History, romance, beauty... yes, above all, beauty! In the 13th century, poet and nobleman Guido Cavalcanti, friend of Dante Alighieru, chose the summit of one of Florence's hills to build the Tower of Bellosguardo, as a refuge and a hunting lodge. Over the centuries, it has had many proprietors, including the Medici Family, who appropriated it for their uses as a country residence outside the wal
ls of the city. In the late 15th century, it became the property of the Roti Michelozzi who restored the tower and built the lovely villa that was destined to become this splendid hotel. In 1923, Bellosguardo and the surrounding land became the property of Baroness Marion Hornstein Franchetti, and it is thanks to Giovanni Amerigo Franchetti, her grandson, that Bellosguardo has been fully restored to its original grandeur. Signor Franchetti is also responsible for creating the enchanting gardens that frame the tower and villa. Guests enter Bellosguardo through the beautifully frescoed ballroom, which serves as the reception, while the ancient limonaia is now a light-filled garden room where guests can simply relax and listen to the silence. Each of the uniquely decorated rooms is furnished with authentic, priceless antiques, inviting guests to experience not a predictable hotel environment, but rather the romance of a Renaissance villa. At Bellosguardo modern comforts have been added, including air conditioning and wifi internet, without altering the evocative atmosphere of the villa's intriguing past. The well kept gardens lead into the realm of magic. From almost every angle of this floral kingdom, there is a panoramic view of the roof tops of Florence, punctuated by Brunelleschi's Dome, Giotto's Belltower and the distinctive turret of Palazzo Vecchio, once the fortified palace of the Medici Family.