BELMOND VILLA SAN MICHELE

As I’m gearing up for a trip back to the magical city of Florence, I just have to take a moment to share with you this amazing hotel just outside of the city. Set atop the hills in Fiesole, the Belmond Villa San Michele is a magical place with some of the most fantastic views of Florence and the surrounding Arno Valley.

All Photos Courtesy of Belmond Villa San Michele

The villa itself has quite the story, with historians attributing its beautiful façade to none other than Michelangelo! This 15th century Renaissance monastery still holds all of the peaceful beauty I can only image it possessed in the days of yore. Now, with it’s gorgeous grounds filled with gardens and loggias galore, the hotel draws some Florence’s top visitors who look to the private and off-the-beaten-track nature of this lovely locale.

With every possible accommodation from comfortable rooms, to suites, to full on private villas, this place seems like it just can’t get any better. Except of course, when you account for the private Italian cooking lessons and top notch restaurants and bars available right at your fingertips! Cocktails at the pool, dinner overlooking the twinkling lights of Florence, and a room in the extravagant Renaissance style with all the 21st century comforts? That I could get used to!

The De Bisscops worked with architects Govaert & Vanhouette from Bruges and Anversa from Antwerp to renovate the farm using the African wood Afromosia for the outside. For the garden design work, they worked with Léon Van Haesebrouck and all of the results look stunning. It now houses not only a family home but also their chickens, bees, and sheep. All of this means it provides fresh eggs and homemade honey in the breakfast at this beautiful venue.