What to expect: This hotel was formerly a baroque palazzo, where the illustrious Gaddi and Arrighetti families resided during the Renaissance. A marble lobby with turquoise-silk sofas leads to the grand staircase. Public areas are appointed with soaring vaulted ceilings, original frescos, Tuscan terracotta floors, and rare antiques. Formal and gracious, the hotel welcomes an international mix of upscale businesspeople and vacationers.