Villa Cora

Tremendous history and architecture. A more unique hotel with the facilities such as restaurant, bar, spa, pool are outside of the main ‘mansion’ which is used more for events or breakfast. Rooms are gorgeous in a historic way but not as convenient as modern designs. Bathroom has pedestal sink with no space for toiletries for example. Room had great sitting area but no space for luggage unless you completely unpacked. Rooftop terrace is pretty but there is no drink service. Be aware the location is a 30 min walk or short shuttle ride to Florence central.

Amazing place. One of the most beautiful hotels we’ve ever stayed in. It has a history of its own in a city blessed with enormous history. A perfect place to stay to explore Venice and Tuscany. The food was great and we enjoyed the spa and pool as well. The views from our room were incredible. Highly recommend.

We visited Florence for the first time & stayed in this amazing hotel. We were not disappointed and will definitely return one day. The rooms were stunning, the breakfast buffet incredible, the staff were very helpful & friendly. The hotel is set in beautiful grounds, has a lovely big pool & a roof terrace with views across Florence.

I have been lucky enough to stay at some pretty amazing hotels around the world, but this hotel may be the top of the list now. The hotel itself is incredible, with an amazing interior, grounds and view. It is the perfect place to be outside the city, and have the feel of a Victorian Era Tuscan Villa. The view from our rooms (we were on the 3rd floor, or Floor 2 in Italy), had a view of the city, the Duomo and the surrounding hills. Just amazing. The rooms were comfortable, with wonderful beds and linens, our bathroom had a heated floor, which was nice for the cooler mornings. The staff were incredibly kind, service was outstanding, and they made us feel like we were the only guests there! The food on site was just amazing. We enjoyed the breakfast buffet each morning and had dinner one evening there. Everything was 5 stars in quality, taste and presentation. We had a great time enjoying the use of the shuttle service both to and from the city center. The drop off and pickup point is the Palazzo Republica so it couldn't be more convenient. I can't emphasize enough how wonderful our stay was! Thanks to Ariela and her staff for truly making our 2nd trip to Florence so memorable. We will be back!

Absolutely perfect! Lovely staff, incredibly attentive. The dinners at the restaurant were delicious, we ate there often during our stay. Beautiful property with views of the city on the rooftop. Close enough to the city that you can walk there but far enough to feel relaxed.

Our stay at Villa Cora in Florence was, without question, the highlight of our trip to Italy. From the moment we arrived, we were treated with warmth, elegance, and an extraordinary level of service that made us feel both pampered and at home. The villa itself is breathtaking—like stepping into a private 19th-century residence filled with history, beauty, and timeless charm. Every room, hallway, and lounge is a work of art, with stunning frescoes, intricate architectural details, and classic decor that transport you to another era. The rooftop terrace overlooking Florence is incredible, especially at sunset. It’s as much a cultural experience as it is a hotel stay. Lorenzo, the head concierge, and his exceptional team curated a flawless itinerary for us, filled with unforgettable experiences. From the moment our private transfer picked us up at Santa Maria Novella station, every detail was taken care of with impeccable precision. Our guided day through Siena, a wine tasting lunch at the incredible IL Cellese winery, and an afternoon exploring San Gimignano was a perfect introduction to Tuscany’s charm. The Uffizi tour the next day was both educational and inspiring, followed by a lovely lunch at Ristorante Frescobaldi overlooking Signoria Square. One of the most memorable days Lorenzo arranged was a private cooking class and wine tasting experience in the beautiful village of Passignano, hosted by the outstanding team at Ristoro Antica Scuderia. It also included a tour of the abbey and even stylish Porsche transportation—an unforgettable blend of luxury, learning, and local flavor. And our dinner that evening at L'Atto di Vito Mollica was a fittingly exquisite end to the day. Back at Villa Cora, every moment felt indulgent—from the beautifully appointed rooms to the tranquil grounds. We especially enjoyed dinner at their Le Bistrot restaurant and the attentive service at every meal, including breakfast each day on the rear terrace of the villa, overlooking the gardens. We left Florence feeling grateful, relaxed, and inspired—all thanks to the care and thoughtfulness of the team at Villa Cora. It’s a truly exceptional place, and we can't wait to return.

We stayed for 3 nights in this exquisite hotel - we were enchanted by this magical hotel. From the moment we stepped in the hotel we were treated with the most exquisite charming and sincere service by the lovely team at Villa Cora. Thank you for such a lovely stay. I would not hesitate to recommend Villa Cora in every sense. The experience was that of staying in a private house combined with relaxed high end luxury. The team went out of their way to help make our experience beautiful - from dining, to spa and to the unique smoking room bar! This is a truly unique hotel and we will definitely be returning. Small touches such as the shuttle driver into Florence, details in the room - Ortiga products / linen and so on….all point to the thought and exquisite taste of the owner and team. We intend to be back soon with family and friends.

