Live Like an Aristocrat at Florence’s Villa Cora
Experience This Plush Hideaway in the Hills of the City of Lilies
It’s always a special treat to stay at a property that has a rich history which the hotel embraces, especially if that property has an aristocratic heritage. For most people, to stay within the walls of an old-world, blue-blood mansion is highly unlikely, although it can be felt and experienced at the Villa Cora in Florence.
This villa-turned-hotel sits within the hills just outside Florence and was the former residence of Baron Oppenheim. It has been host to legendary guests such as the renowned Russian composer, Tchaikovsky, as well as Princess Eugenia, wife of Napoleon III. Many consider this property as one of the most beautiful in all of Florence.
The hotel’s selection of rooms span all sizes, from classic to family, to small suites and expensive ones, and are finished in opulent old-world style with a modern twist. Expect rich, lush textures in the form of fabrics such as velvet and jacquards on throw pillows and coverlets, elegant canopy beds, and finely-decorated ceilings. But, in order to maintain a sense of contemporariness, the rooms have a sense of lightness and modernity. A perfect example of this is the decor of the Junior Suite where shades of violet, gold and cream decorate the room furnishings and sit alongside ultra-modern, yet elegant, pieces such as a sleek desk done in black lacquer.
While this property is old-world, all of the expected modern amenities are at guest’s fingertips. Villa Cora has a large, outdoor pool which is heated all year and aside from the relaxation sitting poolside brings, this particular pool is special in that it’s surrounded by more than 100 types of roses and sits under the shade of old, oak trees. A Journey favorite at this hotel is its spa and wellness center which offers Asian and European massages and features a gym, tepidarium, sauna and hammam. The real treat is the treatments in collaboration with the famous London-based facialist, Sarah Chapman. And to think, all this exists with the neverending magic of Florence just at Villa Cora’s doorstep.
