Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, has reopened its doors following an 18-month closure, reemerging from the hills of Fiesole above Florence as a recalibrated destination for wellbeing, gastronomy, and cultural immersion.
The property first welcomed back guests late last month.
The Renaissance convent-turned-hotel — known for its Michelangelo-inspired façade and sweeping Florentine views — debuted 39 reimagined rooms and suites, a Spa by Guerlain, revitalized gardens, a new destination restaurant, and a curated wellness program developed in partnership with Milanese lifestyle brand La DoubleJ.
Rooms & Suites
Designed by Luigi Fragola Architects, the property's 27 new suites and 12 rooms draw on Tuscan craftsmanship at every turn. Hand-selected antiques, scagliola furniture by Bianco Bianchi, tapestries by artist Elena Carozzi, and restored stone fireplaces — echoing the original friars' cells — set the tone. Floors of Impruneta terracotta and bathrooms clad in green-veined Cipollino marble from Carrara anchor the more material pleasures.
Signature suites include the Limonaia, a two-storey retreat with private plunge pool designed to evoke a Fiesolan villa nestled in nature, and the Botanica, a garden-inspired offering surrounded by woodland. The Grand Tour — once Napoleon Bonaparte's headquarters — occupies the first floor of the façade, appointed with travel-inspired artefacts and an open-plan studio layout.
Commissioned artworks throughout the property include hand-painted murals by Florentine painter Francesca Guicciardini, loggia installations by Cristina Corvino, botanical watercolors by Maria Rita Stirpe, and assemblages by contemporary artist Mirco Marchelli.
Spa by Guerlain
The Villa San Michele Spa by Guerlain features three treatment rooms, including a double suite. Signature offerings include Floral Delight in Tuscany and The Art of Renaissance, alongside the Iris di Grazia anti-aging facial — a nod to Florence's emblematic bloom. The spa's entrance, called the "Secret Garden," is adorned with hand-painted frescoes by Elena Carozzi.
Gardens
Spanning more than 10,000 square meters and redesigned by Luca Ghezzi Garden Design, the property's terraced gardens have been refreshed with new citrus plantings — lemon, bitter orange, citron, and chinotto — alongside Mediterranean borders of lavender, rosemary, agapanthus, hydrangea, pomegranate, and iris. New additions include an expanded kitchen herb garden, an iris garden, and a 42-meter rose path. The surrounding Parco Monumentale di Monte Ceceri woodland now features new hiking trails and restored ancient stone benches.
A weekly cultural calendar includes classical and jazz performances by the Fiesole School of Music and creative workshops in calligraphy and watercolor.
Wellness With La DoubleJ
The property's Energy Raising Programme — a collaboration with La DoubleJ, the brand founded by JJ Martin — introduces three dedicated spaces within the Villa's woodland: the Energy Chapel, a reimagined former place of worship featuring a gong, meditation pillows, and a light and sound installation; an adjacent Sungazing Lounge; and an open-air Yoga Deck. Programming spans Kundalini yoga, sound healing, and yoga nidra, with monthly visiting practitioners and seasonal retreats co-hosted by Martin. The inaugural retreat, Embodied Presence, runs September 3–6.
Dining
The renovation added Antesi, a destination restaurant helmed by Executive Chef Alessandro Cozzolino, to the hotel's existing San Michele Restaurant and poolside San Michele Grill. Set in a 16th-century Renaissance loggia with eight tables and open to outside guests Tuesday through Sunday, Antesi operates around three tasting menus: Attesa, exploring the chef's origins; Ora, a present-tense dialogue with the local terroir; and Traccia, a vegetable-forward offering. Standout dishes include an Amberjack panzanella with plum colatura and pepper leaves, and a homemade pasta with tomato, raw milk pecorino, and lemon.
"Our concept is born from listening to time and nature," said Cozzolino in a statement. "There is a moment when every ingredient reaches its maximum expression. Our job is to recognize and respect it, creating dishes that listen rather than command, accompanying diners on an experience that becomes a memory."
The renovation extends to Bar Doccia, a newly refreshed space for aperitivo and digestif service anchored by an aromatic cocktail menu and creative Negroni variations.
"In keeping with its history as a former convent, Villa San Michele — always a place of beauty — is also a sanctuary devoted to the replenishment of all the senses," said Sofia Peluso, Villa San Michele's general manager. "Thoughtfully reimagined spaces, both inside and out, pay homage to nature, art and creativity. Here, the body is rested, the mind inspired and the soul soothed."
Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel is open spring through winter. For reservations and information, visit belmond.com.
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