Far from the maddening crowds

Florence is a sucker-punch victim of its own good looks. Consider the statistics: a population of just 405,000 is added to by some 7 million visitors every year. In summer, the cobbled streets squeak to the sound of a million sneakered Americans.

Even in winter, the famous Ponte Vecchio groans under the weight of its own devotees. And all this without an airport big enough to support a major airline. Just think of the damage easyJet or Ryanair could do with three flights a day. Escaping the hordes is the key to getting the best out of this fantastic city. The 15th century Palazzo Tornabuoni, smack in the heart of the city centre, is currently being renovated by a team led by famous wine producer Dr Jacopo Mazzei and fashionistas the Fratini brothers, who recently sold the Calvin Klein label. Their goal is to create a luxury private residence club, due to open in spring next year. Perks include an in-house sommelier, private chefs, hunting trips and 24-hour room service. The fractional ownership scheme starts at £128,000 for a studio.