A faultless stay. Villa Cora is just outside of the city but well worth the walk or free hotel shuttle. The staff make you feel at home from the moment you arrive to the departure (even if it’s at 4am). Can’t recommend highly enough!

Villa Cora went above and beyond during our visit! Vanessa and her team are absolutely FABULOUS! Thank you for making our stay unforgettable. One morning I woke up with intense lower back pain and once the team heard they immediately sent the masseuse to my room to assist me. INCREDIBLE service! We love Villa Cora. It's beautiful but the team makes it even more amazing! This is the only place you should stay in Florence!!!

We just left a multi-day stay at this property and it was probably the most underwhelming we've been to. First as an AMEX Fine Resort our expectation is pretty high given we're spending $1K+ to stay here. We found the property and the rooms specifically to be old and dated, poorly designed with very little space (we had a "double upgrade" from the standard king room and could barely fit two adult's suitcases in the room), and probably most obnoxious and important, the staff was incredibly rude and condescending. We had multiple issues with our room and rather than being apologetic or solution oriented, they were rude and dismissive and disrespectful. We will never stay here again or recommend this place.

Beautiful villa. Our visit to Florence was chilled and enjoyable. Sadly, I was surprised by the pompous remarks received! We dined at their restaurant one evening. When I politely requested to return the pasta I ordered, I was treated with disrespect. First I was told I didn't know Italian pasta, followed by a 1/2 hour wait for them to remake the same dish. My husband was done with his appetizer and his dinner before my pasta showed up. I would like to add their restaurant was NOT even close to half full. I decided to sleep on it for about 2 weeks after I returned to the US. I didn't want to complain without thinking it thru. At last I made a review privately directly to the establishment . Promptly the general manager provided me with an obligatory reply. I was informed by the GM I misunderstood. How do you misunderstand undercooked pasta ? A simple and sincere apology would have been more than sufficient. Honestly we wanted to love Villa Cora. We even wanted to return if I would have received a sincere reply. We adore Italy, the people, the food, their culture and so much more. But being treated like we were dumb Americans? Heck no. So my comment is meh ... this American tourist who loves Italy will stay in a respectable place next year when we return to Florence. But hey, like I said in the beginning it is a beautiful place. Go there, stay and enjoy . But please don't comment about their undercooked pasta , better yet , just order the hamburger !

Location, amenities and service are 5 Star. The hotel is beautiful. The views are amazing. The staff could literally not be nicer or more helpful. Anything you need or ask for you will get an "of course" response.

Omg my friend had a destination wedding here and it was marvelous. The food was so tasty. The staff was friendly and helpful. They rooms were beautifully decorated. They had dances during the reception. They also had fireworks during the cake cutting. Really, truly amazing.

Our meeting place when in Florence. Old world elegance with excellent service. Quiet neighborhood.

Ob-sessed with this place. Made our Florence trip that much better and solidified our next place we'll be staying when we return. We only explored the restaurant and accompanying pool area, but the main house, side house, and gardens had gorgeous exteriors. There was a beautiful wedding taking place, as well as a private dinner and the staff were still relaxed, seamless, and attentive. We sat for several hours drinking and eating by the pool. It was the perfect temperature outside and the venue was so peaceful. The waiter brought everything we needed at an excellent pace and thought of things before we even needed them. Villa Cora has everything from a spa to event space to a rooftop terrace for a romantic evening. It's situated next to the gorgeous Medici gardens and property. Cannot wait to return for more!

Wonderful hotel. Staffs are overwhelmingly kind and attentive. Stayed at suite and it was so lovely. It's a bit far away from downtown but they have shuttle and taxi Always on stand by for you.

In August 1998, I was there with family for several days. Seeing the family of Meg's friend, who were on their way to the French Riveria, and the ever word of the young lady, " le fume! " Who told her I smoked!!!! The pool, the Veal Saltimbocca after a long ride the first day from Roma in a rented van, the Dormo, the Ufizzi, forever in my memory, grazie, forever Bon Giorno in the morning, and Pronto on the telefono, and for comedy the taxi driver with the last name like the Famous Mayor of New York, Guiliani!!!! Bellisima, my cousin Krystle Ruberto was there for school in Firenze, my friend Sarah Webb works in the City I will return again. I remember the Deutschland couple, truly International!!!! Brava!

