The Collegio alla Querce was once a boarding school.
Now, it offers one of the most sumptuous hotel stays in Florence.
But what I found at Collegio alla Querce is wholly different from the rest of Florence’s hotel scene.
The exterior facade and garden of Collegio alla Querce in Florence, Italy.Credit:Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection
Still, the atmosphere was lively and warm, and the staff unfailingly gracious.
Here’s what it’s like to stay at the Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection.
The Rooms
There are 83 rooms and suites at the Collegio alla Querce.
A treatment room at the Aelia Spa.Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection
I stayed in a giant 1,600-square-foot one-bedroom suite, and I loved the thoughtful design details.
During my stay, I also toured several accommodations, and I noticed a few things.
Each unit had a slightly different character while still feeling part of a unified aesthetic.
The Suite Giardino, which felt like a private apartment, featured restored frescoes and a stone fountain.
The space occupies the buildings former dining hall.
La Gamella shines brightest at dinner, though.
Elsewhere, theres an extraordinarily atmospheric lounge, Bar Bertelli, which was once the headmaster’s office.
Part library, part sitting room, it has dark woods, antique rugs, and richly patterned textiles.
During my stay, I did two of them.
We also went out on an outdoor rooftop for stunning views of Florence.
The second was a fun and educational 90-minutepasta-making classat Cicchetti with chef Zamperetti.
These contain potent, wild-foraged botanicals and olive extract sourced from Furtunas 800-acre organic farm in Sicily.
There are also accessible parking spaces in the self-parking facility and a selection of accessible guest rooms.
But there are advantages to this quiet, residential neighborhood on Florences north side.
Theres also a complimentary shuttle that leaves every hour to take guests to and from the center of Florence.
Nightly rates at theCollegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collectionstart at $1,600 per night.
A treatment room at the Aelia Spa.Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection
Design details inside Collegio alla Querce.Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection
Interior of the Conservatory and Golden Hall.Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection