The James Suite Hotel Firenze 1564
Theatrical, collector's-den luxury. Intimate but never stuffy. Every suite tells a different story — velvet and brass in one, Gothic canopy beds in another, framed vintage Hermès scarves on the walls of the Deluxe Room. Cavagnari even installed the late Queen Elizabeth II's original mahogany mobile wardrobe as a hotel artifact.
Book directly through manfredihotels.com — suite bookings include free minibar, €50 F&B credit, complimentary breakfast, and a free airport transfer
Why It Matters
One of Florence's newest luxury openings (recent relaunch under Manfredi Collection). The designer-as-host concept is genuine: Cavagnari didn't just design it, he grew up here. Member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, and Virtuoso. Rates start at €760 in low season, rising to €1,150 in high season, breakfast and VAT included.
A 16th-century palazzo in the Sant'Ambrogio neighborhood, The James is the most personal project of London-born, Florence-raised architect James Cavagnari — the man who designed 200+ Salvatore Ferragamo boutiques and led Bulgari's global retail redesign. He transformed his childhood home into 14 bespoke suites, each loaded with original frescoes, custom furnishings, rare fabrics, and things collected over a lifetime. The building still shows its convent bones: barrel-vaulted ceilings, an off-center portal, and a glass-roofed inner courtyard with oversized banana trees that feels more like a Marrakech riad than Florence.
Where You'll Stay
8 room types available
Chaplin Suite
The theatrical one. Petrol blue velvet sofa, polished wood surfaces, and brass details all working together in a wide open space flooded with light. The headboard echoes the sofa's velvet in a room that's warm and enveloping without feeling heavy. 2nd floor, separate salotto, shower or bathtub bathroom.
King · 57 sqm
Court Suite
Ground floor suites overlooking a quiet private inner patio — the closest you'll get to your own slice of the courtyard. Walk-in shower plus a freestanding bathtub in the bathroom. Rich textures, bespoke furnishings. A genuinely private feel despite being in the heart of Florence.
King · 55 sqmDeluxe Room
The entry point into The James, but don't mistake it for an afterthought. Walls hung with framed vintage Hermès scarves set the tone: art, fashion, design. Located on the 1st or 2nd floor with an internal view. Bathroom has a shower. Soft tones, natural woods, tailored fabrics — rooted in the building's convent past.
King · 34 sqm
Florence Suite
The top-floor suite with a private balcony overlooking the city — including views of the Great Synagogue of Florence's distinctive green dome. Plush navy blue and antique pink interiors. Two separate bathrooms: one with a freestanding bathtub for soaking, one with a rainfall shower for mornings. Memory foam mattress with a pillow menu and motion-sensor lighting. The most complete package in the building.
King · 56 sqm
JC Suite
The largest suite and Cavagnari's most personal creation — his initials, his vision. Authentic frescoes on the walls, period furnishings, and signature details that blend intimacy with grandeur. 1st floor location with a separate salotto. This is where past and present are most obviously in conversation. Shower bathroom.
King · 63 sqm
Junior Suite
The bed is framed by an elegant metal canopy evoking a Gothic arch — unexpected and theatrical. Located on the 1st floor with an external view. Has a sitting area and a bathroom with both shower and bathtub. Contemporary comfort wrapped in poetic detail.
King · 38 sqm
Master Suite
The only room that sleeps three, with a king bed and a sofa bed in the living area. Retro details and vintage inspirations throughout. Located on the 1st floor with an internal view. Bathroom has shower or bathtub options. Good for a family or a third traveler who doesn't need a fully separate room.
King plus sofa bed · 43 sqmSuite
A sensory narrative rooted in mid-century design with a separate living room. Located on the 1st floor. Warm, enveloping palette, king bed with curated artworks, shower bathroom. The pace deliberately slows here.
King · 50 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
2 venues on property
Restaurant
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Bicycles available for rent to explore Florence at your own pace. Given the central location in Sant'Ambrogio, the city is easily navigable by bike.
The glass-roofed inner courtyard with oversized banana trees, terracotta walls, and ornate lanterns is open to guests for quiet downtime — morning coffee, afternoon reading, or aperitivo. It has the atmosphere of a riad in Marrakech, not a standard hotel garden.
A quiet rooftop reading terrace with views over the Great Synagogue of Florence. Also used for evening cocktails from the 1564 Lounge Bar under the stars.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Buffet breakfast served daily 7:30am–10:30am, included with direct bookings.
Includes aromatic relaxation bed and pillow spray.
The hotel does not have a swimming pool.
Free minibar included for suite guests booking directly.
Airport shuttle service available, fee applies for standard bookings. Complimentary for suite guests booking directly through the hotel.
Private on-site parking available, reservation required. €70–€80 per day depending on source.
BUILD YOUR THE JAMES SUITE HOTEL FIRENZE 1564 PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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