Best for
Couples planning Florence with downtime should consider this hillside retreat; its terraced gardens offer a setting for slower hours between visits to the city.
Best for
Couples planning Florence with downtime should consider this hillside retreat; its terraced gardens offer a setting for slower hours between visits to the city.
What makes it special
Renaissance art, hand-selected antiques and contemporary Italian furnishings give the interiors a layered character, appealing when the hotel itself should contribute to a cultural stay.
Room to consider
Compare the exact layout and outlook before booking: rooms vary individually, with windows facing gardens, Tuscan hills or Florence rather than one uniform hotel view.
Insider tip
Plan city visits around the hotel shuttle and confirm its current timetable before departure; the hillside location makes transport planning useful for an evening out.
Free membership gives you access to preferred rates, exclusive benefits and current promotions for your stay.
Collegio alla Querce is one of Florence's most important recent hotel openings, set on a hilltop above the city with views toward the Duomo and the Tuscan countryside. The property is part of Auberge Collection and occupies a former cultural institution and boarding school, reimagined as a refined 83-room hotel. It is close enough to Florence to feel connected to the city, yet removed enough to offer gardens, space, and a quieter rhythm.
The hotel brings together three historic buildings, including a chapel and theater. Terraced Baroque gardens, old oak trees, lawns, and views across the city and hills complete the setting. This dual perspective is the hotel's strongest asset. Guests can spend the morning in central Florence. Then they can return to a retreat that feels more like a private estate than an urban hotel.
For travelers comparing the best luxury hotels in Florence, Collegio alla Querce is strongest when space and design matter. Gardens, wellness, food, and city access also carry weight. It suits couples, art-led stays, longer Florence visits, and guests who want a quieter base than the historic center without giving up the city's museums, shops, and restaurants.
Wood-beamed ceilings follow the building’s original architecture, with each room arranged to fit its own layout. Paned windows open above the courtyard, and lounge seating sits within the bedroom.
Tuscan marble lines the windowed bathroom, which has a walk-in rain shower and a separate water closet with a bidet. The vanity has one or two basins, and many rooms also have a soaking tub. Spacious closets and an espresso machine are provided.
Wood-beamed ceilings follow the building’s original architecture, with each room arranged to fit its own layout. Paned windows open above the courtyard, and lounge seating...
Large windows in the bedroom and bathroom open towards the Tuscan hills and gardens. Soft wall colours and wool fabrics shape the room’s decor, with a lounge seating area inside.
The stone bathroom has a walk-in rain shower and a separate toilet with a bidet. There are one or two basins at the vanity. Spacious closets are fitted inside, while the minibar offers an espresso machine and local snacks and drinks.
Large windows in the bedroom and bathroom open towards the Tuscan hills and gardens. Soft wall colours and wool fabrics shape the room’s decor, with...
An entrance foyer leads to a walk-in or walk-through closet, with several windows bringing light into the bedroom. Lounge seating and a writing desk furnish the room, which looks over the open courtyard or terraced gardens.
The bathroom is clad in stone and has its own window. A walk-in rain shower and water closet with bidet sit beside a single or double vanity. The minibar supplies local snacks and drinks, with an espresso machine provided.
An entrance foyer leads to a walk-in or walk-through closet, with several windows bringing light into the bedroom. Lounge seating and a writing desk furnish...
Windows open over Florence’s rooftops, with soft lounge seating inside the bedroom. The room has its own entrance area and spacious closets. Sunset light reaches the city-facing interiors.
A window brings light into the Tuscan marble bathroom. It has a walk-in rain shower, a separate toilet with a bidet and one or two basins. An espresso machine is provided beside the minibar’s local snacks and drinks.
Windows open over Florence’s rooftops, with soft lounge seating inside the bedroom. The room has its own entrance area and spacious closets. Sunset light reaches...
The balcony is furnished for dining or lounging, with views over Florence or the terraced gardens. Wood beams run above tall windows inside, where a lounge seating area forms part of the bedroom.
The balcony varies from 10 to 30 m². Indoors, an entryway has luggage storage and spacious closets. The windowed stone bathroom contains a rain shower, bidet and single or double vanity; many rooms also have soaking tubs.
