Florence is rated by Travel + Leisure readers #1 City in Europe for this poll. “Just go,” said one reader, with another adding, “The greatest art in the world in one place.” Iconic sights include the Uffizi Gallery, the Duomo, and the Galleria dell’Accademia. And then there’s the food: “Endless bread, thin-crust pizza, and the thickest Florentine steak you can imagine,” said another reader.
While several
notable hotels, including the St. Regis and Rocco Forte’s Hotel Savoy didn’t
make it on the five highest rated hotels, according to the readers, the difference between the top spot – which is shared between Villa
Cora and Hotel Lungarno is an achingly small two points on a scale of 100, so
it probably comes down to preferences for location and the actual suite you
select, which is what we highlight below.
1. VILLA CORA
Scoring a 93.00 (pictured in the lead),
tied for first with T+L readers, Villa Cora has 45 rooms and suites, divided
into the main villa and in two adjacent buildings, which were restored with the
aim of conserving the original architectural style as much as possible. In the
main villa, there are 29 suites and rooms divided into four floors, each with
its own style. The first, known as the "noble floor" is characterized
by its frescoes; the second dedicated to the ex-empress Eugenia widow of
Napoleon III and to the roses that were her favorite flower: the third is the
floor dedicated to the Orient, in Moorish spirit.
Travel + Leisure
says, “The trompe l’oeil frescoes and classical statues at Villa Cora, a
19th-century villa overlooking the Boboli Gardens, are no less impressive.
After you’ve finished gawking, sip champagne on the rooftop that looks out over
the garden, relax in the spa, or lounge around the heated outdoor pool, shaded
by towering oak trees. When you’re ready to do some exploring, head to the
nearby Piazzale Michelangelo for a panoramic view over the city.”
IMPERIAL SUITE
Dedicated to the
Japanese Emperor Akihito who stayed at Villa Cora in 1982, the suite is located
on the Nobel Floor and occupies the whole facade of the villa with a view of
the city and of the internal garden. The room also has a small balcony. The
Imperial suite features original frescoes made by Pietrasanta and Samoggia on
top of the inlaid wooden floor rests a majestic red velvet four-poster bed. The
room also has a living room area with antique furniture. The Imperial Suite has
a second room that is frescoed as well, and has blue four-poster bed. Both
rooms have bathrooms made with Carrara marble. For more suites, click here.
2. HOTEL LUNGARNO
Also tied for tops
with T+L readers, 2017 marked 50 years since its opening, but things have
changed big time so to speak. Hotel Lungarno has been completely renewed and
reopened its doors after six months of renovation last year. Without
sacrificing its charm, the blue, white and leather found in its lobby reflect
the style of an elegant boat navigating on the Arno with the Ponte Vecchio as
its backdrop. The living room suspended over the river provides a perfect space
to relax and Borgo San Jacopo, the 1-star Michelin restaurant is a must spot
for at least one dinner.
Travel + Leisure
says, “A swanky, residential-style gem on the Arno…The flagship hotel of the
Ferragamo Lungarno Collection — has one of the most covetable addresses in the
entire city. And after an extensive revamp to the lobby and guest rooms in
2017, the 65-key property has never looked better. Interiors blend residential
elegance and nautical flair, with blue and white striped carpeting, white
boiserie, and a museum-worthy art collection including works by the likes of
Picasso, Cocteau, and Bueno.”
PORTRAIT PENTHOUSE FLOOR
The 2,939 sq. ft. Penthouse
Floor comprises all four 6th-floor suites, giving the entire top floor of the hotel for you and your friends. By the Ponte Vecchio and overlooking the river,
it is more a chic city-centre dwelling than a hotel suite. On the full-facade
terrace enjoy the dancing lights of the river or be
enchanted by the rose tints of the sun on the heights of the surrounding hills.
The floor has a maximum occupancy of 10 and with a total of five bedrooms, six oversize bathrooms and four lounge-dining
areas. The suites
overlook both the Arno and an internal courtyard. For more suites, click here.
3. BELMOND VILLA
SAN MICHELE
A very close third
less than a point behind the top scorers, with 45 rooms and suites, set on
rolling Tuscan hills, Belmond Villa San Michele features frescoes, ancient
carvings and a façade attributed to Michelangelo. In the 15th century it was a
monastery and its location is away from the bustle but just 15 minutes to the
center via a free shuttle. If you like to be in the kitchen, try the Cookery
School, where hands-on lessons are taught by the Chef.
