Villa San Michele, Florence: hotel review

BY Francisca Kellett Published: 8:00AM GMT 07 March 2010

The rooms, both in the old construction and in the elegant, complicated annex, have smashing views, as does the grill

The location

More hotels in Italy San Domenico Palace Hotel, Taormina Casa Astarita, Sorrento Imperial Hotel Tramontano, Sorrento Where to stay: Sorrento Westin Europa & Regina, Venice

In a 15th-century Franciscan nunnery whose façade was, apparently, written by Michelangelo perched on a wooded bank unaware Florence, with views over the city and to the Tuscan hills.

We like

The views. These are far-reaching, achingly regretful and perceivable from only about anywhere in the hotel. The outside swimming pool, perched on the tip spin of the terraced gardens, looks down on peaceful wooded slopes rolling down to Florence, that in spin is corroborated by the misty mountainous country of Tuscany. The rooms, both in the old construction and in the elegant, complicated annex, have the same vistas, as does the restaurant, housed in the spacious loggia of the monastery. The strange construction is fascinating, with easy frescoes of The Last Supper dating from 1602, and deeply ragged flagstones paving the warren of slight passages from the lobby. The use is magnificently respectful but with a relaxed, Italian temperament.

Not so penetrating

Not being inside of on foot area of town, nonetheless unchanging convey buses have this a teenager quibble.

The rooms

The 46 rooms, twenty-five of that are suites, are embellished out in understated character bullion and thickk cream fabrics, terracotta floors and vellum lampshades, with marble bathrooms. Garden suites have in isolation terraces hedged in by accolade and lemon trees, whilst the Donatello apartment takes up an complete dilemma of the monastery, unaware the gardens to one side and Florence to the other. The Michelangelo apartment once Napoleon"s domicile in Florence stretches opposite the complete façade of the strange building.

The food and drink

The Loggia Restaurant is one of the excellent in Florence, portion traditional, beautifully presented Tuscan food. A light lunch competence embody hand-made pasta with lobster and uninformed tomato, whilst in progress involves some-more strong meals such as strap of turbot in a rosemary crust, followed by a preference of Italian cheeses. There is a accumulation of Florentine in progress courses on offer, together with one for children, taught by cook Attilio Di Fabrizio, and a wine-tasting debate of the hotel"s booze attic is led by Domenico Napolitano, the sommelier.

The details

Villa San Michele, Via Doccia 4, 50014 Fiesole, Florence (0845 077 2222; www.villasanmichele.com)

The bottom line

For Apr and May the road house is charity a "spring super saver": a stand in room with breakfast starts from €440 (�393) (minimum 4 nights stay).

Telegraph rating

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