The balcony is furnished for dining or lounging, with views over Florence or the terraced gardens. Wood beams run above tall windows inside, where a...
A foyer opens into a bedroom with a sofa or padded bench and two linen club chairs. Art and decorative objects sit beside a console table. Several windows look towards Florence or the Tuscan hillside.
A walk-in or walk-through closet provides dressing space beside the stone bathroom. The bathroom has a rain shower, bidet and one or two basins, with soaking tubs in most suites. An espresso machine and local minibar treats are supplied.
A foyer opens into a bedroom with a sofa or padded bench and two linen club chairs. Art and decorative objects sit beside a console...
The entrance foyer leads to a wood-beamed living room furnished with a sofa, upholstered club chairs and dining seating. Large opening windows face Florence or the Tuscan hills. Many suites have a wine bar with a Gaja collection.
The bedroom has its own sitting area and leads to a windowed stone bathroom. A soaking tub, rain shower, double vanity and separate water closet with a bidet are fitted inside. Walk-in or walk-through closets provide dressing space.
The entrance foyer leads to a wood-beamed living room furnished with a sofa, upholstered club chairs and dining seating. Large opening windows face Florence or...
Beamed ceilings and oversized paned windows frame a living room with wool upholstery, a sofa, club chairs and a dining table. Contemporary pieces mix with antiques, while a private wine bar holds a Gaja collection. The windows look towards Florence and the Duomo.
The bedroom has a couch or bench and club chair, with a dressing room leading to double closets. A windowed stone bathroom contains a freestanding soaking tub, rain shower, bidet and double vanity. A separate powder room sits within the suite.
Beamed ceilings and oversized paned windows frame a living room with wool upholstery, a sofa, club chairs and a dining table. Contemporary pieces mix with...
Painted frescoes from the 16th and 18th centuries have been restored across the walls and ceilings. This first-floor suite has a foyer with a Gaja wine collection. The living room has sofas, club chairs and a dining table, with views of Florence and the Duomo.
The bedroom has bench seating and a dressing room with walk-through closets. Frescoes continue into the bathroom, which has its own window. A freestanding soaking tub and rain shower are fitted inside, with a double vanity and separate toilet with a bidet.
Painted frescoes from the 16th and 18th centuries have been restored across the walls and ceilings. This first-floor suite has a foyer with a Gaja...
Stairs lead from the gallery to the suite; three steps lead down to the patio.
Sixteenth-century landscape frescoes run through the rooms, with an original stone fountain in the main living room. Two sofas and club chairs face the garden patio. A separate dining room seats four, with a kitchenette and private Gaja wine collection beside it.
The bedroom has an adjoining private sitting room and an oversized dressing room with a vanity. The windowed bathroom has frescoes, a soaking tub, rain shower, double vanity and bidet. A second powder room sits off the bedroom, and the suite overlooks the Baroque gardens.
Sixteenth-century landscape frescoes run through the rooms, with an original stone fountain in the main living room. Two sofas and club chairs face the garden...
Wood beams frame a terracotta brick ceiling in this corner suite. The living and dining area has a sofa, club chairs and a table for six. A wraparound terrace opens from both the living room and bedroom, with views of Florence and the Duomo.
The bedroom includes a sofa and lounge seating, beside a walk-in double closet. A hand-forged copper soaking tub stands in the windowed stone bathroom, along with a double rain shower, bidet and double vanity. The foyer has a cloakroom, and a separate powder room is provided.
Wood beams frame a terracotta brick ceiling in this corner suite. The living and dining area has a sofa, club chairs and a table for...
The corner terrace has lounge and dining areas overlooking Florence and the Duomo. Inside, the living room has a sofa and club chairs beside large opening windows. A dining room seats six, with a kitchenette, bar room and Gaja wine collection.
The bedroom’s sitting area opens onto the terrace. A walk-through double closet leads to a stone bathroom with its own window. The bathroom has a floating soaking tub, rain shower, double vanity and bidet. The entrance foyer has a cloakroom and luggage storage.
