[category]
[title]
For good reason, this hotel features in many of the world’s best lists. Built in 1473 by Renaissance visionary Bartolomeo Scala, the hotel’s main building, Palazzo della Gherardesca, is a masterpiece of history and elegance. Once home to noble Florentine families – including a Medici cardinal and the Della Gherardesca clan – it became a Four Seasons hotel in 2008, its heritage and Renaissance grandeur beautifully preserved.
Don’t be fooled by the humble, almost anonymous entrance. A night at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze would impress royalty; it feels faintly outrageous that mere mortals can book in. The age and craftsmanship of the antique furnishings, wall and ceiling frescoes, paintings and ornate floor tiles make every surface feel museum-worthy. Yet this isn’t a velvet-rope experience: the service, spa and dining are as polished as the setting, but in a warm, effortless way.
Set in 11 acres of private gardens and spilling into a second building – the 16th-century Palazzo del Nero – the hotel sits just beyond Florence’s historic core. It’s around a 15-minute walk to the Duomo and the train station, close enough for culture-hopping, far enough for calm.
What are the rooms like at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze?
There are 116 rooms and suites in total, and the range runs from low-level indulgent to full-blown Florentine fantasy. Entry-level rooms – a generous 30–59m² – are split between Palazzo della Gherardesca and Palazzo del Nero, but there’s nothing “entry” about them in feel. Think antique desks you half expect a Medici to return for, framed artworks, swathes of silk and velvet, and enormous beds layered with crisp white linens and feather duvets you sink straight into. Marble bathrooms gleam, gilt frames catch the light and, yes, there’s a Nespresso machine – because even Renaissance grandeur bows to a decent morning coffee.
My 95m² Renaissance Suite dialled everything up several notches. Walking in felt like stepping onto the set of an impossibly lavish period drama. Tall windows framed the sweep of green gardens outside, curtains pooling dramatically at their feet. On the table: a handwritten welcome card, a bowl of fresh fruit and a palm-sized white chocolate bust of Michelangelo’s David (yes, really). For all its splendour, though, the suite felt calm and flooded with light. Grand, of course. But, also genuinely liveable.
The bedroom alone would have justified the splurge, but it was the bathroom that truly delivered the gasp moment. The same size as the bedroom, it felt less like an en suite and more like a private spa. At its centre sat a vast marble bathtub – part Roman bath, part sarcophagus – built for two.
Elsewhere in the hotel, six signature suites still feature original frescoes, while the standalone Pool Garden Suite – tucked into the former lemon house – comes with its own private garden and plunge pool for a more secluded, villa-style stay. The Royal Suite is the showstopper: a gallery-style entrance, separate living space overlooking the park, frescoed ceilings and an intricate tiled floor by Ignazio Chiaiese. For a special occasion, there really is no place better in the city.
What is the food and drink like at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze?
Under the direction of Paolo Lavezzini, the hotel’s food is a serious draw. In 2021, Il Palagio earned a Michelin star, and menus across the property lean heavily on seasonal Tuscan produce. At Onde, the seafood-focused restaurant, Mediterranean flavours sing. Start with delicate lobster antipasto, then move on to smoky charcoal-grilled sea bass with crisp skin. Leave space for dessert – the dedicated dessert room is dangerously tempting.
Come summer, Al Fresco by the pool serves pizzas, pastas and grills in the shade of the gardens, while the Atrium Bar provides an elegant evening setting for a negroni or two. Breakfast (taken in the garden when weather allows) is a feast: smoked salmon, bacon and eggs, grilled vegetables, jewel-like fruit, cakes, breads and pastries in abundance. Eggs, pancakes and avocado toast are made to order, alongside fresh juices.
If you’re there on a Sunday, clear your schedule. The brunch is an event: looping tables of Italian cold cuts and cheeses, oysters and raw fish, roasted meats, pastas and seafood, with chefs cooking hot dishes to order. Tuscan wines flow freely and really, could you want anything else?
What is the service like at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze?
Flawless. Staff greet you by name and remember your coffee order or preferred wine without prompting. The concierge team can arrange sunset boat trips on the Arno, restaurant reservations, hot-air balloon rides departing from the garden, or private guided visits to the frescoes at Santa Croce. Honestly, nothing feels too much trouble.
What are the facilities like at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze?
The spa and gym sit within the gardens, discreetly housed in separate buildings. Facilities include ten treatment rooms, separate male and female saunas and steam rooms, an ice fountain, hair salon, a 28m outdoor pool and a heated outdoor Jacuzzi. The two-storey gym is sleek and high-tech – though you may find it hard to tear yourself away from the pool lounge. It's really something.
What is the area like by Four Seasons Hotel Firenze?
The hotel is a 10–15 minute stroll from Florence’s headline acts: the Duomo, Michelangelo’s David at the Galleria dell’Accademia and Piazza della Signoria. Positioned along the north-eastern stretch of the viali that circle the old city, it feels blissfully removed from the thickest tourist crowds while remaining brilliantly connected. There’s a complimentary shuttle into the centre and on-site parking – a rarity in Florence. For cocktails with a Duomo view, try 701 Rooftop Bar and order the “Not an Espresso Martini”, then wander to Caffè dell’Oro for dinner – the truffle tagliolini is unforgettable.
Why book a stay at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze?
For a blow-the-budget Florence escape, this is the address. Sightseeing begins the moment you wake beneath a frescoed ceiling, and despite the Renaissance treasures waiting beyond the gates, you may find yourself reluctant to leave the grounds. Time your stay for the Sunday brunch, lean on the concierge for insider access, and prepare for a hotel experience that feels less like a stay – and more like stepping into living history.
Address: Borgo Pinti, 99, 50121 Firenze
Price per night: rates start from €900 per night.
Closest transport: Florence airport and the central train station