Hotel Villa Fiesole

Fiesole is a small town in the gorgeous wooded hills just above Florence, and the Villa itself is a converted private residence, an elegant, luxurious hotel, peaceful and idyllic, yet with a view of the city. Add to this the fact that Hotel Villa Fiesole is priced at a level that’s actually attainable, and it begins to seem too good to be true.

That said, this is not the utmost in luxury overkill. It’s tasteful, to be sure, but this is not the opulence of the top European resorts. The rooms are spacious, bright, richly decorated with antique furnishings and a refined palette. There’s a swimming pool, with a city view, and while there’s no restaurant per se, the hotel offers breakfast, a light lunch, and a full dinner menu. The food here is no afterthought — offerings include a catering service for special events and an array of cooking classes.

There is no place like Florence, and it would take a lifetime to see everything there is to see there. Fiesole lies just two miles out of town and the hotel will arrange any one of a variety of tours, from Uffizi and the sights of Florence to Pisa or Siena. The location is half the story; we’d be happy to pay a substantial percentage of Villa Fiesole’s rates for a locker at the bus station. But the price includes not just access to Florence, but a room in a beautiful hotel, halfway up a mountain, with a spectacular view and a remarkable kitchen — it’s an offer that is difficult to refuse.

How to get there:
Hotel Villa Fiesole is located 9 miles from Florence Peretola Airport (FLR).