The corner terrace has lounge and dining areas overlooking Florence and the Duomo. Inside, the living room has a sofa and club chairs beside large...
The living and dining rooms open to a terrace overlooking Florence and the Duomo. A table seats six, with a pantry kitchenette nearby and a private Gaja wine collection. The suite also has a study with lounge seating.
Hand-painted walls inspired by Tuscan olive groves surround the bedroom, which has a sofa and its own terrace. A walk-through double closet leads to the stone bathroom with a soaking tub, rain shower, double vanity and bidet. A powder room has a small terrace.
The living and dining rooms open to a terrace overlooking Florence and the Duomo. A table seats six, with a pantry kitchenette nearby and a...
A private cypress-lined driveway or elevator leads to two living rooms. One has a wine collection and opens to a terrace; the other has a dining area beside a butler’s kitchen with its own service entrance. Steps lead up to a rooftop deck with lounge and dining seating and views in all directions.
The bedroom has a wrought-iron canopy bed beneath hand-painted walls, with views of the Duomo. A walk-in closet and two full bathrooms are provided: one has a soaking tub and rain shower, while the other has a rain shower. A separate powder room is also fitted.
A private cypress-lined driveway or elevator leads to two living rooms. One has a wine collection and opens to a terrace; the other has a...
The hotel sits above Florence, away from the densest streets but still within reach of the centro storico. That position gives guests a different version of the city. Instead of stepping straight into crowds, they arrive through a more residential and garden-led setting, with the skyline and Tuscan hills both in view.
This location is useful for guests who already know Florence or plan to stay several nights. The historic center can be intense, especially in peak season. Collegio alla Querce gives guests a place to reset after galleries, churches, shopping, and long walks. A shuttle or car can bring guests into the city. The hotel itself offers enough reason to stay on property for part of the day.
The building's past gives the hotel a distinctive identity. Collegio alla Querce was once a school and cultural institution, and that history remains visible in the structure, scale, and atmosphere of the property. Corridors, former academic spaces, the chapel, theater, and gardens all help the hotel feel rooted. It does not feel invented.
Auberge has approached the restoration with a mix of Renaissance references and modern Italian design. The result is not a heavy historic hotel. It feels lighter and more residential. Warm materials, high ceilings, art, craftsmanship, and careful details connect the rooms to Florence's culture of making. The best spaces have a quiet confidence rather than a showroom mood.
The hotel has 83 rooms and suites. These include 49 guest rooms, 28 suites, and six grand suites. The mix gives travelers a wide range of choices. Some rooms suit shorter stays. Larger suites work for guests who want more space and a stronger sense of residence.
Room choice should be guided by view, light, and layout. Some categories look toward Florence, while others connect more closely to the gardens or the hills. The signature suite, Penthouse la Quercia, is the most dramatic option. It has generous scale and a private position within Palazzo Moderno. For most guests, a room with strong natural light and either garden or city views will carry the stay beautifully.
The gardens are central to the experience. Five levels of terraced Baroque gardens give the hotel a rare sense of escape within Florence. Lawns, oak trees, olive trees, and outdoor spaces add depth. Guests can move between the pool, garden paths, terraces, and dining spaces. They do not feel confined to the building.
This outdoor life changes the mood of a Florence stay. The city is rich but demanding. Museums, stone streets, heat, and crowds can make the day feel full very quickly. Returning to gardens and open views gives the trip balance. Collegio alla Querce is especially appealing in spring, early summer, and autumn, when Florence is best enjoyed slowly.
Aelia, the Auberge Spa, gives the hotel a wellness focus that is still unusual in Florence. Treatments are grounded in local aromas and Tuscan traditions. The spa and pool add a restorative layer to the property. This matters for guests staying several nights, because Florence can be physically tiring despite its beauty.
The outdoor pool is also important. It gives Collegio alla Querce the feeling of a resort. Yet it does not remove the hotel from the city. Guests can spend the morning at the Uffizi or in the Oltrarno, return for a swim and treatment, then go back out for dinner. That rhythm is one of the main reasons to choose the hotel over a more central palace property.
