Auberge Resorts Collection is set to open a property in Florence, Italy in 2023.

The hotel group has been appointed by hospitality company Leeu Collection to manage Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection, a former cultural institution and boarding school on the northside of Florence’s historic city centre, three miles from the Duomo di Firenze.

The property will encompass three adjacent 16th-century buildings, including an original chapel and theatre. It will undergo an extensive renovation by Spanish architect group Esteva I Esteva and local Florentine interior designers, ArchFlorence.

Upon completion, the hotel will feature 82 rooms, including 61 guest rooms, 20 suites and a large signature suite. Amenities will include an outdoor pool, a dedicated wine tasting room, a spa and fitness centre, an art gallery and a boutique. 

Dining options will feature a destination restaurant; a glass-enclosed garden room set amid olive trees for daytime dining; a bar and cigar lounge located in the former academic admissions office; and an outdoor pool bar offering light bites and cocktails. The property will also boast an on-site enoteca (wine repository) offering tastings of Italy’s finest wines.

The resort's grounds will be surrounded by oak trees, with expansive lawns and five levels of terraced Baroque gardens.

“We are tremendously excited to expand our presence in Europe with the addition of Florence and Collegio alla Querce,” said Auberge chairman Dan Friedkin. 

“Our unique ability to elevate and preserve historic properties will translate into a dynamic new destination for rich culture, outstanding cuisine, art, design and unrivalled experiences in the internationally renowned city. We are grateful for Leeu Collection’s founder, Analjit Singh, who had the vision to create the most spectacular resort in Florence, and for the trust he has placed in us to help bring it to life.”

Leeu Collection founder Analjit Singh, added: “We made a conscious decision several years ago to focus on creating exceptional experiences for our guests by joining forces with the best-in-class in the fields of wine-making, dining out and artistic endeavours, so it gives me great pleasure to have the award-winning team at Auberge Resorts Collection manage our property in Florence.

“The approach taken by Auberge Resorts Collection is very much in keeping with the Leeu Collection ethos of crafting unrivalled luxury escapes that work with and promote the finest partners in the locality. This collaboration, therefore, feels like a natural fit and we look forward to working with them to build a sensational destination.”

Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection will be the hotel group’s second property in Europe, joining Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection in Santorini, Greece. 

This year, Auberge Resorts Collection will open seven hotels in destinations including Riviera Maya and Punta di Mita in Mexico, Costa Rica, Santa Fe in New Mexico, Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, and Los Olivos and Napa Valley in California.