Helvetia & Bristol Firenze – Starhotels Collezione celebrates one of Florence’s most anticipated cultural events this fall with Beyond the Fragment, a new experience bringing together art and wellness, inspired by Broken. The Power of the Fragment, the exhibition on view at Palazzo Strozzi from September 25, 2026.
Conceived in dialogue with the exhibition, Beyond the Fragment takes guests on a journey that begins at Palazzo Strozzi and continues through the hotel and LA SPA, where traces of Florence’s ancient Roman heritage – still visible within the spa’s wet area – become part of a contemporary wellness ritual.
Organized in collaboration with the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the exhibition explores the timeless fascination of the fragment throughout the history of sculpture, from antiquity to contemporary art, bringing together more than 80 masterpieces from leading international institutions. No longer viewed simply as remains of a lost whole, fragments emerge as works in their own right, capable of taking on new meanings and creating an ongoing dialogue between past and present.
A legendary address in the heart of Florence, Helvetia & Bristol has been part of the city’s cultural life for more than a century, welcoming generations of artists, intellectuals and international travelers. Its location just steps from Palazzo Strozzi makes this connection with Florence’s artistic scene all the more natural, turning a stay at the hotel into an opportunity to experience the city beyond the exhibition itself. This dialogue finds its fullest expression at LA SPA.
Built on the site once occupied by the ancient Capitoline Baths of the Roman-era Florence. LA SPA creates a tangible connection between fragments that preserve the stories of the past and wellness rituals inspired by the city’s Roman heritage. Remains of the ancient walls remain visible along the spa journey: here, archaeological traces are integrated into spaces designed for contemporary well-being, while history is transformed into rituals conceived to bring body and mind back into balance – much as the fragments presented at Palazzo Strozzi transcend their original form to take on a new identity.
Inspired by the exhibition’s exploration of the relationship between the fragment and the human body, Helvetia & Bristol also introduces the new signature treatment “Fragments of the Body”. Drawing on the proportions of Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, the ritual focuses on the head, hands and feet, areas often overlooked in traditional full-body treatments, yet particularly important for helping release built-up tension.
The Beyond the Fragment package includes:
A stay at Helvetia & Bristol Firenze – Starhotels Collezione, available for bookings in a Junior Suite category or above
Daily breakfast featuring creations by Italian pastry chef Iginio Massari
Tickets to Broken. The Power of the Fragment at Palazzo Strozzi
Access to LA SPA’s Roman Baths (wet area)
The signature Fragments of the Body treatment
For guests wishing to further enrich their stay, the hotel’s Concierge can arrange, upon request and subject to availability, a selection of tailor-made cultural experiences, including private guided visits and exclusive access to the exhibition outside regular opening hours, offering a different perspective on Palazzo Strozzi.
