Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence, Reopens: The legendary renaissance retreat returns, ushering in a new era of slow luxury and mindful living
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Perched high in the Fiesole hills, overlooking Florence in all its splendour, Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, reopened on 28 April 2026 following a meticulous 18-month renovation. Once a Renaissance convent, the legendary retreat - renowned for its awe-inspiring Michelangelo-inspired façade, terraced gardens and one-of-a-kind sweeping views - begins a new chapter as a destination for wellbeing and reconnection.
The renewed Villa introduces 39 reimagined rooms and suites, a Spa by Guerlain, revitalised gardens and woodlands, a new gastronomic offering, and a curated programme of energy-raising experiences in collaboration with La DoubleJ, designed to reconnect guests with the essence of Slow Luxury. Intimate yet majestic, Villa San Michele retains the soul of a private residence while embodying the refinement, natural harmony, and creative spirit of one of Italy's most storied hotels. Open from spring through winter, the Villa invites guests to experience its ever-changing landscape through every season.
SUITES & ROOMS: A POETIC TRIBUTE TO TUSCAN CRAFT
27 new suites and 12 rooms, designed by Luigi Fragola Architects, are a poetic tribute to Tuscan craftsmanship and the restorative beauty of nature. Each space is layered with hand-selected antiques, bespoke furnishings, and unique objets d'art that define its character. Artistry reveals itself in every detail - from scagliola furniture by Bianco Bianchi to precious tapestries by artist Elena Carozzi. Original features have been sensitively restored: stone fireplaces, reminiscent of the original friars' cells, have been thoughtfully reintroduced, and frescoed walls revived, celebrating the building's enduring charm and renewed radiance.
Across the former convent and its gardens, rooms and suites with breathtaking views unfold as both sanctuary and story, where every detail reveals the spirit of place. The rooms and suites within the main building have been redesigned with a timeless elegance that echoes the historical character of the building. Those located in the gardens, meanwhile, feature interiors inspired by outdoor space, creating a harmonious dialogue with the natural surroundings. From floors crafted out of Impruneta terracotta, to bathrooms clad in distinctive green-veined Cipollino marble from Carrara, through to hand-painted frescoes and bespoke carpentry, each offers a journey through Tuscany's artistic soul.
Signature suites include the Limonaia, set across two storeys, conjuring the air of a Fiesolan villa nestled deep in nature, complete with private plunge pool, and the Botanica, a celebration of the Villa's historical gardens, lush vegetation and surrounding woodland. Meanwhile, The Grand Tour - one-time headquarters of Napoleon Bonaparte - extends along the first floor of the façade, featuring travel-inspired artefacts and pieces of furniture evoking journeys and memories, and an open-plan layout with a studio space that creates a harmonious bridge between past and present.
In a softly contemporary take on its Renaissance heritage, the Villa champions the best in European artistic endeavour: there are hand-painted murals by Francesca Guicciardini, an Italian painter from one of Florence's oldest families; commissioned works by Cristina Corvino in the loggia; watercolours by esteemed Italian botanical artist Maria Rita Stirpe; a study of the natural world by painter and printmaker Philippa Peckham and poetic assemblages by contemporary artist Mirco Marchelli.
“In keeping with its history as a former convent, Villa San Michele – always a place of beauty – is also a sanctuary devoted to the replenishment of all the senses. Thoughtfully reimagined spaces, both inside and out, pay homage to nature, art and creativity. Here, the body is rested, the mind inspired and the soul soothed.” Sofia Peluso, General Manager
VILLA SAN MICHELE SPA BY GUERLAIN
Villa San Michele, originally a sanctuary for wellbeing, has revitalised this legacy through a range of experiences. The newly unveiled Villa San Michele Spa by Guerlain, draws on centuries of spiritual retreat to create a deeply restorative experience rooted in the rhythms of Florence and the surrounding hills. Set on the first floor of the historic Franciscan convent, the intimate spa features three treatment rooms, including a double suite, where natural textures and soft, earthy tones echo the landscape beyond. Here, time slows, and each ritual becomes an invitation to reconnect - with self, nature, and the enduring spirit of the Villa.
Crafted by Guerlain, bespoke treatments embody the holistic philosophy of the revered French Maison, combining beauty, preventive health and longevity. Each is designed to nurture the body, restore emotional balance, and support long-term vitality. Exclusive experiences designed for the Villa include Floral Delight in Tuscany, a relaxing face and body ritual infused with delicate floral notes that offer a sensory escape to the heart of the region, and The Art of Renaissance, a face and body treatment created exclusively for the Villa, where deep sculpting massage using stone tools relaxes muscles and redefines contours. The Iris di Grazia anti-aging facial pays homage to Florence's emblematic flower, delivering visible radiance and smoothness, through precise, refined gestures.
The journey begins in the “Secret Garden” entrance adorned with hand-painted frescoes by artist Elena Carozzi, where tumbling fronds of a typical Fiesolan garden, blur the boundary between indoors and out - an immersive prelude, setting the tone for a deeply restorative experience connected to the natural world.
