At a Glance

• Location: Florence, Italy
• Star Rating: 5-Star
• Number of Rooms: 121
• Room Stayed: Renaissance Suite (Scale Suite)
• Dates of Stay: September, 2025
• Rates: From €1,400 per night
• Value For Money: Expensive, but justified for the scale, grounds and amenities
• Best For: Couples, families, luxury travellers wanting resort scale within a historic city
• Would I Return? Absolutely

What It Does Well

• Unmatched scale for a Florence city hotel, with 11 acres of private gardens
• Strong resort-style facilitiesExcellent staff engagement
• Historic character, with frescoes and original details throughout the common areas and select suites
• Calm, secluded setting that remains close to Florence’s main sights

Areas For Improvement

• Breakfast does not match the standard set elsewhere in the hotel
• Charging extra for the pool cabanas feels unnecessary given their size and fairly basic setup
• Check-in lacks the polish expected at this level
• The jacuzzi is not warm enough and felt in line with the temperature of the pool

First Impressions

The scale of Four Seasons Firenze is immediately striking. Set within 11 acres of private gardens, the main building, Palazzo della Gherardesca, is a restored 15th-century palazzo with original frescoes and period details that feel substantial and deeply historic rather than merely decorative. We were greeted on arrival by multiple staff members including the General Manager and Director of Rooms, and it almost felt as though they had sensed we were about to walk in. The welcome felt personal and unhurried, not rehearsed.

Setting

What makes this property genuinely unique is the combination of location and scale. You are around 15 minutes on foot from the Duomo, yet once inside the gates the city feels very far away. That contrast is difficult to find anywhere else in Florence. For families in particular it is a significant asset. Children have room to move, the grounds are beautiful and safe, and the resort feel takes some of the pressure off navigating a busy city all day.

Arrival

The property spans enough ground that it can be accessed from either side of the estate, and depending on where you pull up or which building your room is in, you may find yourself being transported by buggy through the gardens to your accommodation. It is worth knowing in advance which building you are in. The Palazzo della Gherardesca houses the grandest spaces and the main restaurants, while the Conventino building is quieter and more understated, though it has its own restaurant and breakfast is served in both buildings. Either way, you are well catered for.

Check-in itself could have been slightly more refined. We were offered welcome drinks but remained standing throughout the process, which at a property of this scale felt slightly misaligned. A seated arrival would have better matched the overall tone of the experience, though this may partly be a reflection of the Conventino building having less of a grand foyer area to work with. The warmth of the team throughout made it easy to overlook.

The Room

Room category makes a meaningful difference at Four Seasons Firenze, more so than at many comparable properties. We originally booked a Four Seasons Room but chose to upgrade on arrival, primarily to be in the main Palazzo della Gherardesca building. The suites here are in a different league, soaring ceilings, original frescoes and period details that give them a sense of history you simply cannot replicate. The lower room categories lean more into the familiar Four Seasons aesthetic, plush bedding, layered textiles, polished comfort, and are still generous in size, though the design feels more contemporary. We stayed in the Renaissance Suite, which was exceptional, expansive, beautifully proportioned and unmistakably special.

During our stay we were also shown a number of other rooms across the property, including the Royal Suite, which with its dramatic hallway is one of the most recognisable rooms on the property and worth looking up if you are curious about what the top end of the offering looks like. A small note: some suites can feel slightly sparse depending on layout, so it is worth reviewing floor plans prior to booking.

On arrival the room had been prepared with fruit and champagne, but what stood out was the chocolate replica of Michelangelo's David sitting alongside them. It is a small detail, but it speaks to a property that has clearly put real thought into its amenities rather than defaulting to the expected.

Dining

The hotel offers multiple dining venues across the estate. The food overall was of good quality without being extraordinary. Breakfast was slightly underwhelming relative to the rest of the property, perfectly acceptable but lacking the refinement or excitement you might expect at this level. Given the hotel's proximity to Florence's exceptional dining scene, it is easy and often preferable to explore outside the property for lunch and dinner, and the surrounding city more than delivers on that front. With the number of restaurants on site, there is clear room to elevate the culinary offering further.

Facilities

Facilities are one of the property's strongest suits, and a big part of what makes it work so well for families. The outdoor pool is spacious and set within the gardens, creating a true resort atmosphere in the middle of a historic city. One minor frustration is that the larger day beds come at an extra charge, which is difficult to justify given how little bigger they are than the standard loungers. The jacuzzi sits alongside the pool in the same outdoor area, though at barely warmer than the pool temperature, it does not quite deliver on what you would hope for.

The gym is exceptionally well equipped, easily among the better hotel gyms I have seen. There is also a spa with an indoor hydrotherapy area.

Service

Service throughout was excellent and the team was attentive and engaged across all departments. The General Manager made a point of interacting with guests during the stay, which always signals strong leadership and tends to filter through to the wider team. There were a couple of small oversights, no turndown gift on the first night among them, but nothing significant enough to detract from the overall standard. The staff feel genuinely proud of the property, and that comes through in how they interact with guests.

Would I Stay Again?

Absolutely. Four Seasons Firenze offers something very rare in a European city context, resort scale in the centre of Florence. For families especially, the combination of space, gardens and easy city access is difficult to find anywhere else in Florence at this level.

Final Thoughts

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze manages to feel both historic and expansive without losing its sense of intimacy. It was named 9th in The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025, and while we don’t believe these lists are infallible, its position is likely not too overstated. It may not deliver the most groundbreaking dining in the city, but it excels in scale, setting and service. For travellers wanting space and greenery without sacrificing a central location, or for anyone who wants heritage architecture and resort-quality facilities within walking distance of the Duomo, it remains one of the strongest options Florence has to offer.

If you wish to have us assist with any bookings email us at bookings@stripetravel.com or contact us here. By booking with us, you will likely receive the following additional benefits:

• Daily breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom
• Hotel Credit to be utilised during stay (Guest Rooms: USD 100, Suites USD 200)
• Upgrade of one category, based on availability at time of check-in