Where?
A 15-minute stroll from Florence’s historic centre, Four Seasons Firenze is set across two Renaissance palazzos, with highlights such as the Duomo, the church of Santa Croce and the Uffizi Gallery within easy reach. Home to the city’s largest private garden, once inside the gates, it’s improbably serene for such a central spot in one of Europe’s most famous cities.
Style
The building’s painstaking restoration took seven years, with interiors overseen by Pierre-Yves Rochon — the mastermind who’s worked with almost every luxury hotel brand you can think of. Opulence and grandeur take centre stage. The heart of the hotel revolves around a plush inner courtyard, with rooms gazing down onto it and a mahogany lounge bar spiralling off to one side.
Elsewhere, there are towering ceilings, sweeping staircases, vaulted cloisters, manicured lawns, statues and citrus trees. It channels Medici-era splendour and you’ll feel more like you’re holidaying in a private estate rather than a hotel.
Which room?
There are 116 rooms to choose from across the property - 79 in the main building, Palazzo della Gherardesca, and a further 37 located in the Palazzo del Nero, a restored 16th-century convent. If you are opting for a once-in-a-lifetime trip, the principal suites are arguably jaw-dropping with original frescoes and palatial proportions.
That said, as expected with any Four Seasons property, no luxury is overlooked even in the entry-level rooms. Expect beds that feel like sleeping on whipped clouds; spacious, luxe bathrooms stocked with divine Santa Maria Novella products and discreet, round-the-clock service should you need anything at all.
Facilities
Set within the hotel’s private gardens, the spa is housed in a standalone pavilion featuring 10 treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room, and fitness centre. Treatments range from tech-led therapies to holistic massages and classic beauty treatments such as manicures and blow-dries.
Outside, you’ll find the year-round hot tub and a tranquil outdoor pool (open only during the warmer seasons), perfect for a post-treatment dip or lounging around with a sundowner. When it comes to activities, the Four Seasons brand trumps with its access to the city. The concierge can arrange a private dinner on the Ponte Vecchio, a truffle hunting trip in the Tuscan hills or gelato and pizza cooking classes with some of Florence’s best chefs.
Food and drink
There are several dining options within the hotel, but the main gastronomic pull for Florentines and guests alike is the famed Michelin-starred restaurant, Il Palagio. Drawing heavily on local Tuscan ingredients, the tasting menu is extensive and meticulously curated. Courses are fashioned into impressive sculptures - even the breadstick display is a delight - with jus, reductions and unexpected flavour pairings adding colour and flair.
The storied Atrium Bar, just off the main lobby, serves a relaxed, all-day menu and draws a lively crowd come evening. Across the garden, the hotel’s seafood restaurant, Onde, is the most contemporary option and popular with the younger set. The Vermouth bar, Bar Berni, sits adjacent and is ideal for an excellent pre-dinner cocktail typically finished with a garnish picked straight from the garden.
Best for
Everyone. You’ll find couples on romantic breaks, families eager to explore the city and business travellers in town for just a few nights. The hotel is big enough that whatever kind of stay you want will go undisturbed by fellow guests.
Rooms start at £520 per night in low season fourseasons.com
