Table of Contents
September 2026
By Bea Pablo, Staff Writer
Five and a half years, five separate authorizations and a great deal of patience went into bringing Via dei Servi back to life. The Italian developer and entrepreneur Massimo Dell’Aquila reflects on what it means to restore a centuries-old Florentine residence without erasing the history that gives it character.
The street of Via dei Servi gives a little away. The historic palazzo sits along one of Florence’s most familiar streets, connecting Piazza del Duomo with Piazza della Santissima Annunziata. The Accademia, Santa Croce, Piazza della Signoria e Ponte Vecchio are all within walking distance.
But it was what lay behind the facade that first caught Massimo’s attention. A Florence-based architect introduced him to the building more than ten years ago. He knew the street very well, but had never seen the apartments inside. At the time, they were in poor condition and looked very different from the residences they would eventually become.
[Florence residence before and after restoration]
“You have to be able to see what a property can become before that value becomes apparent to everyone else,” Massimo says.
That was the starting point.
What Makes Restoring a Historic Home in Florence Different?
Restoring a historic home in Florence is very different from renovating an ordinary apartment. Protected historic homes form part of Italy’s cultural and architectural heritage and are subject to specific safeguards imposed by the Italian government. You cannot simply alter the structure or modify historically significant elements at your discretion.
The objective at Via dei Servi was to introduce modern functionality, systems and comfort while preserving the historic character and architectural integrity of the apartments. That meant working closely with the Soprintendenza, the Italian authority responsible for protecting architectural and cultural heritage. Before authorized work can begin, the architect prepares plans and a supporting technical report explaining the proposed interventions and how they relate to the protected features of the building.
[Marina Salley, Head of Investor Relations, and Massimo Dell’Aquila, Italian developer and entrepreneur, examine the restored frescoes.]
The Via dei Servi project experienced this firsthand when changes involving the bathrooms required additional review. The team had to investigate the walls to make sure historic decoration would not be damaged before the work could proceed. It was a reminder that in a historic building, even a seemingly simple renovation requires careful consideration of what may exist beneath the surface.
Bringing the Palazzo Back to Life
Some of the most memorable moments came when later layers were removed and the original architecture began to emerge. Passageways that had been closed off became visible again. Original structures returned. Decorations and frescoes appeared beneath later interventions.
“From that moment on, the palazzo itself began to re-emerge.” – Massimo
In Via dei Servi 11, some rooms contain two levels of decorated ceilings. An earlier ceiling remains beneath one installed in the early 19th century, while an ancient coffered ceiling in another room could no longer be restored. Rather than remove it, the team preserved it in place and created a new decorative structure beneath it. Older painted and decorative elements also remain behind some of the current wall surfaces. They are part of the building’s history after all. As Massimo puts it, “what you see today does not represent everything the apartment still contains.” That philosophy shaped the restoration. “Everything that could be preserved was preserved, and everything that could be restored was restored.”
The historic decorations survived. The team avoided creating imitations simply to make the space older. “Never replace something that could authentically be preserved, but never simulate an originality that no longer existed.”
[Marina Salley, Head of Investor Relations, speaks with Massimo during the restoration of the Via dei Servi residence]
Modernizing a Historic Home
The finished residences were designed for contemporary living without compromising the character of the original spaces. Modern bathrooms, building systems, climate control, and heating were introduced around the existing architecture rather than replacing it.
“Rather than forcing the building to adapt to a contemporary design, we did the opposite: we designed the new functions around the structure that the building had given us.” The furnishings were also designed specifically for the rooms, allowing the architecture to remain central to the experience.
[The renovated Florence residence on Via dei Servi]
Via dei Servi 9 and Via dei Servi 11 share the same history but have distinct identities. At no. 9, the library became one of the residences’ defining spaces. At no. 11, layers of earlier decoration remain visible through the rooms, including elaborate ceilings and details concealed beneath later additions. The library alone required roughly six months of work. Craftsmen approached each element according to its condition, using traditional techniques where necessary and avoiding additions that might compete with the original design.
For Massimo, the value lies in allowing the residence to tell its own story. The aim was never to make the interiors appear older than they are. Instead, the team worked with material, proportions and details already present, introducing what was needed without disguising what came before. Both residences also open onto private balconies with views toward the Duomo, bringing one of Florence’s most recognizable landmarks directly into the experience of the home. No other residential units along Via dei Servi share the same feature.
From Restoration to a Home Worth Living
[View of the Via dei Servi and Duomo from the private balcony of the Florence residence]
Much of the work is no longer obvious. That, perhaps, is the point. The walls do not tell you how many plans were revised, how many approvals were required, or how many decisions were made behind the scenes. They simply stand as they have for generations, now ready to be lived in again.
Experience Florence residence for yourself. Today, the finished residence brings together the details that made the restoration worth the wait. This three-bedroom home sits inside a historic palazzo on Via de Servi, just steps from the Duomo. The residence is part of the Equity Euro Fund, allowing investors to own a portfolio of European luxury residences while having access to more homes in the most sought-after destinations. If you would like to experience Florence and more, learn more about becoming an investor and contact us at investorrelations@equityresidences.com.
