My luxury stay at one of the best hotels in Florence - Villa Cora, Italy

Location: Florence, Italy
Price: ££££
Value for Money: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
Perfect for: Total Luxury

If you’re looking for a luxurious hotel stay that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into the realms of opulent royalty, then look no further than Villa Cora, on the outskirts of the historic city of Florence.

Commissioned by the renowned banker Baron Oppenheim in the mid 19th century, the hotel was a mainstay for lavish social events of the time and was frequented by the social elite of the time. The best and most famous sculptors, artists and engravers of the time worked on this architectural marvel using only the best materials available at the time from all over Italy and the world and it is no surprise when you enter the hotel and see the intricate detail from the floor to the ceilings.

The Hotel:

At Villa Cora, there is just so much detail wherever you look and it really does take your breath away when you imagine just how much human creativity and skill went into creating such an incredible building that could easily be mistaken for a museum showcasing the decadence and opulence of yester-year.

The sculpted marble statues, the Michelangelo-esque painted ceilings, the engraved stucco designs that adorn the walls, there is so much to be in awe of that photos really do not do justice to such stunning interiors.

As soon as you arrive, you are greeted by name by the wonderful staff and your luggage and even your passport is sanitised and your temperature checked to ensure everyone is safe during these strange times. In fact, there is sanitising gel all over the hotel and each room even has face masks which really does come in handy!

The Facilities

The friendly and impeccably dressed manager Marco gave us a tour of the hotel and grounds, talking us through the vision of Baron Oppenheim. On the ground floor of the main building, there are several large lounge areas for relaxing in and also a bar area where you can sip on an aperitif or Aperol Spritz before or after dinner.

Speaking of dinner, there is a separate restaurant outside where you can dine al fresco in front of the large heated pool or dine in the large bright inside space. This is also the area for breakfast and keeping social distance is not an issue at all as tables are spread far out from each other.

We didn’t visit but there is also a gym and spa which you can book in advance to use by yourself to maintain safety protocols but the hammam is currently closed for safety reasons. The grounds are large at 900 square meters and it’s lovely for a walk after dinner with over 100 types of roses adorning the space and bringing a wonderful variety of colours to the hotel.

The piece de resistance is the large rooftop terrace which overlooks the whole of Florence and is one of the best views of the city. It is a glorious view and the rooftop is a fabulous place to enjoy a drink from the rooftop bar and to relax after a day exploring the city or after lounging by the pool.

Speaking of exploring the city, the hotel also offers a free shuttle service to and from the center of Florence, so you can travel safely and securely.

The Suite

There are several rooms types to cater to everyone including classic and family rooms with twin or king-size beds as well as exclusive suites.

We were staying in one of the suites located on the first floor or ‘Noble Floor’ and was happy to see that the luxury interior design and elegant regal touches continued into the room.

High ceilings, antique ornate furniture and olive green and purple colour tones give a sense of elegance to the suite which includes a separated living room with a comfy sofa chairs, a good-sized bedroom with four poster bed and views over the gardens and swimming pool, and not one but two bathrooms that each have rainforest showers, solid Carrara marble sinks and one with a solid marble bath. There are also surround sound speakers in the bathrooms that play relaxing music which I loved listening to when I used the bath (I just had to!)

The suites also have a coffee machine, electronic safe, excellent air conditioning, flat-screen TV, complimentary bottled water, and an exclusive assortment of courtesy beauty products by Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica of Santa Maria Novella. All in all, it’s a fabulous suite and offers everything you could want in a luxury stay and I can imagine that all the rooms offer the same wow factor when you walk in.

Dinner at Le Bistrot

During our stay we dined at the hotel’s aforementioned restaurant, Le Bistrot. The restaurant has a lovely open space with fewer tables than normal to abide by social distance rules and there’s also a small alcove type room for a more intimate dinner setting.

The Executive Chef is Alessandro Liberatore, a well-known chef all over Italy who has plied his trade in several Michelin star restaurants, including Al Gallopapa in Castellina in Chianti and Il Pellicano in Porto ErcoleWe were excited to try the Chef’s Menu, prepared by Chef Alessandro himself and essentially a tasting menu featuring several courses showcasing the best seasonal produce Italy has to offer.

Some of the standout dishes include Scallop with beer-flavored carrot variation, sour sauce, hazelnuts cream and caper powder, game risotto with marinated pumpkin, pomegranate and parmesan cheese cream, and turbot with radish, lettuce sprout, saffron polenta and candied olives. Each course is paired with a wine that really brings out the flavour of each dish and enhances the experience.

Oh, I mustn’t forget dessert – Roche of coconut with coconut ice cream, chocolate soil, caramel swirls and hazelnuts. It looked out of this world and tasted as divine as I expected. A really delicious note on which to end a fabulous dining experience at Villa Cora.

Breakfast

Due to Covid protocols, the usual self-service buffet has been suspended and instead food is served cafeteria style behind plexiglass to ensure safety. There is a good mix of continental breakfast goods including a selection of meats and cheeses, pastries and breads, and grilled vegetables. There’s also a selection of hot items including bacon, scrambled eggs, sausage and tomatoes.

It’s a really good breakfast and of course there’s fresh juices and a variety of coffees to choose from.

Overall:

I was deeply impressed with my stay at Villa Cora. The attention to detail in the architecture of the building is also reflected in the service and hospitality of the staff. Instead of being snooty and stuffy as some 5 stay hotels can be guilty of being, Villa Cora endeavours to be a ‘home away from home’ but perhaps with a welcome touch of luxury and elegance. The facilities are fantastic and even during a pandemic they have taken measures to ensure your stay is both fulfilling and enjoyable with compromising your safety.

Like many of the historic buildings in Florence, Villa Cora is a marvel of human creativity when it comes to design and the hotel combines it’s great deal of style with plenty of substance to ensure that your stay at the hotel is one to remember for a lifetime.