of Florence’s more unusual museums. It houses the private collection of eccentric art collector Frederick Stibbert. When he died, he gifted his villa to Florence. His museum is filled with an eclectic collection of artifacts, especially armory and weaponry, spread over 57 rooms.
The Stibbert Museum also has a beautiful garden. It’s a romantic English style garden with quirky architectural elements, filled with caves, temples, and fountains. You could stop here as part of a day trip from Florence to nearby Fiesole
Tower of Arnolfo. Want a great view of Florence without the queues and crowds? Instead of climbing Brunelleschi’s dome or Giotto’s Bell Tower, head to Palazzo Vecchio and climb the Tower of Arnolfo. If you’re up for a climb of 418 steps, the Tower of Arnolfo offers panoramic 360 views of the Duomo and Florence.
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella. Founded in 1221, it’s the world’s oldest apothecary still in operation. And it’s housed in a stunning building with vaulted ceilings, frescos, and ornate gilding and stucco. In this ancient place, Dominican monks once slaved over herbal remedies and potions in the 13th century. They doused themselves in blended vinegar to protect them from the plague. In the 16th century, Caterina dei Medici brought the pharmacy’s perfume, Eau de la Reine, to her French court. Today, the pharmacy is a luxury store discreetly hawking beauty products with a cult following. Its products are handmade using Old World techniques. There’s also a small museum where you can view antique pharmaceutical instruments and pottery.
What’s new in your city
The HZero railway museum, located near the Santa Maria Novella Railway station, where you will find one of the largest railway models in Europe. It is a recreational and architectural work of master craftsmanship combining hand crafted skills and technology. The project borders on the dimension of a game: an enormous game capable of combining seriousness and lightness.
Cultural events not to be missed
Maggio Musicale Festival. The oldest opera festival in Italy, a first that it shares in Europe with the festivals of Salzburg and Bayreuth. Founded in Florence in 1933 is hosted in the recently renewed Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, in Porta al Prato district.
Most interesting discoveries / experiences in your city
A vintage Fiat 500 or Vespa self-driven tour: a real Dolce Vita experience!
Recommended Restaurants

● Caffè Dell’Oro
This contemporary Italian café boasts a truly privileged position, with front-row views across to the Ponte Vecchio – even more stunning from one of the al fresco tables overlooking Lungarno degli Acciaiuoli, a charming pedestrian street crossing the heart of Florence. Breakfast, morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea, aperitifs, dinner and after-dinner. All Day Dining at Caffè dell’Oro satisfies every possible whim, making it the perfect way to welcome guests at any time of day. Created by Executive Chef Antonio Minichiello, the menu offers a contemporary take on traditional Italian dishes, winning over even the most cosmopolitan palates with delicate blends of ingredients and an international approach to fine cuisine. The perfect combination, an invitation to taste and travel.
● Atelier De’ Nerli
A place of art, craftsmanship and quality cuisine, which combines the gastronomic experience, with clear Tuscan roots, with the love for handmade and the esprit of today's artists - painters, photographers and sculptors - whose works are hosted and for sale, in the restaurant. At the center of it all: true Florentine artisanal craftsmanship, of which the restaurant makes itself a true atelier.
● The Fusion Bar & Restaurant
A Florentine institution, a place of worship for mixology enthusiasts, thanks to the talented bartenders. The bar counter, true pulse of the Fusion, interacts with the innovative cuisine, able to seduce international travelers and the most demanding locals. Alongside the main bar, the fusion tapas offering amazes with a mix of transversal proposals from the great classics, such as delicious Bao, or tuna Tataki, to exquisite fusion proposals, enriched with vegetarian dishes.
● Essenziale
The house of the young chef Simone Cipriani; a restaurant in the heart of Oltrarno where empathy is everything. Wide tables, high ceilings, sofas like it's a real living space, without tablecloth and cutlery, but not only, because Essenziale also abolishes the menu. Simone's philosophy is very precise and has always been in favor of an informal style and forerunner, since not suspicious times, of all those little details that have transformed high level catering into a usable product, not only in the dishes.
Your concierge recommends
An amazing cooking class overlooking the Ponte Vecchio and Arno River or in the heart of Mercato Centrale to discover the secrets of Tuscan cuisine, its aromas and flavors and have fun in company.
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