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Villa Cora

Villa Cora

Florence, Italy

Entering Villa Cora, it’s clear that you’ve arrived somewhere special. From the ornate ceilings to the gilded chairs and beautiful mirrors, the property is really something to behold. Built in 1860 by Baron Oppenheim in lavish style, his eccentric touches can be seen throughout the hotel.

The ground floor is composed of a number of elaborate entertaining rooms, from the Moorish Salon to the former games room, which comes complete with playing card designs on the ceiling. Outside, you’ll find a patio overlooking Florence, and a charming rose garden that leads down to the pool terrace and conservatory-style restaurant.

OUR OPINION:

One of the best properties we’ve found in Florence, Villa Cora offers immaculate levels of service and sophistication. At the same time, it manages to be extremely family friendly — a rare commodity in a luxurious boutique hotel of this standard.

OUR RATING: Deluxe

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Audley Travel specialist Laura

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Rooms

The elegant rooms in Villa Cora are all beautifully furnished. In the main house, rooms on the third floor feature Moorish elements in their style. On the second floor, the rooms reflect the villa’s roses in their design. There are also two separate annexes: Villa Eugenia and Le Follie, with an underground corridor that links the main building to Villa Eugenia and the spa and pool area. Each room has air-conditioning, Wi-Fi and a TV. 

Location

Villa Cora overlooks Florence on the Oltrarno side of the river, just above the Boboli Gardens. Located a little out of town, the property offers a real air of peace and tranquility. To reach the middle of Florence, it’s around a 15-minute drive, but the convenient hotel shuttle offers easy access to the heart of the city.

Food and drink

Depending on the time of year, breakfast is served in the Moorish Salon, on the patio, or in the conservatory restaurant, Le Bistrot, which has a large outdoor terrace by the swimming pool. At breakfast, choose from a selection of fresh fruit, cheeses and meats, cereal, pastries, bread and croissants, along with eggs cooked to order. In the evenings, the restaurant menu offers gourmet-style dishes, as well as simple pasta dishes and salads.

Families

Villa Cora is very family friendly — staff offer milk and cookies to children in the evenings, and a children's menu is available in the restaurant. It’s also possible to arrange interconnecting rooms or a larger family room for up to five people.

Facilities and activities

Villa Cora offers plenty of green space, along with a large swimming pool and terrace area in the gardens. There's also an underground spa with a small gym, tepidarium, sauna, and hammam, along with three private treatment rooms.

Accessibility

The property offers one wheelchair-accessible room, and rooms better suited for those with mobility issues can also be requested.

Tour ideas in Florence

Our itineraries are there to spark ideas for how you could include a stay at Villa Cora as part of your trip. Treat them simply as suggestions, because every aspect of the trip we create for you will be yours to define.

Location & places nearby

Places & hotels on the map

    Alternative places to stay nearby

    Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favorite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can't be bettered.

    Experiences while staying here

    The following activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences of the area where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can also suggest outdoor pursuits and activities, such as cooking classes, that will introduce you to the traditions of the area's inhabitants.

    • Accademia and Uffizi Galleries walking tour
      Michelangelo's 'David', Florence

      Accademia and Uffizi Galleries walking tour

      Accademia and Uffizi Galleries walking tour

      A full day guided walking tour around the highlights of Florence including the Santa Croce Basilica and the incredible Renaissance artwork of the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries.

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    • Siena and San Gimignano tour with Tuscan farmhouse lunch
      Views over San Gimignano

      Siena and San Gimignano tour with Tuscan farmhouse lunch

      Siena and San Gimignano tour with Tuscan farmhouse lunch

      Visit the beautiful medieval city of Siena before stopping in the countryside for a traditional Tuscan farmhouse lunch, followed by a visit to the hilltop town of San Gimignano.

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    • Truffle hunting and tasting lunch
      Fresh truffles, Italy

      Truffle hunting and tasting lunch

      Truffle hunting and tasting lunch

      A wonderful opportunity to visit a family truffle business, learn about the production process, go on a truffle hunt and enjoy a tasting lunch.

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    Florence and nearby places