It's OK when hotels mess up and the experience is less than ideal. But it's not OK when they choose to do nothing about it after you complain. That's why I'm drawing the conclusion that the management team at Villa Cora must be very arrogant. Perhaps all they care about is a one-time transaction, not repeat customers. I booked Villa Cora for my birthday trip to Florence. The property is as beautiful as advertised. The service? Even the worst Four Seasons beats them hands down. 1. We found a string of dental floss on the bedroom floor upon check-in. Eewww. 2. No gesture on my actual birthday (and yes, they knew). Truth be told, who cares about a birthday cupcake? But it's the gesture that matters. And isn't that a common practice at posh hotels like this? 3. No one came to take our orders while we sat by the pool for 90 minutes, reading. And yes, they were taking orders from the people around us. What gives? Upon check-out, the manager on duty sensed my dis-satisfaction and pried the complaints out of me. He's very courteous and professional, and he promised to communicate that up the chain and that someone would follow up with me. No one ever did...and I've waited over two months. In the meanwhile, I filed a complaint with AmEx, as I'd booked the hotel via their Fine Hotels & Resorts program. Villa Cora waited 10 weeks - till the very last day allowed - to respond. What did they send? A copy of the receipt with my signature on it to "prove" that services were rendered. Once again, no apology. Their blatant arrogance just stuns me. It's really a shame that these guys run this beautiful hotel. Their complete disregard for customer complaints is what irks me the most. It's clear that they just don't care. Go spend your money elsewhere.

Wow. Talk about ornate. This is more like an Inn than a hotel and the service is impeccable The food outstanding. The breakfast buffet. ( as part of your room cost which is pricey) is one of the best I have ever experienced. The rooms are nicely appointed although no table for in room dining. 24 hour room service incredible pool and wonderful spa services ( again pricey). Dinner for two with a glass of wine ( $150 Euros) Only issue was the shower. Small slippery tub and it's impossible to turn on the water without getting soaked Despite that we would return in a heartbeat. Staff is incredible. Fast, efficient, courteous Offers a shuttle service to town but requires patience

I stayed at Villa Cora for 3 night in September while attending a wedding in Florence. My room was nice however for the price I was stuck in a small room in a back room with a view of a tree( I think because I was traveling alone and I did not book through them directly). The food and service were great. The location was also good if you do not want to stay directly in Florence. It is about a 20 minute walk into Florence which is excellent if the weather is nice. They offer free shuttle service to downtown a great pool and breakfast buffet. If you are looking for a relaxing place to stay in Florence away from the hustle and bustle Grand Hotel Villa Cora is for you.

Had an unbelievable experience at this beautiful hotel. The managers and staff are a dream to interact with-- friendly, generous, personable, and most of all, helpful to a fault! The property is stunning, waking up to it every morning was glorious. You can actually walk right into Florence proper (across the bridge) in a half hour and it's a lovely walk. The daily buffet breakfast was beyond plentiful; give it a whirl! We hated leaving Villa Cora after our 3-day stay and have vowed to return in the next few years. It represents what Florence is all about-- actually what Italy is all about-- and made these two Americans on their first trip to the country feel like royalty. See you again soon!

Gorgeous palazzo and gardens. Interior is opulent baroque with touches of modernity here and there. Grand lounge/sitting room felt like a neoclassical ballroom, with large round lamps and gilded mirrors. We came here for their summer barbeque buffet (55 euro a person) which had all kinds of meats and scampi on order, a gigantic selection of vegetables, cheese, charcuterie, high quality wines and prosecco, and an ice cream and dessert bar. We sat next to the pool which was beautiful and comfortably heated. Great service, very few people, intimate. Kind of like dining at a countess's summer house.

Pros: Gorgeous, slightly out of the city in a quiet area. Cons: Pool was closed and notice was very short. Other: Price.... well you expect a place like this to be expensive and it was but at the end I feel it was well worth it and enjoyed our stay here. More details: My wife and I stayed here for the Florence part of our honeymoon. The stay here was amazing. The main building is gorgeous and well maintained as are the grounds. The only thing I would say was negative was that the hotel pool was under renovation during our stay. The hotel emailed us a week before our arrival to tell us the pool would be closed. I'm not taking a star away for that since they did offer alternate pool access at another hotel but the one thing I'd complain about is the short notice. The shuttle to and from the city is great. Spa was also very nice and clean.

This is the best hotel I've ever stayed at in my life, and I'm very picky! The service was unbeatable-- my husband and I watched a hotel employee sprint across a parking lot to make sure a man didn't have to open a door for himself. I got a fantastic massage at the spa, and when the masseuse noticed one of my toenails had chipped polish she found a matching color and fixed it for me. Every restaurant recommendation they gave us was fantastic. The breakfast buffet was high end and delicious. These details really made it special, on top of the fact that the grounds are gorgeous and meticulously maintained. The staff really made our honeymoon and for the rest of our trip we lamented the fact we hadn't stayed at Villa Cora for more days.

