The Place
Everybody has heard of the hillside of Fiesole, north of Florence, site of the original Etruscan settlement in the area. Less well known, on the southern edge of the city, is the hill of Bellosguardo (‘lovely view’ in Italian), more discreet in atmosphere and without a busy town to attract trippers. What will draw visitors, however, is this fine hotel.
It is close enough for easy access to Florence but far away enough to guarantee enjoyment of Tuscany’s countryside without any disturbances. As the name suggests, a tower stands at the heart of this 16thC villa, built originally for defence and then surrounded by the trappings of civilization as time passed by.
Extraordinary care has been taken to restore the buildings to their former glory after years of abuse as a school in the post-war period. Spacious rooms with painted wood or vaulted ceilings, frescoed walls and antiques appropriate to the setting create an atmosphere of character and distinction.
No two bedrooms are alike and we saw only one that we thought less than very good. An underground garage has been recently built.