Architecture & Design

There are very few hotels as special as this. A late Renaissance villa nestled in a meander of the River Arno just five miles from the historic centre of Florence and now a wonderful hotel, Villa La Massa easily fulfills the wishes of those who long for a haven of peace and classical, luxurious beauty. From the perfectly preserved renaissance architecture to its river-side position, the views of Tuscan hills, cypresses and olive groves, everything about this hotel seems to have come from a fairy tale. That gravel drive with tables and chairs set underneath large umbrellas, the restaurant on a terrace spreading out over the Arno and the rooms with period furniture, terra cotta tiles and acres of beautiful, luxurious fabrics, the details send you back into a glorious past. It is no surprise then that Clarke Gable, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and others came here to experience its sensual relaxation and refinement. Florence is just 5 miles downstream and if you need a break from the overwhelming beauty of the Ponte Vecchio, Michelangelo’s sensual creations or Brunelleschi’s stunning Cathedral dome then come back to the hotel and have a massage underneath the summer pagoda in the garden or one of any number of beauty treatments in the dedicated well-being and fitness centre. The swimming pool and bar provide further opportunities to relax before dinner in the highly praised restaurant under the charge of Chef Andrea Quagliarella. The new Arno SPA is a warm and informal welcome in an original Tuscan atmosphere, combining heritage with luxurious comfort. Acqua the wet area with the Turkish bath, the sauna, the Roman pool with hydromassage and sensory showers. Beaute two spa suites one twin bedded for treatments pervaded with Tuscan scents. Products from the cosmetic line of Officina Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella. Sport all gym equipment, space for yoga and floor exercises. Everything evokes the feel of Villa La Massa. The team responsible for creating culinary masterpieces have their own vegetable garden on the estate as well as producing olive oil. What can’t be grown here is sourced from biological producers whenever possible ensuring the very best quality ingredients. Of course this is hardly a normal hotel and should never by considered as such. It is a treat, a gift, an experience and like any item of outstanding beauty it deserves more than a little appreciation and respect. 500 years of history have left a patina of stories, charm and style that could never by designed or created. It is, quite simply, one of the finest hotels in Florence and indeed in the whole of Italy.