Villa la Massa
Hotel Name: Villa La Massa
Number of Rooms: 54 Rooms and Suites
Location: Situated on the banks of the Arno River, just a short 4-mile drive east of Florence and overlooking the Chianti Valley
Villa La Massa is a 13th-century Medici estate just downriver from Florence that radiates historical charm. The Renaissance landmark, which consists of six historic buildings sitting on 25 acres of lush gardens, olive groves, and vineyards, has hosted both political and artistic royalty down the centuries, and in the 1990s, was acquired by Italian hospitality royalty when Lake Como’s Villa D’Este group took ownership. The individually-designed rooms blend traditional Italian architecture with opulent frescoes and period furnishings, so you feel like you’re in the country home of someone very important (who has also happens to have a great wine cellar and stunning pool.) The property, which is open seasonally from April to November, is especially gorgeous when its iris garden bursts into bloom in late spring.
What We Loved: Florence holds wonders, but you don’t need to be in the city itself to appreciate them; sometimes a little remove is just what the doctor ordered. At Villa La Massa, you really feel you’re in the countryside, with no carousels or tourists just outside your window. And we’re also obsessed with the ornate Bar Mediceo.
What We Didn’t Love: The shuttle to and from town, which takes just 15 minutes, stops running after 11PM, so if you’re staying late night or are just looking for more flexibility, have the maître d call a cab to get you home.
Right For: Traditionalists, families looking for room for the kids to run, return visitors to Florence.
Wrong For: It’s all down to personal style - if you’re a traveler who’s looking for the most sleek, modern, central option in a given destination, the spirit of meandering and riverside idyll at Villa La Massa is not going to be a fit.
Best Time to Visit: We love May, when the gardens are in full bloom; or come in the fall to coincide with the grape harvest and truffle hunting.
TLF Tip: In mid-October, the hotel hosts Villa La Massa Excellence, a three-day event dedicated to iconic Supercars manufactured between the 1990s to the present day.
