Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection is now accepting reservations from March 2, 2025.

The brand’s first property in Italy is located in Florence in a 16^th-century former educational institution comprising three adjacent Renaissance-era historical buildings. 

The hotel is located on a hillside above Florence’s historic town centre and features 66 guest and estate rooms and 16 suites designed by local Florentine firm Arch Florence. Interiors combine high Renaissance art with modern Italian design, including hand-painted frescoes, coffered wood ceilings, contemporary furnishings and original artworks.

The top Quercia Suite forms part of the seven-bedroom, privately accessed Palazzo Moderno, which features two living rooms, two bathrooms, a butler’s kitchen and a rooftop terrace and private plunge pool.

The hotel features five dining options, including destination restaurant La Gamella; relaxed eatery The Chef’s Table; all-day venue Conservatorio; poolside restaurant and bar Café Focolare; and Bar Bertelli, situated in what was formerly the headmaster’s office.

The hotel’s spa, Aelia, features four treatment suites, including two with private pools and one with a private steam room.

Other spaces in the hotel include outdoor event lawn Terrazza dell’Arco; the private 14-seat Refettorio Private Dining Room; restored chapel La Cappella; and Il Teatro, an original theatre with a stage and wraparound balcony. 

The Piazza del Duomo, the Uffizi Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio are all a short drive away.

Auberge Resorts Collection said the announcement came at a time of “thoughtful and strategic expansion” in urban and European markets for the brand.

Auberge will open its first property in London in late 2025, with the two new properties joining existing European hotels Domaine des Etangs, Auberge Resorts Collection in France and Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection in Santorini, Greece.

President and chief executive Christian Clerc said: “We are thrilled to expand our European footprint by welcoming Florence and Collegio alla Querce into the Auberge family. Collegio alla Querce has long been a Florence icon and an integral part of the fabric of this globally beloved city. 

"We are immensely excited to transform this jewel into Europe’s finest urban resort, where locals and guests can enjoy a highly curated lifestyle experience defined by cultural and artistic enrichment, outstanding gastronomy, and unforgettable moments.” 

Rates at Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection start from €1,150 (£965).