Relais Cavalcanti occupies the fourth floor of an important historic palazzo constructed in the XIII century for the aristocratic Cavalcanti family, from whom it takes its name and who are remembered by the famous poet Guido, the friend of Dante Alighieri. Between the 16° and 17° centuries the palazzo hosted the Accademia della Crusca (the most prestigious Italian linguistic academy), as commemorated by a plaque on the façade of the building. Its members set themselves the task of evolving the Italian language, Today, as was the case in the 16° century, you can admire from the windows of Relais Cavalcanti Arnolfo’s Tower, the church of Orsanmichele and the Loggia del Mercato Nuovo, more commonly known as the Loggia del Porcellino, constructed at the behest of Cosimo I of the Medici at the heart of the city between 1547 and 1551 to a design by Giovan Battista del Tasso. Once upon a time it was a place where silks, precious stones and the work of goldsmiths were sold and then later, in the 19° century, the famous Florentine straw hats. The site remains a thriving animated market, nowadays specialising in leather goods and souvenirs. You’ll find here the famous fountain known as the Porcellino, a bronze statue of a small wild boar which was erected in 1640. Legend has it that if you throw a coin into the fountain and rub the boar’s snout you’ll be destined to return to Florence sooner or later.
From the windows of Relais Cavalcanti overlooking via Pellicceria you can enjoy a view of the enchanting Piazzetta di Parte Guelfa that takes its name from the Palazzo di Parte Guelfa, whose construction was begun at the beginning of the 14° century next to the church of Santa Maria sopra Porta. It was constructed as a seat for the then dominant Guelfa faction of the city. In the first half of the 15° century a complex extension of buildings was added to the original palazzo, directly opposite Relais Cavalcanti, and includes work by Filippo Brunelleschi e di Giorgio Vasari.
The Palagio di Parte Guelfa todays hosts conventions and cultural and scientific in the grand hall and is also the seat of the Calcio Storico Fiorentino and the corteo storico della Repubblica fiorentina.