GARDENS: FOREVER FLOURISHING ABOVE FLORENCE
Spanning over 10,000 square metres, the Villa's beloved terraced gardens, redeveloped by Luca Ghezzi Garden Design, have been reawakened as a living expression of Renaissance harmony. Hidden nooks, restored fountains and newly framed vistas invite quiet discovery, while citrus trees, lavender, rosemary and iris evoke the timeless beauty of a Fiesolan hillside retreat, characterised by geometric harmony, layered spaces and the humanist idea of 'otium', a form of leisure devoted to contemplation, conversation and appreciation. Paved avenues alternate with hedges, panoramic terraces, flowerbeds, botanical collections and trees, creating a refined dialogue with the surrounding architecture. Citrus trees, including lemon, bitter orange, citron, and chinotto are arranged in pots throughout the terraces, alongside Mediterranean-style borders planted with lavender, rosemary, agapanthus, hydrangea, pomegranate, iris and boxwoods, all typical of a restorative Renaissance hideaway. New additions include an expanded herb garden for the kitchen, an iris garden honouring Florence's emblem, and a 42-metre rose path designed for contemplative walks overlooking the city.
The gardens come alive with a weekly programme of cultural experiences, including classical and jazz performances by the Fiesole School of Music, alongside a range of creative workshops such as calligraphy and watercolour painting.
The surrounding woodland of Parco Monumentale di Monte Ceceri has been gently reimagined to encourage a deeper connection between nature, movement and spirituality. New hiking trails wind through the forest, while restored ancient stone benches and thoughtfully reconsidered viewpoints along the way offer moments to pause, reflect and take in the stillness of the landscape.
Guests are invited to experience the Villa at their own pace - wandering through the restorative gardens, unwinding in the panoramic pool, taking in the far-reaching views over Florence, or enjoying complimentary open-air classes.
ENERGY RAISING PROGRAMME WITH LA DOUBLEJ
In partnership with Milanese lifestyle brand La DoubleJ - founded by JJ Martin and celebrated for its maximalist prints and commitment to conscious living - Villa San Michele announces the Energy Raising Programme: a first-of-its-kind collaboration uniting design, spiritual programming and Italian heritage.
Set within the Villa's own woodland, three immersive spaces designed by La DoubleJ establish it as a new destination for energetic reawakening and contemplative practice. The Energy Chapel - a former place of worship, reimagined as an intimate sanctuary - features a gong, bespoke zafu meditation pillows, and a new light and sound installation designed to invite deep stillness and inner connection. The adjoining garden terrace presents the Sungazing Lounge, designed for sunset gazing rituals over the Florentine hills. Completing the trio is a dedicated open-air Yoga Deck inviting guests to enjoy movement and breathwork, alone or as part of a guided session.
The Villa will host a year-round programme of weekly classes, monthly residencies with visiting practitioners, and intimate seasonal retreats spanning Kundalini yoga, sound healing and yoga nidra, co-hosted by JJ Martin. The inaugural retreat - Embodied Presence, a four-day immersive from 3–6 September - is designed to restore vitality through somatic practice, breathwork and guided meditation.
GASTRONOMY: INSPIRED BY THE SEASONS
Across the hotel's three distinct dining venues, menus unfold as a map of the region – guiding guests on a sensory journey across local flavours, each setting framed by inimitable views across Florence and infused with the spirit of the Renaissance. San Michele Restaurant presents refined Italian cuisine, while San Michele Grill offers relaxed poolside dining. Completing the offering is Antesi, the hotel's new gastronomic destination restaurant. At the heart of each venue lies an ethos that celebrates seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, thoughtfully prepared to honour the richness of the surrounding landscape.
This year, the Villa introduces Antesi, a refined gastronomic restaurant led by Executive Chef Alessandro Cozzolino, where every dish is shaped by the seasons and the land. The name derives from the Greek "anthesis", meaning "blossoming" - the precise moment a flower opens to the light, and pays homage to the philosophy of honouring ingredients at exactly the moment nature intends. At Antesi, each plate is composed at the exact moment when locally sourced produce, technique and intuition find their perfect balance.
“Our concept is born from listening to time and nature. There is a moment when every ingredient reaches its maximum expression. Our job is to recognize and respect it, creating dishes that listen rather than command, accompanying diners on an experience that becomes a memory." Alessandro Cozzolino, Executive Chef
Three tasting menus narrate a distinct dimension of time: Attesa (Waiting) is dedicated to the chef's origins and cultural influences; Ora (Now), interprets the present through dialogue with the territory, and Traccia (Trace), embodies the quest for an essential, and delectable vegetable balance. Signature dishes include “Amberjack” panzanella, plum colatura, and pepper leaves from the menu Ora; and “Costoluto”, homemade pasta, tomato, raw milk pecorino, lemon from Traccia.
Housed within an intimate eight-table setting in a 16th-century Renaissance loggia, Antesi offers an experience where nature, memory, and place converge. The restaurant welcomes both in-house and external guests for dinner, Tuesday to Sunday.
For languid summer nights, the newly renovated Bar Doccia Villa San Michele - nestled between the historic cloister and the gardens – offers an ideal setting for an aperitivo or digestif. The bar's drink programme ranges from aromatic cocktails to creative interpretations of the classic Negroni.
Villa San Michele stands as a living expression of Florence's layered past and creative present. From its origins as a 15th-century convent dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, to its later incarnation as an elegant private villa, few buildings in Florence so seamlessly unite artistry, imagination and contemplation.
Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence reopened on 28 April 2026 .... Read more here - Hotel Management Global Outlook Link
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