Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence embarks on a journey of reimagination 

Belmond is delighted to announce the renovation of Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence – its masterpiece of Florentine Renaissance on the hills of Fiesole. The works will begin in late 2024 and continue throughout 2025, scheduled to complete for a grand reopening for the 2026 season.

Reflecting Belmond’s commitment to preserving heritage for the future through thoughtful renovations, this initiative will meticulously safeguard the historical architecture of Villa San Michele. The restoration will care for the existing structure whilst reimagining the hotel’s spaces within its inspiring location, steeped in history and culture.

Upon its reopening, Villa San Michele will unveil 38 completely redesigned, state-of-the-art rooms and suites. Meticulously crafted by an expert team of skilled artisans, these spaces will capture the spirit of the Villa's storied past with renewed elegance and sophistication, elevating the accommodation offering to new heights.

Drawing from the hotel’s rich history as a sanctuary and a place of cultural encounters, the new Villa promises to offer guests an unparalleled sojourn in a timeless retreat immersed in beauty, craftsmanship, and surrounding nature. 

FLORENCE FROM ABOVE

Perched in Fiesole above Florence, Villa San Michele offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city from every corner of its lush gardens. Formerly a historic 15th century monastery, Villa San Michele is an emblem of Italian Renaissance, from its façade attributed to the School of Michelangelo, to its surrounding woodlands where Leonardo Da Vinci first attempted flight. Following 400 years as a Franciscan sanctuary for contemplation and prayer, Villa San Michele transitioned into a private villa in the early 1800s.

 
During this era, Florence became an essential destination on the Grand Tour, a rite of passage amongst aristocratic families and a significant opportunity to discover the cultural wonders of Europe. Here, Fiesole naturally became the favoured vantage point from which to admire the city's splendour. Numerous international travellers lingered on this hill, acquiring villas and furnishing them in the neoclassical style, drawing inspiration from classical art and architecture.

Inspired by the harmonious style of this period, the team of architects and designers selected for this project will embark on a meticulous restoration of the building and gardens. Honouring their historical significance, the team will reimagine these spaces, ensuring that Villa San Michele continues to enchant generations to come.

 RE-IMAGINED INTERIORS

The creative direction has been entrusted to Luigi Fragola Architects, interior design and architecture firm based in Florence with an international reputation in luxury hospitality and exclusive private residences, who will be working closely with Belmond’s design team.  

Villa San Michele will be reducing its room count from 42 to 38 keys, which include 3 signature suites and 28 Suites and Junior Suites, allowing an elevated accommodation offering with larger spaces for a new and enhanced guest experience. 

The rooms within the main building, once home to Renaissance monks, will be redesigned with a timeless elegance and balanced proportions, in dialogue with the instantly recognisable and majestic façade of the Villa and the historical character of the building.  A strong focus will be given to preserving architectural historical materials, such as exposed stone, lime on the walls and terracotta, while enhancing the space with selected decorative elements such as Tuscan marble, neoclassical tapestries, original antiques from the 19th century and curated artworks. Meanwhile, the redesigned rooms located in the terraced gardens will showcase new interiors with a soft colour palette and materials that recall the outdoor space, creating a harmonious dialogue with the surrounding immersive nature. Each window will offer guests a mesmerising view of the city of Renaissance below.

At the heart of each room's design lies a celebration of time-honoured Tuscan craftsmanship, thanks to the collaboration with local makers deeply rooted with the heritage of the territory.

FLOURISHING GARDENS

Within the 9,700 sqm gardens of Villa San Michele, Florentine landscape architecture studio Luca Ghezzi Garden Design will take the helm of the renovation. This project seeks to restore and redevelop the gardens, in keeping with the historical aesthetics of traditional Fiesole hillside gardens, whilst further enhancing the captivating views across the slopes of Florence. New elements will include hidden garden nooks, new viewpoints, and the reintroduction of blooms characteristic of Renaissance gardens.

Upon the reopening of Villa San Michele in spring 2026, the flourishing gardens and the surrounding Leonardo woodlands will inspire an array of new outdoor experiences allowing guests to access and fully experience new corners of the immersive nature that embraces the Villa. 

PRESERVING HISTORY AND CULTURE

The restoration of Villa San Michele underscores Belmond's unwavering dedication to preserving history and culture. This Florentine masterpiece joins the ranks of recent Belmond portfolio enhancements, including Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino and Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, Riviera Maya, each deeply embedded within their unique cultural landscape.

The legendary Villa San Michele, restored and reimagined, will reopen its doors for the season 2026, with bookings resuming as of spring 2025.