Perched in the Fiesole hills overlooking Florence, Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, has reopened after an extensive 18-month renovation. The property, a former Renaissance convent, now offers 39 reimagined rooms and suites, a new spa by French luxury house Guerlain, and revitalized gardens that extend across more than 10,000 square metres of terraced hillside.
The redesign, led by Luigi Fragola Architects, balances the hotel's historic character with contemporary Tuscan craftsmanship. Original features such as stone fireplaces and frescoed walls have been restored, while new elements include floors crafted from Impruneta terracotta and bathrooms finished with green Cipollino marble from Carrara. The suites, including the Limonaia with its private plunge pool, offer views over Florence and the surrounding countryside.
Gardens and Wellness
The gardens have been a major focus of the renovation. Restored fountains, quieter seating areas, and clearer viewpoints now punctuate the landscape, which features classic Mediterranean planting: white citrus trees, lavender, rosemary, and iris. An expanded kitchen garden, a dedicated iris garden honoring Florence's emblem, and a rose-lined path designed for leisurely walks have been added. The surrounding woodland has been opened up with new walking trails and restored ancient stone benches and lookout points.
The new Guerlain spa, housed in the historic Franciscan convent, offers treatments that blend beauty, preventive health, and longevity. A signature treatment, "The Art of Renaissance," uses deep-sculpting massage with stone tools. Guests can also use the 17-metre-long pool, set among olive trees.
In collaboration with Milanese lifestyle brand La DoubleJ, the hotel has introduced an "Energy Raising Programme" in the woodland. It includes three immersive spaces: the Energy Chapel for meditation, the Sungazing Lounge for sunset rituals, and an open-air Yoga Deck for guided or solo practice.
For those interested in how art and hospitality intersect across Europe, the hotel's public spaces feature hand-painted murals by local painter Francesca Guicciardini and works by artists Cristina Corvino, Maria Rita Stirpe, and Mirco Marchelli. This aligns with a broader trend explored in Europe's art hotels, where contemporary art meets hospitality.
Dining and Experiences
The hotel's three dining areas emphasize local, seasonal ingredients. The San Michele Restaurant offers refined Italian cuisine with views of Florence, while the San Michele Grill provides relaxed poolside dining. New this year is Antesi, led by Executive Chef Alessandro Cozzolino, which serves tasting menus featuring ingredients such as Grosseto cuttlefish, panzanella, plum colatura, homemade pasta, and raw milk pecorino. At the renovated Bar Doccia Villa San Michele, guests can enjoy classic aperitivos or signature cocktails like the Woodland, made with gin, lemon verbena, lavender cordial, and mountain pine liquor.
A weekly program includes live classical and jazz performances by the Fiesole School of Music, as well as creative workshops in calligraphy and watercolor painting. The hotel's approach reflects a broader shift toward slow luxury, offering a quieter, more considered experience just outside Florence's historic center.
Villa San Michele's reopening adds to a growing list of notable European hotel launches. For context, Condé Nast Traveller recently named top new European hotels for 2026, and Sweden's Treehotel expanded with a new 'Oasis' suite in its northern forests. Meanwhile, Aman Sveti Stefan reopened in Montenegro after resolving a beach access dispute.
