Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze joins two historic buildings around one of the largest private gardens in Florence, a park of some 11 acres first planted in the 15th century and set with statues, fountains and centuries-old trees. Bartolomeo Scala built the Palazzo della Gherardesca in 1473, and it later housed a Medici cardinal and the Della Gherardesca family; the neighbouring Palazzo del Nero was once a convent. Original frescoes and reliefs survive throughout a thoroughly modern hotel, and the Duomo and the Uffizi are within walking distance, a rare pairing of city centre and parkland. The spa has a steam room and sauna, and an outdoor pool sits among the trees. On the ground floor of the Gherardesca, beneath Murano glass chandeliers, chef Paolo Lavezzini holds a one-MICHELIN-star rating at Il Palagio, with two tasting menus and an à la carte of creative, unfussy dishes; Al Fresco is the more casual trattoria. Palazzo del Nero, with the Onde restaurant and Bar Berni, is closed for works until March 31, 2027, while the pool, spa and Gherardesca Garden stay open. There are 121 rooms and suites, no two alike, and the hotel holds three MICHELIN Keys.