Hotel
Hotel Lungarno
A five-star Ferragamo family hotel on the Arno beside the Ponte Vecchio, with river-view rooms, a 20th-century art collection and a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Four Seasons Hotel Firenze
A five-star hotel in two Renaissance palaces set in one of Florence's largest private gardens, with a Michelin-starred restaurant, spa and outdoor pool.
At a glance
- Type
- Luxury palace hotel
- Area
- San Marco / Borgo Pinti, Florence, Italy
- Price
- $$$$ · Luxury
- Hotel class
- 5-star
- Official site
- fourseasons.com
Good to know
- Private garden
- Outdoor pool
- Spa
- Michelin-starred restaurant
- Several bars
Why we recommend it
Four Seasons Hotel Firenze is the grandest hotel in the city and one of the most remarkable hotel settings in Italy. It occupies two historic buildings on Borgo Pinti, on the north-eastern edge of the centre: the Palazzo della Gherardesca, built in 1473 for Bartolomeo Scala, later home to a Medici cardinal and then to the Della Gherardesca family, and the 16th-century Palazzo del Nero, which adds 36 rooms. Between and behind them stretches the Gherardesca Garden, planted in the 15th century and one of the largest private gardens in Florence, with statues, fountains, centuries-old trees and a small Ionic temple.
Restored interiors keep frescoes, stucco work and decorative ceilings, and there is a Renaissance chapel with its original frescoes. Rooms and suites vary from classically decorated rooms overlooking the garden to grand suites, and some rooms and terraces have views of the cathedral dome. Dining is a highlight: Il Palagio holds a Michelin star, Onde serves Mediterranean-inspired seafood, Al Fresco is a relaxed garden trattoria, and there are two bars, the Atrium Bar and Bar Berni, a vermouth bar.
The spa sits within the garden overlooking the outdoor pool, a rare luxury in central Florence, and offers massages, facials and treatments inspired by local traditions, along with a steam room and sauna. The garden makes the hotel feel like a retreat, especially in summer, when the rest of the city is hot and crowded.
It suits couples, honeymooners and families who want space and calm, and travellers celebrating a special occasion. Service is in the polished Four Seasons style, and the concierge can arrange museum tickets, private guides and restaurant bookings. Rates are among the highest in the city, particularly from spring to autumn, so book early for the best choice of rooms.
The hotel is about a fifteen-minute walk from the Duomo and ten minutes from the Accademia and Piazza Santissima Annunziata, so it is quieter than hotels in the very centre but still within walking distance of the main sights. Taxis are the easiest way to reach it from Santa Maria Novella station. The Sant'Ambrogio market and Santa Croce are around ten minutes away on foot.
Four Seasons Hotel Firenze FAQs
How many stars does the Four Seasons Florence have?
It is a five-star luxury hotel.
What buildings does the hotel occupy?
The 15th-century Palazzo della Gherardesca and the 16th-century Palazzo del Nero.
Does the hotel have a pool?
Yes, there is an outdoor swimming pool in the garden, beside the spa.
Is there a Michelin-starred restaurant?
Yes, Il Palagio holds a Michelin star.
How big is the garden?
The Gherardesca Garden is one of the largest private gardens in Florence, planted in the 15th century.
How far is it from the Duomo?
About a fifteen-minute walk.
What other restaurants and bars are there?
Onde for seafood, Al Fresco in the garden, the Atrium Bar and Bar Berni.