Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

Character and identity

Set behind unassuming walls in Florence's historic centre, this Renaissance-era palace conceals one of the city's most remarkable private spaces: the 11-acre Giardino della Gherardesca, complete with a 91-foot pool, an Ionic temple, fountains and rotating art. The interiors read like a museum, with restored frescoes, bas-reliefs, stuccoes and silk wallpaper, anchored by a loggia ringed with a 15th-century frieze. Suites such as the Sangallo, Scala and Royal showcase coffered ceilings, angel frescoes and 18th-century ceramic floors. Il Palagio, under chef Paolo Lavezzini, delivers modern regional Italian cooking, and the two-storey spa overlooks the park.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The defining feature here is that garden: 11 acres of private Florence is a near-unrepeatable amenity, and the palace interiors and Il Palagio's kitchen back it up. Spend up for one of the frescoed signature suites (Sangallo, Scala or Royal) to get the full palazzo effect, and time a stay for late spring or summer when the garden, pool and outdoor dining are fully in play.