Villa Cora
An aristocratic villa, flowering gardens, and a panoramic view of Florence.
An exceptional
escape
Why choose this journey
Villa Cora is ideal for travelers who wish to experience Florence from a historic residence surrounded by greenery, rather than a conventional urban hotel. Its position above the Boboli Gardens allows it to maintain a peaceful atmosphere while remaining approximately a twenty-minute walk from the Ponte Vecchio, with a complimentary shuttle to the center. Couples will appreciate the historic salons, flowering gardens, spa, and poolside dining, while family rooms and connecting accommodations allow families to be hosted comfortably. Finally, its year-round heated outdoor pool represents an exceptional advantage in Florence, particularly after a day dedicated to museums, palaces, and historic districts.
Villa Cora occupies a sumptuous neoclassical residence built in the late 1860s on the hills of the Oltrarno, facing the Boboli Gardens. Baron Gustave Oppenheim, a member of a prominent family of German bankers, commissioned architects Pietro Comparini and Giuseppe Poggi to design it for his wife Eugenia Fenzi. The property later hosted Empress Eugénie, widow of Napoleon III, before being acquired in 1894 by Egidio Cora, to whom it owes its current name. Having become a Grand Hotel in the late 1960s, it reopened in 2010 after an extensive restoration and joined The Leading Hotels of the World in 2016.
Today, the establishment features 43 rooms and suites, including 29 rooms and 14 suites, distributed across the main villa, the Villino Eugenia, and the Le Follie annex. Each accommodation possesses a unique decor blending antique furniture, precious fabrics, parquet floors, original frescoes, and spacious marble bathrooms. The different floors develop themes inspired by Empress Eugénie, the Orient, or 1950s America. The most remarkable categories include duplex rooms, family accommodations, suites with separate living areas, and the Imperial Suite, designed as a true historic apartment that can accommodate up to four guests.
The Italianate garden brings together century-old oaks and yews, sculpted hedges, and over a hundred varieties of French, British, and ancient roses. At the heart of this environment is a heated outdoor pool, maintained at approximately 26°C and accessible year-round—a particularly rare amenity in Florence. Connected to the villa by an underground passage, Spa BENè includes a tepidarium, a sauna, a steam bath, a jacuzzi, and three treatment rooms, including one for couples. Treatments notably feature Natura Bissé products, while a fitness room allows for training alone or with a personal coach.
Dining is led by Executive Chef Alessandro Liberatore, who offers a contemporary interpretation of Tuscan and Italian cuisine using local and seasonal products. Le Bistrot restaurant is located by the pool during the summer, then moves in winter to the spectacular Moorish room with its frescoed ceilings. The Santa Garden Cocktail Club accompanies the warmer months with signature cocktails and evenings in the park, while the Bellevue Roof Terrace offers a panoramic view of Florence from a terrace of over 150 m². Il Salotto del Santa completes the offering for afternoon tea, aperitivo, or a nightcap. Villa Cora also holds two Michelin Keys, a distinction awarded to stays considered exceptional.
Unforgettable moments
- Aristocratic villa built in the late 1860s
- Architecture by Pietro Comparini and Giuseppe Poggi
- Historic halls adorned with frescoes and marble
- 43 individually decorated rooms and suites
- Imperial Suite located within the historic apartments
- Italianate gardens planted with ancient roses
- Heated outdoor pool accessible year-round
- Spa BENè with tepidarium, sauna, and steam bath
- Le Bistrot restaurant led by Alessandro Liberatore
- Bellevue Roof Terrace with views over Florence
- Two Michelin Keys
- Member of The Leading Hotels of the World
Journey in pictures
