Room Service: The Gallery Hotel Art, Florence

Opening a hotel that doubles as an art gallery may seem like gilding the lily in a city like Florence. But it begins to make sense when you learn the hotel in question is The Gallery Hotel Art, part of the Lungarno Hotel group, which is run by Leonardo Ferragamo, son of shoe designer Salvatore.

If you are searching for that Room With A View experience, however, don't even think of staying here. The hotel was created with a more modern view of the city in mind. This is East meets West in understated Italian luxury.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

The hotel is down a small street on a tiny piazza just off the banks of the River Arno. Vicolo Dell'Oro 5 (00 39 055 27263, www.lungarnohotels.com).

Time to international airport: A taxi from Florence airport takes around 20 minutes and costs about €30 (£20).

ARE YOU LYING COMFORTABLY?

As one would expect, each of the 73 rooms is the height of Italian chic. Our room had a muted colour scheme with oversized ecru and stone gingham curtains, simple dark wood furniture, wooden floors and moody black and white framed photographs of the city. Leather also features strongly: toffee-coloured, wild boar leather headboards frame the deliciously comfortable Frette-clad beds. Penthouses are afforded the extra luxuries of linen sheets, outdoor terraces and cashmere blankets.

Bathrooms are simple, but gorgeous; white marble with double wash basins and a fresh bloom.

Freebies: Gallery Hotel Art's own-label toiletries plus relaxing bath cubes – ideal for a long soak after a museum-filled afternoon.

Keeping in touch: All rooms are equipped with direct dial telephones, satellite television, air conditioning and DVD players.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Doubles cost from €325 (£210); suites from €530 (£340).

I'm not paying that: Torre Guelfa (00 39 055 239 6338), on Borgo SS Apostoli just around the corner, has doubles from €170 (£105).