What a dream! We stayed at Villa Cora for four nights and this hotel is absolutely magical. The grounds are stunning, the smell of roses is intoxicating, and the staff is amazing--they are so helpful, professional and accommodating. The junior suite came with an incredible terrace with priceless views of Florence. This is truly a five star hotel; the shuttle service was very useful. The pool area is gorgeous. Generally speaking, all the special little touches made all the difference. I only wished that the rooms come equipped with an iron, but they offer this as a service for an additional fee. Very special!!

Fantastic hotel. Expedia screwed up our reservations and the staff is going out of their way to make us feel like true VIP guests (not Expedia's meaningless definitely). Glorious grounds, beautiful common areas, fantastic food, super friendly, helpful staff. Highly recommended. Loving every moment

Villa Cora is a dream! My fiancé and I stayed here and took cooking classes from the chefs at the villa. The classes were wonderful and focused on authentic Tuscan recipes. After the lesson of the day, the chefs had recipes for the foods we created, as well as Tuscan cookbooks for us to take back with us. The chefs were fun, relatable, and extremely talented! The staff at Villa Cora was very accommodating. My fiancé and I got engaged during our stay and the concierge arranged a photographer to take our engagement photos. The photographer was lovely and took wonderful photos for us. The Villa Cora itself is BEAUTIFUL. We visited in April and the grounds were immaculate and the decor was beautiful-my favorite was the room modeled after the hall of mirrors in Versailles- it is unbelievable!

A very beautiful hotel. Everyone was absolutely wonderful. We had our 6 year old son with us, and everyone went out of their way to be so kind to him. The room was gorgeous and the pool was too. Breakfast was wonderful. We highly recommend this hotel.

First of all, I would absolutely NOT recommend staying at this hotel or having a wedding there. I stayed 2 nights at this hotel in January 2020 before the lockdown in Italy began. I was with my fiance as a special trip, because we had chosen the hotel as our destination wedding venue and wanted to check it out before the wedding. We paid a deposit of a couple thousand euros in November of last year for the wedding. Regarding our stay there, I would say the hotel's services are completely subpar especially for the price. The reception upon arrival was very cold and I didn't get a sense of warmth or hospitality throughout my stay. I've travelled many places around the world and have stayed at numerous luxury hotels and my stay here was very disappointing to say the least, even when I had been slightly biased in a positive direction since I had already committed to holding my wedding there. First, the rooms' walls are paper thin. Because the hotel itself is an old building, you can hear the footsteps above and the faucet sounds from your neighbors taking a shower at all times of the night. On the second day, I had to move rooms to a more remote part of the hotel because I barely got any sleep on the night before and I'm not even a sensitive sleeper. Second, the hotel is very far from city center of Florence by walk which the hotel downplays in its marketing efforts. Third, there's a lot traffic noise when you are sitting outside since street with heavy traffic wraps 360 degrees around the hotel. It's not peaceful at all. What's most egregious is what followed our stay. Villa Cora shockingly REFUSED to give us back any of our deposit which amounted to a couple thousand euros, when we wrote to them saying that our destination wedding for this summer would have to be cancelled. We wrote to them the week that the entire country of Italy including the hotel went under a strict lockdown (they are still not opened yet as of writing this review). We wanted to give them an early heads up as a way of acting responsibly. As Americans, we also faced months of indefinite lockdown due to the pandemic (which is still ongoing at this moment) and we knew that our guests from all over the world would not be able to make travel plans to attend our wedding given the severity of the situation and the travel bans in multiple of the world. Villa Cora admitted themselves that they may not be able to deliver on the services for which we had put down the deposit, they still REFUSED to give us back our deposit. We have been back and forth with the hotel many times and even escalated it to their general manager, Vanessa, but she still refused to give us our deposit back. I couldn't believe a hotel of this caliber would conduct such unethical business practices of fraud at a time when the whole world is suffering. We, too, are disappointed that our dream wedding will no longer happen. This was out of our control but we took swift necessary measures to communicate the inevitable cancellation to our guests and wedding vendors. All the other wedding vendors including our photographer, videographer, florist, and performers were all understanding and they gave us back 100% of our deposit. They did so, not necessarily because they were legally obliged to, but because they have the decency and professional manner of not taking customers' money when they know they cannot even deliver on the promise of rendering the service. Villa Cora, obviously, is an outlier in their unprofessional and unethical behavior! This is completely shocking and unacceptable for a hotel that markets itself as a luxury hotel of high caliber and charges a rate like they do. Their actions prove that they are an absolute fraud. No respectable hotel acts in this manner and take advantage of guests who are all hurting by the unfortunate situation of the pandemic. Shame on you, Villa Cora! I hope everyone doesn't make the same mistakes I did and think twice before staying here, there any plenty of nicer hotels in Italy for this price!