On March this year I had the opportunity of experiencing a side of Florence I had never experienced before. This world of guest-houses that are perfectly designed to make your stay feel like an extravagant version of your home life feels new and surreal to me. How can you possibly feel at home while staying in a centuries old palace, with painted ceilings and in-room bath tabs?

It turns out, it is possible. And Betty Soldi is the woman that made this magical experience possible for me when she offered me the opportunity to stay at her boutique hotels SoprArno Suites and Ad Astra, located in the Oltrarno area of Florence, on the occasion of one of Pitti’s Taste events.