The building in Borgo degli Albizi, which houses the Hotel Locanda Orchidea was named after the Tassinari family, following a Florentine tradition dating from the 1600’s, by which building took the name of their owners.
The “Palazzo” as these buildings are known, was probably constructed for the family towards the end of the 16th Century, the beautiful façade being designed by the famous architect “Buontalenti”.
Above the main entrance is a bust of “Duca Cosimo III dei Medici”, by the sculpter “Faggini da Settignano”.
The tower around which the “Palazzo” was constructed originated in the early 13th century, and belonged to the powerful “Donati family”. It is thought that “Gemma Donati”, the wife of the world famous poet “Dante Alighieri”, was born in this tower and remained there with their 5 children after “Dante “ had been sent into exile for political reasons.
The “Palazzo” was restored in 1930.
In the medieval entrance there is a tabernacle with an affresco of a Madonna and child.
On the ceiling there is a second affresco of the family coat of arms. This entrance leads to a private garden and houses a statue of “Dante” in “terracotta of Impruneta”. An ancient and beautiful wisteria is to be found in the garden, which is said to have been planted by an english Lord in about 1800.
Placed centrally is a very attractive marble statue of Destiny by a Russian artist of the early 20th century depicting a naked girl crying between the feet of a Sphinx which gazes into the distance ignoring her suffering. While in a corner of the garden there is another statue of the poet “Lodovico Ariosto” who wrote the well known poem “Orlando Furioso”.