Where East meets West, in history and in landscape
An open-air museum of elegance and fine food
The home of perfume and art, and a European charm that never fades
The heart of Europe, alive with a long past and modern invention
The heart of Europe, alive with fairy-tale castles and history
Land of fjords and northern lights
Scandinavia's jewel and the nature of the north
Land of castles, lochs and Highlands
The secrets of the tsars, on a grand scale
The Ionian coast and the Ottoman stone towns
Caucasus nature and the charm of history
The cradle of civilisation, the Nile and the Red Sea
Africa's enchanting gateway, where heritage meets the modern
The green land of the Mediterranean, cradle of civilisations, home of Carthage
Arab heritage, untouched nature and the Indian Ocean
Where untouched nature meets the spirit of Asia
Cultural variety and modern cities in the heart of tropical nature
A city of the future, polished and orderly, at the heart of Asia
The legends of Ha Long Bay, Asian heritage and dramatic landscapes
A tropical retreat of quiet luxury
Land of beginnings, volcanic nature and deep African history
The Rainbow Nation: safari, mountains and ocean
Florence and Tuscany · Italy
A Renaissance palace in Florence's largest private garden
Historic palace
Palazzo della Gherardesca, built in 1473, in a 4.5-hectare garden minutes from the Duomo, with an outdoor pool and a spa.
Four Seasons Hotel Firenze occupies Palazzo della Gherardesca, built by Bartolomeo Scala in 1473 and home to noble Florentine families, which opened as a hotel in 2008. The hotel also includes the neighbouring Palazzo del Nero.
Both buildings sit in the Giardino della Gherardesca, a 4.5-hectare garden and one of the largest private gardens in Florence, once a botanical garden closed to the public. It has an outdoor pool, rare in the city centre.
There are 121 rooms and suites, and the Duomo, the Uffizi and Michelangelo's David are 10 to 15 minutes' walk away. The larger suites suit families, with sofa beds, rollaways and cribs.
Accommodation
Dining
Executive chef Paolo Lavezzini oversees three restaurants: Il Palagio for fine Italian dining, Onde for coastal cooking, and Trattoria Al Fresco for handmade pizza and grills in the garden.
Gallery
Location
Journeys
Italy · 10 days
Four stops and historic hotels in 9 nights
Our signature Italy journey: Rome from a hotel on Monte Mario, Florence from a palace with a great garden, Venice on the lagoon, then rest on Lake Como.
Italy
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