Oltrarno and Florence
Our beloved neighbourhood and the city
The Historic Residence Ottantotto Firenze is located in the heart of the Oltrarno, the Florentine neighborhood that lies on the left bank of the Arno River, which is why some call it “Rive Gauche” or “Diladdàrno” as many locals refer to it. In 2017 Lonely Planet described the Oltrarno as “the coolest neighborhood in the world.” Staying here means having the opportunity to experience everyday life like a real Florentine, savoring the most authentic essence of today’s Florence. A land of small and large churches housing masterpieces, artisan workshops and antique shops, art galleries and trendy bars, markets and green spaces, the Oltrarno is also home to many ancient Florentine families.
Ponte Vecchio and Ponte Santa Trìnita are the two main links between the Oltrarno and that part of the historic center that is home to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Uffizi Galleries, the Battistero, the Accademia and Palazzo Vecchio. Protected by three monumental gateways—Porta San Frediano, Porta Romana and Porta San Niccolò it is home to two magnificent historic gardens, dotted with flower-lined paths and enchanting views. The oldest urban settlements are of Etruscan origin, but it was Julius Caesar who founded the Roman colony of Florentia. In the Middle Ages, the city became an autonomous Commune and it was only with the arrival of the Medici family that Florence experienced extraordinary artistic, literary and scientific development and became known universally as “the cradle of the Renaissance.”
Center
When the sixth ring of city walls was completed in 1333, the entire Oltrarno district was incorporated into the city and beginning in the following century, noble families started to view this area as suitable for the construction of new residences. The Pitti, a family of bankers who rivaled the Medici, were the first to choose to build their palace here. And then it was Cosimo I himself, the first Grand Duke of Florence, who purchased the Palazzo Pitti from them, enlarged it and designed what would become the magnificent Boboli Gardens.
Palazzo Pitti—which also houses the Palatine Gallery and the Costume Gallery—with the Boboli Gardens are the two extraordinary focal points of the entire neighborhood. Among the many places to explore, one of the most enchanting is Piazza Santo Spirito, where on weekends you can soak up a sense of lightheartedness and authentic local charm, thanks to the small neighborhood markets that set up shop there. In the evening, the nightlife fills the streets with excitement and the lights illuminate numerous venues where you can stay out late enjoying excellent cocktails, beers and glasses of wine, accompanied by traditional or avant-garde menus. The Basilica of Santo Spirito, designed by Brunelleschi, houses in its sacristy the wooden crucifix by the young Michelangelo.
Santo Spirito
Another historic square is the nearby Piazza del Carmine, where a visit to the church is a must, to admire the Brancacci Chapel, masterfully frescoed by Masaccio and Masolino da Panicale. Meanwhile, almost directly across from the Ponte Vecchio, the Church of Santa Felicita houses Pontormo’s famous painting, The Deposition. Just a stone’s throw from the Giardino Torrigiani—the largest private garden within city walls in Europe. Ottantotto is the ideal starting point and base for experiencing the authentic Oltrarno. This is exactly how a couple of American guests described it: “When we return to our room in the evening, we find the same quality and beauty that we experienced during the day out in the magnificent city of Florence.”
