A true five-star gem on the banks of the Arno River outside Florence, Villa La Massa, with its gourmet restaurant on the river, swimming pool and charming cocktail bar, is the perfect address for an unforgettable stay, a romantic dinner or a fabulous Sunday brunch with a view.

With a past as a noble residence that gives it an enchanting timeless charm, the villa is part of The Leading Hotels’ of the World and, since 1998, also of the Villa d’Este group. Numerous illustrious guests have stayed here, including Gregory Peck, Winston Churchill, Elisabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, up to David Bowie and Iman who, in 1992, rented the entire villa to celebrate their wedding.

Surrounded by a 10-hectare park and magnificent Tuscan countryside, among olive trees, vines, cypresses, and scented flowers, Villa La Massa is the perfect destination to experience Florence and the Florentine Chianti area from a truly privileged position.

An architectural jewel from the Medici era located in the beautiful Chianti wine region.

The central body of the villa dates back to the 13th century, yet it was in 1525 that it became the country residence of Sante Landini, a famous publisher and member of the Florentine aristocracy. After several changes of ownership, in 1948 it was converted into a luxury hotel.

The hotel hosts Bar Mediceo, a charming cocktail bar with a terrace overlooking the river where you can have an aperitif or sip an after-dinner cocktail. Around the magnificent main building that stands out against a natural skyline of great beauty, between green hills and the majestic bends of Arno, other buildings were built later, which today house rooms, suites, and private villas, all with a privileged view of the river or the beautiful surroundings.

The furnishings, of great elegance, are a mix of past and modern and give each room a welcoming and refined atmosphere that recalls the noble homes of the past, among velvet sofas and large stone fireplaces. The large suites boast welcoming living rooms and spaces designed for relaxation, as well as large salle des bains complete with shower and bathtub overlooking the panorama.

Breakfast is a ritual to be savored slowly, admiring the flowing river and trying the à la carte delights, such as the smoothie of the day, the delicious omelets and the fragrant pancakes with berries, or the sweet and savory islands of the buffet set up in the central room of the restaurant.

Inside the central body of the villa, there is also a beautiful underground spa complete with Turkish bath, sauna, Roman tub with hydromassage, and emotional showers. In the area dedicated to beauty treatments, there are two spa suites where you can try the hotel’s exclusive cosmetic line prepared by the ancient Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella.

The structure offers two restaurants also open to the public: L’Oliveto, a bistro open for lunch with a terrace facing the pool, and the very romantic Il Verrocchio restaurant open for dinner inside the former mill of the complex and the only one in Florence to offer a terrace directly on the river. The cuisine is curated by the talented chef Stefano Ballarino who offers elegant reinterpretations of Tuscan cornerstones alongside fascinating gourmet plant-based recipes capable of conquering all palates.

The products are strictly local and all the vegetables come directly from the Villa’s garden, while the fine extra-virgin olive oil is the fruit of the estate’s lush olive groves. In this wonderful setting, the much-loved Sunday Brunch ritual also takes place, where, from 12:30 to 15:00, you can taste sweet and savory delicacies carefully studied by the Chef with the best raw materials available.

Villa La Massa is one of those timeless addresses that conquer you, not only for its undeniable beauty, but also for the spirit of an extraordinary personnel that, with love and attention to detail, does its utmost to make every moment truly unforgettable.

The Secret

Inside the estate there is a special place, the Iris Garden, where in May hundreds of irises bloom, painting the park with shades from yellow to white to an intense blue. A magnificent corner that celebrates the flower symbol of Florence and Tuscany.

Useful Info

Villa La Massa
Via della Massa 24
50012 Candeli, Firenze
Tel +39 055 62611

Rooms: from 1450 euro, breakfast included
Suites: from 4900 euro, breakfast included