The dining program gives the hotel range. Collegio alla Querce includes a destination restaurant, a glass-enclosed garden room for all-day dining, a sophisticated bar and cigar lounge in the former admissions office, a Tuscan Enoteca, and a pool bar among the trees. This variety is useful because the hotel is slightly removed from the center.
Guests should not feel they need to leave for every meal. The best stays use the hotel for breakfast, at least one slow garden lunch, drinks, and dinner. That lets the property show its own point of view. Florence has extraordinary restaurants, but Collegio alla Querce is strong enough to be part of the culinary plan rather than just the place between reservations.
Collegio alla Querce works because it offers Florence and Tuscany at the same time. Guests can explore the Duomo, Accademia, Uffizi, Santa Croce, artisan workshops, and shopping streets. Then they can return to a hilltop retreat with gardens and views. It is not a countryside hotel pretending to be in Florence. It is a Florence hotel with breathing room.
This makes it especially good for travelers who want more than a two-night city stop. Longer stays benefit from the pool, spa, gardens, and dining. The historic center still stays close. It also works well before or after a wider Tuscan itinerary, because the hotel begins to shift guests from city travel into a slower regional mood.
Collegio alla Querce is best for travelers looking for a luxury Florence hotel with Auberge service, 83 rooms and suites, Duomo views, terraced gardens, Aelia Spa, a pool, strong dining, and a quieter hilltop setting. It is not the right choice for guests who want to walk out directly onto the busiest streets of the historic center. Its strength is space.
Book it when Florence should feel expansive rather than crowded. Collegio alla Querce gives guests city access and garden calm. It also offers wellness, design, food, and views in one of Italy's most compelling new hotel settings. For travelers who want Florence with privacy and a strong sense of place, it is one of the city's most interesting luxury choices.
La Gamella pairs seafood-led Italian cooking with Tuscan country flavors and local wines, giving dinner on property a regional identity worth including in your plans.
The old school setting gives the hotel real soul. Its restored chapel and theatre make the history feel alive.
Bar Bertelli is the detail we love most. A former principal's office becomes a witty, elegant Florentine bar.
Via delle Forbici 21B, 50133 Firenze FI, Italy
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Yes. Collegio alla Querce is a strong choice for travelers who want Florence with more space, gardens, views, and resort-style facilities than a classic city-center hotel. It is an Auberge Collection property set above the city with views toward the Duomo and the Tuscan hills. The hotel works especially well for design lovers, couples, food-focused travelers, and guests who want Florence access without sleeping in the busiest historic streets. Expect a refined mood, restored architecture, gardens, dining, spa facilities, and a quieter hillside setting.
Collegio alla Querce is in Florence, Italy, at Via delle Forbici 21/B. The property sits in a hillside area north of the historic center, with views over the city skyline and toward the Duomo. This location is best for travelers who want a calmer base and do not need to walk out directly onto Piazza della Signoria. Plan transfers, taxis, or the hotel's current transport options for museum visits, dinners, shopping, and evening returns.
Collegio alla Querce has 83 rooms, including 34 suites. The accommodations combine restored Florentine character with modern Italian design, and some suites include original frescoes or more dramatic views. The room choice matters because the property has several buildings and layouts. If view, terrace, frescoes, or extra living space matters, book a specific suite category instead of assuming every room has the same outlook.
Book an entry room if you want the Auberge setting, gardens, dining, and spa while spending much of the day in Florence. Choose a suite if you want more space, stronger design details, better views, or a more special occasion feel. For a standout stay, ask about suites with frescoes, terraces, Duomo views, or the signature Penthouse la Quercia. Families and groups should ask about connecting rooms or multi-bedroom options before booking.
The property began as a Renaissance-era villa and later became a respected educational institution. Its newest chapter reimagines that heritage as a luxury hotel while preserving elements such as the original chapel, theater, gardens, and historic architectural details. This history shapes the whole stay. Collegio alla Querce does not feel like a standard new-build resort; it feels like a restored Florentine campus with art, courtyards, formal spaces, and a clear sense of place.
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