The Palazzo Castri Tea experience: something you absolutely must try!

On the Sunday afternoon on which we approached the afternoon tea experience at Palazzo Castri, we were still not quite sure what to expect: after all, afternoon tea is not a typical tradition in many local hotel establishments; expectations and curiosity therefore grew out of all proportion.

Before returning to the hotel for the scheduled time (from 4:00 p.m.), we decided to enjoy a relaxing walk around the hotel's surroundings through the typical city alleys surrounding the covered market (Mercato Centrale) in San Lorenzo Square.

It is a vibrant and colorful, multi-ethnic and contemporary neighborhood that perfectly blends together the flavors of the city's architecture and history with the contemporary and cosmopolitan influences of a home of all lands.

Fusion restaurants, leather accessories and handbags (among the typical stalls in this neighborhood), the Central Market, which draws in visitors from all over the world precisely because of the generous supply of local food and wine and the many tasty stands where you can stop and have a bite to eat with friends before setting out again to visit the city.

In short...the district of San Lorenzo is truly a spectacle on a Sunday afternoon: it knows how to give colorful glimpses, of a Florentinity that has been contaminated but still has not lost the cheerfulness and veracity of its authentic spirit.

But now back to Castri Palace:

Upon returning to the hotel, a very kind receptionist greeted us by wishing us a Happy Sunday and letting us know that the table reserved for us was already ready.

The quiet of the Palazzo Castri's indoor lounge, a brightly lit area set by large windows overlooking the structure's elegant indoor garden, really seems to hold its own on this day of fine weather and relaxation.

And it is precisely what is seen-about the environment and the spaces around it-that initially focuses our attention.

The decor of the interior room has graceful and never vulgar references: the stylistic choices of design and comfort were made to deliberately put guests at ease but at the same time not "belittle" or intimidate them: and it is in this genteel choice of intelligence and good taste, in our opinion, that the true character of Palazzo Castri is revealed.

There is no sloppiness or carelessness here-every detail, from the colorful, lush orchid flowers that stand out majestically on the entrance hall table to the molding of the dining tables, is thought of as part of a whole that creates harmony and comfort; neither, however, is there that ostentatious and sometimes somewhat excessive luxury of some hotels, which makes visitors feel uncomfortable and frightened, making them feel almost like they are in the way.

At Palazzo Castri, the guest is sacred; he is placed at the center of a journey in which he can be comfortable, feel naturally himself and indeed bring something of his own personality into the welcoming experience.

So here we were sitting at the table in the lunch/cafeteria area on a sunny Sunday afternoon, watching a couple of other guests blissfully reading the newspaper in the garden, feeling wonderfully at home, cared for and pampered by the services of the bar attendant who was pricelessly kind and thorough with us.

But let's go into more detail about the tea experience.

When wellness starts from a cup: and yes, you read that correctly....

When the young and professional bar attendant came up to us to seat us, we still didn't realize it. Only once we were seated and ordered our teas -- letting her advise us on the basis of a wide choice of flavors and pairings related to intensity, color, aroma of the tea -- lo and behold, only then did we actually realize that we were having an immersive experience, that is, made up of smell, touch, taste, of so many senses together to help recompose a unique picture of relaxation and well-being, for body and mind.

The tea arrives after a few minutes, in a serving that recalls the taste of the most beautiful experiences and that do not have a value in terms of money but of quality and uniqueness.

When and how often will it happen to us to be pampered by the intense, warm aroma of the beverage expertly served by a welcoming professional as we watch the reflections of light fall sheer to the water in the hot tub of an elegant Florentine palace?

In a society as fast-paced and voracious of moments as we are today, a world in which we can buy everything, see everything, go everywhere ... isn't the most profound value of a trip the uniqueness and singularity of a lived and unrepeatable experience?

And so we quietly enjoy this privileged moment of happiness, before receiving at the table a tasty snack riser filled with various kinds of biscuits to accompany the tea.

We also received water, to be consumed before or after the hot drink in case we liked it.

The aroma of Earl Grey, an evergreen for tea lovers, fills the nostrils and the room with a warm, welcoming scent that almost takes us back to distant eras, foreign cities, in elegant, well-attended halls.

Although we did not consume all of the cookie offerings, we were tempted by three different types of delicacies, and the tasty, not at all cloying, flavor of the cookies literally overwhelmed our senses.

Fresh, artisanal and well presented: the dry pastry choices paired with afternoon tea were definitely approved.

Both in quality and quantity! (ah...speaking of which we were also kindly asked if we would like a refill).

Castri Palace afternoon tea: an approved experience

If you are going to be a guest at Palazzo Castri, we absolutely recommend that you allow yourself to be enveloped in the pleasure of the afternoon tea experience, a pampering for guests, a way to feel loved and cared for. A good habit to spend an hour of your winter afternoon with, either on your way back from sightseeing or before indulging in a relaxing treatment in the hotel's spa area.

You will never be disappointed or dissatisfied because, at Palazzo Castri, hospitality is truly a value guarded with determination and professionalism.

Even in the smallest things, even...inside a cup of tea.