Illustrious former guests include the Hollywood elite, British royalty - from JFK to Vivienne Westwood...

It’s rare, especially in a city as magnetic as Florence, for a hotel to be a destination in itself. Yet marrying Renaissance splendour with contemporary luxury, this former medieval monastery captures the imagination.

It isn’t a stretch to say that Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel echoes Florence as a whole. Blending 14th-century artistic flair with the region’s ethereal beauty, the hotel is as inspiring as the city’s greatest cathedrals and galleries. The facade, attributed to Michelangelo, is hugged by lush woodland and terraced gardens.

Therefore it’s of little surprise to those that have visited this splendid property that its illustrious former guests include both the Hollywood elite and British royalty. From JFK to Vivienne Westwood, many have flocked to the verdant Fiesole hills, to bask in the opulence, explore the warren of rooms and corridors, and charming original features such as vaulted ceilings and worn terracotta floors, before taking in an unparalleled panorama over Florence and the Chianti hills beyond.

There is a palpable sense of Italian history at here. In 1506 Leonardo da Vinci first demonstrated his flying machine from Montececeri Park, a short journey from the front door. Around this time a community of Franciscan monks first laid the foundations for what would later become Belmond Villa San Michele. Today, there is 46 guestrooms and suites—including the private 3-bedroom Limonaia Villa.

Guests may step outside and relax in the beautifully manicured Italian gardens, tinged with the scent of orange blossom and rose, or take a walk with one of the expert gardeners. Take a dip in the pool perched on the hillside or enjoy an al fresco massage, each while taking in breathtaking views of the Arno Valley. Unleash your inner chef at the world-renowned cooking school with executive chef Alessandro Cozzolino or shake things up at our head barman’s cocktail masterclass.

You’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t sample seasonal Tuscan dishes at sunset. Watch as the skyline transforms from a tapestry of domes and turrets into a soft sea, punctuated by twinkling lights, while indulging your taste buds with an elegantly rustic menu from La Loggia restaurant to inspire the eyes and palate.