Villa Cora, Florence

Villa Cora - A 19th-century luxury villa with heated outdoor pool, spa facilities, and Italian dining in rose-filled gardens

This 5-star hotel occupies a 19th-century neoclassical villa surrounded by rose-filled gardens and a centuries-old park overlooking the Boboli Gardens. All 45 individually furnished rooms feature premium bedding, pillow menus, laptop-friendly workspaces, minibars, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, with some offering private balconies with garden or Florence views. The hotel's restaurant serves Italian cuisine and Tuscan dishes and wines, operating poolside during summer and in the Sala Moresca during winter, with breakfast including cheeses, cold cuts, eggs to order, and homemade pastries. Leisure facilities include a heated outdoor swimming pool, spa with sauna, Turkish bath, and fitness center, plus weekly champagne and pizza evenings. Located in the Oltrarno district, Villa Cora sits 0.5 miles from the Boboli Gardens and 1 mile from Ponte Vecchio, with Piazzale Michelangelo 10 minutes' walk uphill. Business amenities include high-speed Wi-Fi, meeting rooms, and a 24-hour reception, while family services offer special menus and two gatehouse rooms suitable for families. A continental breakfast is available each morning at Villa Cora.

Pros

The heated outdoor pool operates year-round, a rare feature among Florence hotels

Individually furnished rooms include premium bedding and laptop-friendly workspaces

Weekly champagne and pizza evenings provide additional dining variety

The spa facilities include a sauna, Turkish bath, and fitness center

Located within a centuries-old park with views overlooking the Boboli Gardens

Cons

The hilltop location requires uphill walking to reach Piazzale Michelangelo

Some rooms are located in separate annex buildings rather than the main villa