Belmond Villa San Michele in Florence: the 2026 reopening of the palace perched above Fiesole, with Guerlain spa and DoubleJ programme

Seven kilometres north of Florence, on the wooded hills of Fiesole, stands one of the most coveted Italian addresses in the Belmond portfolio: Villa San Michele. This former Franciscan monastery, founded in the 15th century, has the distinction of a facade whose design is traditionally attributed to Michelangelo, making it one of the few hotels in the world able to claim such an architectural lineage.

Like most Belmond Tuscan addresses, the villa operates on a seasonal basis, closing from November to March. The 2026 reopening brings two major new features this year: the official launch of the Villa San Michele Spa by Guerlain (an exclusive partnership announced in 2025) and an experiences programme in collaboration with DoubleJ, the fashion-lifestyle brand created by American designer J.J. Martin, based in Milan.

The original building was founded in 1411 by the Franciscan monk Antonio degli Adimari as a convent dedicated to Saint Michael. Its current facade, drawn around 1597, is traditionally attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti on the basis of Florentine archives mentioning his involvement in the project; no signed document, however, definitively confirms this authorship, a debate still lively among art historians. What is not in dispute: the Mannerist stylistic signature, the rhythm of the pilasters and the characteristic use of pietra serena typical of the master’s late works.

Secularised at the end of the 18th century and used in turn as an aristocratic residence and then a military hospital during the Second World War (Allied troops set up a command post there in 1944), the building was converted into a hotel in the 1950s. It joined the Orient-Express Hotels portfolio in 1982, which became Belmond in 2014, itself acquired by LVMH in 2019 for 3.2 billion dollars.

The hotel has 45 rooms and suites, a deliberately intimate format for a 5-star palace, which ensures a particularly high staff-to-guest ratio. Junior Suites open onto the terraced Italian gardens, Heritage Suites retain 15th-century features (frescoes, parquet floors, vaulted ceilings) and Garden Suites have a private patio.

The most emblematic space remains the Suite Limonaia, installed in the former limonaia (lemon-tree greenhouse) of the garden, set apart from the main building and endowed with a private pool surrounded by jasmine. It is the suite booked by default by guests requiring complete discretion, from around 5,500 € per night in high season.

The main restaurant La Loggia occupies the former convent loggia, open in arcades onto the Arno valley. Its terrace offers one of Tuscany’s most spectacular panoramas: a plunging view of Florence’s historic centre with Brunelleschi’s Duomo, the Tower of Giotto and the Palazzo Vecchio in the sightline. The cuisine favours produce from the hotel’s kitchen garden (12,000 m² of permaculture vegetable and orchard garden since 2022) and local Tuscan producers.

At La Loggia, you dine facing a panorama that has probably not changed since the monks departed in the 18th century. That is what makes the address singular: Florence is contemplated from above, at a respectful distance.

Announced at the end of 2025, the exclusive partnership with Maison Guerlain comes into effect for the 2026 season. The spa, nestled within the terraced gardens, offers 5 treatment rooms (including one double), a hammam, a sauna and a wellness circuit. The menu focuses on Orchidée Impériale and Abeille Royale protocols, two Guerlain signatures. The 12-metre panoramic outdoor pool, carved into the rock and overlooking Florence, completes the offering: it is one of the most photographed hotel pools in Italy.

The other new feature of the season is the experience programme signed by DoubleJ, the fashion-lifestyle brand founded in Milan in 2015 by American editor Jodie Joy “J.J.” Martin. The partnership includes floral art workshops in the gardens, Tuscan cooking classes with local producers, guided tours of Florentine artisans’ workshops (Ponte Vecchio goldsmiths, Oltrarno marquetry makers), and a DoubleJ pop-up boutique installed in a former convent cell until October 2026.

Sources: Official website belmond.com/villa-san-michele · Belmond / LVMH Hotel Management press releases · DoubleJ Studio Milan. Official Belmond visuals. Article updated 22 May 2026 · rates and experience programming are subject to change during the season.