Belmond Villa San Michele: Florence from the Hills

Villa San Michele occupies a former 15th-century monastery in the hills of Fiesole, just above Florence, and the setting does most of the work: a facade attributed in part to Michelangelo, cypress-lined grounds, and a position high enough above the Arno valley that the city's rooftops and the dome of the Duomo appear laid out in miniature below.

Rooms are spread across the original monastery building and a set of garden-facing suites, with several retaining original frescoes and vaulted ceilings from the property's monastic origins. The real draw, though, is La Loggia, the hotel's terrace restaurant, where dinner with the full sweep of Florence's skyline in view has become one of the most requested tables in Tuscany.

Interested in staying? Book with us for Bellini Club preferred-partner perks.