Artful Escapes: Collegio alla Querce
The Florence property marks the first Auberge Resorts Collection hotel in Italy
With its centuries of history and phenomenal rooftop views, Florence can feel like a city made entirely of postcard-worthy vistas. Nowhere delivers a more breathtaking view of both the magnificent cupola atop the Duomo and the rolling hills of Tuscany than Collegio alla Querce, the first Auberge Resorts Collection hotel in Italy. Located in the northern district of Le Cure just a leisurely 30-minute walk from the city’s center, the 16th-century property provides a close-enough-yet-far-enough respite from the hallowed tourist destinations nearby.
Drawing inspiration from the building’s notable 100-year history as a boarding school, Spanish architectural firm Esteva i Esteva and Florentine designers ArchFlorence collaborated on interiors that speak to the past while infusing the 83-room hotel with a fresh aesthetic. Hand-painted murals by local artisans adorn the walls as do original frescoes that accent the architecture’s soaring arches and wood-coffered ceilings, while custom furniture by Paolo Castelli and ceramics by Studio Ceramico Giusti nod to decidedly more contemporary Italian design.
Throughout the property, there are also winks to the location’s scholastic past—the restaurant La Gamella is named after the Italian word for “lunch box,” and Bar Bertelli is located in the former principal’s office, complete with a frieze lined with portraits of former top students. Together, all the elements combine in an experience deserving of top marks.
A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2025 Summer Issue in the section “Artful Escapes.” Subscribe to the magazine.