Villa La Vedetta

The former private home of the Florentine Grassi family, Villa la Vedetta combines beautifully restored, Renaissance-era architecture with interiors that feel more like those of an opulent home than a hotel. Rooms and suites are divided between the main villa and smaller Villetta Romantica, both of which are elegant and understated, in white stone with grayish shutters and clay tile roofs. The grounds are pristine, with bright green lawns and neatly kept hedges, some leafy trees around the perimeter, and romantic vines crawling up the main building's front balcony. The property's private parkland rolls down toward the Arno River, while the outdoor pool (open seasonally) and spacious rooftop terrace offer glorious panoramic views of Florence -- including the nearby Piazzale Michelangelo, Duomo, and Palazzo Vecchio. Cocktails and aperitivo are available poolside and on the roof, so guests can fully relax and absorb the stunning scenery. Inside, the hotel feels quite different from some other historic properties in Florence, with a decidedly modern approach to decor. The colorful silks, slick marble, and touches of snakeskin, onyx, and plexiglass combine for a style that's a touch edgy, and anything but fussy. The lobby resembles the sort of living room one would expect to find in a private, modern-day villa, with fuchsia velvet couches, plush black rugs, abstract art, and built-in bookshelves surrounding a flat-screen TV. Guests are often couples, as the setting is certainly dreamy and romantic; it's tough to imagine more breathtaking views of the city. 

Perched above Florence, the property is just a quarter-mile from Piazzale Michelangelo and a 20-minute walk from the Ponte Vecchio, the bridge crossing the Arno River into Florence. The hotel offers a free shuttle throughout the day for those who'd prefer to avoid the trek -- about a 15-minute drive that culminates near the bridge. Most sights -- including the Palazzo Vecchio, Duomo, and Church of Santa Croce -- are within a 20- to 30-minute walk or 10- to 15-minute drive. Florence Airport is about 20 minutes away by car. 

Villa la Vedetta offers 11 rooms and seven suites, spread between two buildings. The standard Romantic rooms have garden views, while some Grand Deluxe rooms and Deluxe Suites have city views. Decor throughout is understated but luxe, with parquet wood floors, colorful silk and/or velvet upholstery, padded headboards, crocodile bedside tables, crystal-topped antique wood desks, and marble and mosaic-tile bathrooms -- most with shower/tub combos with whirlpool tubs, and all with Ortigia branded products. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, CD stereos, and stocked minibars. Deluxe Suites have living rooms with sofabeds, walk-in closets, and sitting areas with cozy armchairs. The two-level Bellavista Suite is equipped with two picture windows offering beautiful panoramic city views, along with a study, living room, and two bathrooms with jetted tubs. 

The daily breakfast buffet -- included with most room rates -- is served in a tented room or on the adjacent roof terrace with Duomo views, and gets high marks from guests. Afternoon tea time includes cookies. The Onice Restaurant serves creative takes on classic Florentine cuisine for lunch and dinner, along with a wine list that's heavy on Tuscan reds. The bar is intimate and artsy, with silk settees, a barrel vault ceiling, and an onyx bar topped with giant decorative gemstones. Guests can also have cocktails and appetizers at the outdoor pool -- which has an attached, very large hot tub -- or up on the rooftop terrace while taking in the views. There's a meeting room with space for up to 50 people, and the property hosts weddings and private events, including in a lovely gazebo. Private parking and Wi-Fi are free, as is the shuttle to the city. There's a tiny gym with a couple of cardio machines, as well as a sauna.