Explore Our Editor’s Must-Reads / The Renaissance Convent Above Florence That Michelangelo Designed – Now With A Guerlain Spa / Publisher Luxurytravelmag

Belmond’s Villa San Michele has reopened in the Fiesole hills above Florence – with a new Guerlain spa, 39 reimagined rooms, and a culinary programme anchored by a new gastronomic restaurant

Belmond‘s Villa San Michele has reopened in the Fiesole hills above Florence following an 18-month renovation, returning one of Italy’s most celebrated Renaissance retreats to the Riviera calendar with a new Spa by Guerlain, 39 reimagined rooms and suites, and a fresh gastronomic program.

Originally a Franciscan convent, its facade attributed to Michelangelo, the property reopened on 28 April 2026 with interiors by Luigi Fragola Architects, restored terraced gardens and a new gastronomic restaurant, Antesi, led by Executive Chef Alessandro Cozzolino.

Villa San Michele exterior

Rooms and suites

The 27 new suites and 12 rooms are layered with hand-selected antiques, bespoke furnishings and commissioned artwork.

Floors are crafted from Impruneta terracotta, bathrooms clad in green-veined Cipollino marble from Carrara, and stone fireplaces nod to the original friars’ cells. The building’s frescoed walls have also been revived throughout.

Signature suites include the Limonaia – set across two storeys with a private plunge pool – and the Botanica, which draws on the Villa’s historical gardens.

The Grand Tour, once the headquarters of Napoleon Bonaparte, runs along the first floor of the facade with travel-inspired artefacts in an open-plan layout.

Commissioned artworks include hand-painted murals by Francesca Guicciardini, watercolours by botanical artist Maria Rita Stirpe and poetic assemblages by Mirco Marchelli.

Limonaia Signature Suite. Image: Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel / Adrian Gaut

Spa by Guerlain

The Villa San Michele Spa by Guerlain occupies the first floor of the historic convent, with three treatment rooms including a double suite.

Bespoke treatments developed exclusively for the Villa include Floral Delight in Tuscany – a face and body ritual infused with delicate floral notes – and The Art of Renaissance, which uses stone tools for deep sculpting massage.

The Iris di Grazia anti-ageing facial pays homage to Florence’s emblematic flower.

Gardens and grounds

Spanning over 10,000 square metres, the terraced gardens – redesigned by Luca Ghezzi Garden Design – have been reawakened around the concept of ‘otium’: the humanist ideal of leisure devoted to contemplation, conversation and appreciation.

New additions include a 42-metre rose path overlooking Florence, an expanded herb garden and an iris garden honouring the city’s emblem. A weekly programme of cultural experiences includes classical and jazz performances by the Fiesole School of Music.

The gardens, Villa San Michele

Programs and dining

In partnership with Milanese brand La DoubleJ, the Villa has launched an Energy Raising Programme – three immersive spaces within the hotel’s woodland including an Energy Chapel, a Sungazing Lounge and an outdoor Yoga Deck.

A year-round program of classes, residencies and seasonal retreats follows, with the inaugural Embodied Presence retreat running 3-6 September 2026.

The dining offering includes San Michele Restaurant for refined Italian cuisine, San Michele Grill for poolside dining, and Antesi – the new gastronomic restaurant led by Executive Chef Alessandro Cozzolino.

The name derives from the Greek “anthesis”, meaning “blossoming” – a reference to honouring ingredients at the precise moment nature intends.

“Our concept is born from listening to time and nature. There is a moment when every ingredient reaches its maximum expression. Our job is to recognise and respect it,” said Cozzolino.

Villa San Michele is open from spring through winter. belmond.com