Belmond Villa San Michele

On my featured Italy page, Villa San Michele leads the Florence section, and my one-line case for it hasn't changed: a former 15th-century monastery in the Fiesole hills above the city, recently renovated, with the best views in Florence — and a private shuttle into town.

That's the whole proposition. Florence's city-center hotels give you the streets; Villa San Michele gives you the city itself, laid out below your terrace, with the Duomo catching the evening light. The recent renovation brought the rooms fully current without disturbing the monastery bones — the facade is attributed to Michelangelo's school, and it reads that way.

I toured the property in person and walked through a Garden Junior Suite. It's a genuinely unique place — built right into the hillside, with the villa, gardens, and terraces stepping down the slope. The one surprise: there isn't as much privacy as you'd expect at this level. Room choice really matters here, and when you book through me, I'll make sure you're in a private room.

How the rooms break down: rooms in the main building are smaller, but the views are incredible. The garden suites are tucked into the grounds — and one of them, which overlooks the parking lot, is the most private room on the entire property other than the chapel room. Tell me what matters most to you (view, space, or seclusion) and I'll match you to the right one.

I'm a preferred partner of Belmond, so the upgrades, breakfast, and credits follow my clients up the hill — and the shuttle solves the only objection anyone ever raises about staying above the city.