The Park Palace Hotel complex was built between the end of the 1800s and the early 1900s, when Florence was in full economic, scientific, artistic and tourist ferment.

It consists of three structures: the main Villa, a Villa and the Cottage. Private residence until the end of the 1950s, it was then transformed into a hotel by Gerardo Kraft Jr.

The Krafts have been hoteliers for many generations, among the first to understand the value of luxury hotels. The Kraft family's hotel business began in 1854 in Switzerland, in Bern, when Jean Kraft inaugurated the luxurious Hotel Bernerhof.

In 1883 Gerardo Kraft, Jean's youngest son, opened his first hotel in Florence, first buying the Hotel Italie and later, in 1897, the Hotel Continental Royal de la Paix which would become the magnificent Grand Hotel. Then, following the purchase of the Hotel de la Ville, adjacent to the Hotel Italie, he will be able to bring them together to transform them into what will be the legendary Hotel Excelsior Italia, inaugurated in 1928.

Over the years, the Grand Hotel and the Excelsior will host sovereigns and celebrities. Among the most famous people who have stayed there we can mention the Dukes of Windsor, Pirandello and Clark Gable. Until the sale in 1959 to the CIGA company.

But the Kraft Family's hotel tradition does not end here.

The Park Palace Hotel was founded between 1958 and 1960 by Gerardo Kraft jr. and his wife Karin. Gerardo jr., after having attended the hotel school in Lausanne, worked at the Hotel Palace in St. Moritz during the 1948 Winter Olympics and at the Dorchester in London, returned to Florence to manage the Grand Hotel from 1951 to 1958 together with brother Milo.

During his direction, Gerardo jr. he organized numerous concerts and events and in October 1952 he convinced Louis Armstrong to hold a concert in Florence. The great jazz musician will be a guest of the Grand Hotel and will perform at the Odeon Theatre.

The Park Palace was inaugurated on 2 February 1960, as a 5-star luxury hotel, surrounded by greenery, on the hill behind the Boboli Gardens.

Today it is directed by Edgar Kraft, son of Gerardo Jr. The hotel reflects the classic taste of Florentine villas and is also furnished with antiques belonging to the owners' family.