Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence

Great hotel

If this review were simply decided by first impressions, then Villa San Michele (VSM) would earn 15 out of 10 stars for the approach and the views from entrance. High in the hills, 20 mins from Florence, the Tuscan valley and Florence surround you and the massive Duomo back in Florence still looks to be in reach. Alas, a good review needs more than a view and luckily, VSM has many wonderful qualities… The hotel itself is an ancient monastery. The architecture and the grounds are spectacular. The main structure which has the restaurants, living area and bar is perfectly preserved while affording all modern conveniences. Step out on to the loggia or the back lawn and the beautiful views steal the show. However, look around the spectacular gardens will also catch your eye. Take some time to walk around the property or enjoy a coffee or cocktail on the lawn. Listen to the birds as they go about their business. This place is as beautiful and tranquil as it gets. The pool area at the top of the property is another special area. It’s easy to sit by the pool, enjoy the views and spend the entire day - I think the Italians would say ‘dolce far niente’. The pool has attendants to set up your chair and bring you as much Prosecco as you need to stay hydrated while soaking up the sun. The pizza at the pool Grill is not to be missed. I should also highlight the shellfish platter that Antonio prepared for us poolside with a nice glass of Ruinart to go with it. In our case, we had reserved a ‘Superior Junior Suite with Terrace’ which was positioned overlooking the main lawn, and just under the pool terrace. We loved the location as it was easy to get to both the main structure and the pool. However, be prepared for a good cardio workout! The junior suite has a small terrace at its front with two lounge chairs and a small table and chairs for dining. The views from the terrace, looking back to Florence, are beautiful. Inside, the junior suites are large, with a king sized bed, small couch and sitting area, dining table with two chairs and an oversized bathroom. The bed and linens were very comfortable with king sized down pillows and a down comforter. Meanwhile, the bathroom is clad in marble and has two separate sinks, a large tub, enclosed toilet and the world’s largest shower . The toiletries are from Aqua di Parma. Turn down service included slippers, a bottle of water, and a soft bedside mat. I should also note that each night, we got a small gift, including a handkerchief, a bookmark, and a linen tea towel. Very thoughtful. We enjoyed our room very much. We enjoyed the main restaurant for both breakfast and dinner. We enjoyed the Grill at the pool for lunch. We also spent time on the lawn for cocktails. Food was consistently good and tasty. One stand out dish that everyone loved was the ‘casentino egg’ appetizer on the dinner menu. The gnocchi and ravioli were also very good. Overall, service at VSM was wonderful. Whether it was E