18 October 2023

The history of the name of the apartment Dianora

Our apartment on Piazza Signoria boasts so much history that we could not choose a simple name. So we have dedicated it to a woman who was very connected to Florence in the past: Leonora Álvarez de Toledo y Colonna known as “Dianora.”

Despite her name she was born and grew up in Florence. In 1571 she married one of the sons of the famous Cosimo I de’ Medici named Pietro de’ Medici.

The unfortunate Dianora soon discovered that her husband was a very violent man with many mistresses. Dianora and Pietro had a son after two years of marriage and named him “Cosimo” after his grandfather.

Dianora and Pietro were married, but in truth she was left alone at home most of the time. One day, by pure chance, she happened to meet and get to know Bernardo Antinori. He, too, belonged to a powerful Florentine family, and they both fell in love immediately.

They had an affair, but they were both betrayed by some letters that Pietro found and read. This was the beginning of the end of their tragic love.

After the discovery of the letter Pietro was furious. He felt betrayed and dishonored. So he decided to get rid of his useless wife once and for all. He saw her as an obstacle to his dissolute life and a source of infamy.
So it was that one day Pietro decided to take Dianora out of town to their villa in the country. It was there that Pietro choked his wife to death with his own hands.

A few days later another crime was committed in the Medici family: the murder of Isabella de’ Medici, Dianora’s sister-in-law. Sir Bernardo Antinori, on the other hand, died in prison after being arrested under unspecified circumstances. Dianora’s son Cosimo died of illness a month after his mother’s murder.

It is because of this history that the apartment was named after Dianora. Now it is also easy to guess why the apartment has all these red details: they are an ode to the passion and death of this wonderful woman.

What are you waiting for to book Dianora?
We are waiting for you in Florence!