Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, FlorencevsRiva Lofts Florence
Both properties are praised by writers. On balance, Riva Lofts Florence ranks slightly higher than Belmond Villa San Michele. Riva Lofts Florence ranks #18 in Florence with approval from 8 reviewers including The Telegraph, Travel + Leisure and Jetsetter.
Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence
Via Doccia 4, 50014 Fiesole
From $534/night
- Bar/Lounge
- Free Internet
- Room Service
- Free Breakfast
- Shuttle Bus
- Laundry Service
Michelin Guide
"Relax in the tranquil grounds of this elegant 15C building and enjoy the superb views of the city below."
Fodor's
"The cypress-lined driveway provides an elegant preamble to this incredibly gorgeous (and very expensive) hotel nestled in the hills of Fiesole." Full review
DK Eyewitness
"Once a monastery, the design of this hotel’s façade is attributed to Michelangelo."
Condé Nast Traveler
""You cannot beat the ambience" at this former monastery on a cliffside amid trees and terraced gardens just outside Florence." Full review
Afar Magazine
"The hotel’s expansive rooms are already decked out in the most tasteful, almost understated interpretation of Renaissance luxury." Full review
Travel + Leisure
"From its hillside perch just below the village of Fiesole, a northern suburb of Florence, the Villa San Michele overlooks the wide sprawl of the city." Full review
The Telegraph
9.0
"Villa San Michele — one of Florence’s most expensive hotels — is housed in an ancient former monastery, and combines Renaissance atmosphere with 21st-century comforts galore." Full review
Hideaway Report
96.0
"Sumptuously restored hilltop hotel (15 minutes by shuttle from city center) housed by a 15th-century Franciscan monastery commanding a glorious panoramic view of Florence." Full review
Independent
"This luxury hotel really knows how to look after its guests. It combines a historical atmosphere with 21st-century comforts; think rooms with rich fabrics and marble bathrooms."
Best hotels in Florence 2023: Where to stay for culture and comfort
February 17, 2023
Michelin Guide
"Carved chests, austerely shaped chairs, glazed terracotta floors. None of that clutter that you find in your run-of-the-mill 18th-century palace hotel. The decor, in fact, almost looks minimalist." Full review
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Please note: Hotel Villa San Michele is a seasonal property open annually from the end of March through November.
Riva Lofts Florence Show All Reviews
Via Baccio Bandinelli 98, 50142 Florence
From $81/night
- Pet Friendly
- Bar/Lounge
- Free Internet
- Room Service
- Free Breakfast
- Laundry Service
Concierge
"This former factory on the southern bank of the Arno was Nardi's private studio until he decided to turn it into one of Italy's most original design hotels."
Travel + Leisure
"Take a Tuscan country house that just happens to be at the gates of Florence, renovate it with post-modern minimalist chic into eight studio apartments, and you have Riva Lofts." Full review
DK Eyewitness
"This collection of self-contained suites overlooks the river on one side and the Cascine park on the other."
Condé Nast Traveler
"Designed by Florentine architect Claudio Nardi, this striking eight-room property... is a fresh counterpart to the city’s more prevalent traditional design." Full review
The Telegraph
7.0
"A hip, laid-back home-from-home with a house-party feel and a location that is as off-beat as the hotel itself." Full review
Jetsetter
"Former artisan workshop turned meticulously designed nine-room hotel downstream from central Florence." Full review
Mr & Mrs Smith
"Part rustic bed and breakfast, part architect’s dream, Riva Lofts hotel is a welcoming rural property just 15 minutes from downtown Florence." Full review
Afar Magazine
"The studio, just 15 minutes outside Florence, now doubles as a relaxed guesthouse and collection of lofts." Full review
Travel + Leisure
"This urban retreat, where staircases seem to float midair, soothing creams pair with mid-century furniture...the intimate garden and pool are a haven from the city"
Florence Travel Guide
July 7, 2021
Frommer's
"The traditional Florentine alarm call—a morning mix of traffic and tourism—is replaced by birdsong when you awake in one of the stylish rooms here, on the banks of the River Arno." Full review