Travel + Leisure
says, “From its hillside perch just below the village of Fiesole, a northern
suburb of Florence, the Villa San Michele overlooks the wide sprawl of the
city. The heart of the hotel is a Renaissance-era ex-monastery, its facade is said
to have been designed by Michelangelo. Around half the luxurious bedrooms and
suites are housed here; others are in modern annexes in the fabulous terraced
gardens. Up here, all is peaceful and quiet, a world away from the tourist
throng below: there is a fine pool at the top of the property; a gourmet
restaurant and bar in the loggia with views over the city; and lots of nooks
and crannies, both inside and out, for relaxation.”
LIMONAIA SUITE AND
VILLA
The 2,152 sq. ft. Limonaia
Suite and Villa has an additional 2,690 sq. ft. terrace spanning two floors.
Located in the former Orangeries in the Italian gardens, the 720
sq. ft. Limonaia Suite enjoys views over Florence and the surrounding hills. It
has a private garden with a heated, stone plunge pool. The panoramic bedroom is
equipped with king-size or twin beds and the marble bathroom has both a walk-in
shower and separate bathtub. This suite can be connected on request to a Garden
Suite, linked by a staircase, complete with spacious bathrooms and wardrobes.
These in turn are connected to a third suite through the garden, which creates
a one-of-a-kind “private villa within the Villa”. This is ideal for families,
groups of friends or for special occasions, such as weddings or exclusive parties.
In total the Livonia Villa comprises three bedrooms with king size or twin beds,
three living rooms, three bathrooms with separate bathtub and shower plus a
courtesy bathroom, a small kitchen and a private plunge pool in the top-floor
garden. For more rooms and suites, click here.
4. FOUR SEASONS
HOTEL FIRENZE
For brand fans,
there is only one choice in Florence, and if you like Four Seasons, this is
without doubt one of the group’s top properties both from a hard and soft
product standpoint.
Travel + Leisure
says, “Florence's 116-room Four Seasons hotel is located in grand, 15th-century
Palazzo della Gherardesca, which stands in the largest privately owned garden
in the city. The city's first resort hotel, public spaces include monumental
frescoed halls with magnificent stucco work, vast chandeliers, and
museum-worthy antiques, while rooms range from opulent Renaissance suites to
others in discreetly elegant, neoclassical style. Facilities include a superb
spa using delicious Santa Maria Novella products, a large outdoor pool, and the
Michelin-starred Il Palagio restaurant, one of the finest in the city. Part of
the hotel is housed in the more sober Conventino (an ex-convent) on the far
side of the park. Service—as you would expect from the brand—is top-notch.”
ROYAL SUITE DELLA
GHERARDESCA
Painted vaulted
ceilings above, original Capodimonte Maioliche-style ceramic floor at your feet,
and 17th-century frescoes and park views everywhere you look make this truly an
opulent suite. The 2,518 sq. ft. suite is on the main floor and includes one full
marble bathroom and guest powder room. Views are of the park. For more suites, click here.
5. HOTEL
BRUNELLESCHI
Situated in the
heart of the city, this 4-star hotel offers two restaurants with 96 rooms and
suites. Amongst all the various hotels in Florence, hotel Brunelleschi is the
only one that was created within a circular Byzantin tower of a 6th century and
a medieval church, entirely reconstructed with a special care for maintaining
the original characteristics of the two buildings.
Travel + Leisure
says, “Named for the Italian Renaissance architect and engineer Filippo
Brunelleschi, this historic property in the heart of Florence occupies the Byzantine
Pagliazza Tower. (Fans of Dan Brown may recognize it as Robert Langon's hotel
of choice in The DaVinci Code and Inferno.) The 96 guestrooms range from deluxe
doubles to the 1,237-square-foot penthouse apartment. Rooms have a modern
aesthetic, with parquet floors, marble bathrooms, four-posted beds, and velvet
headboards (in bright solid colors such as purple and red). At the on-site,
seven-table restaurant Santa Elisabetta, exposed stone walls and wood-beamed
ceilings set the stage for Florentine cuisine. The Tower Lounge Bar is the
place for afternoon tea, a midday snack, and pre- or post-dinner cocktails.”
POOL SUITE
Not the largest
suite at 592 sq. ft., the pool suite offers an outdoor Jacuzzi with views of Brunelleschi’s
Cupola, Giotto Tower and Palazzo Vecchio from the 225 sq. ft. terrace. The
duplex suite includes an entry floor with a living room and a full marble
bathroom, and a first level with a king size four-poster bed. For more suites, click here.