After a three year wait, the Whythebest Hotels group has reopened the Grand Hotel Villa Cora in Florence. Villa Cora is considered one of the most prestigious symbols of the city, in the past inspiring emperors, princes, Pashas and major artists such as Čajkovskij. Three years of restorations were done in order to bring back to light its artistic and architectural masterpieces, integrating them with new generation comforts—such as a SPA, gym, swimming pool and two restaurants—all surrounded by a park on the hills in the center of Florence.
Ready now for bookings, rooms start at 250EUR or 330USD for a classic room. Reservations can be made on the hotel’s site http://www.whythebesthotels.com/en/index.php.
THE GRAND HOTEL VILLA CORA
The Grand Hotel is made up of three luxurious structures: the Main Villa, Villino Eugenia, and La Follie.
In the Main Villa 30 suites and rooms are divided into four floors, each with its own style. The decorations are inspired by famous guests who have stayed there through the years, such as the Japanese emperor Hirohito, to whom the imperial suite is dedicated to.
The styling of the 14 rooms of Villino Eugenia draws inspiration from different artistic and cultural traditions of the past.
Lastly, La Follie is a small guesthouse with only two rooms situated at the park border creating total privacy for its guests.
Located within the Grand Hotel is a SPA with a tepidarium, hydro massage, sauna, hammam, small gym, and a beauty and wellness center. The products used in the wellness center are the result of collaboration with the cosmetic pharmaceutical company MacPharma, resulting in an exclusive product line. Another gem of the Grand Hotel is the heated outdoor swimming pool that overlooks the Boboli Gardens.
The hotel is home to two restaurants. The first of the two is found in a luminous garden (Open May to October) while the second restaurant is located in the Villa’s ancient cellars. The décor in the cellar is inspired by the oriental influence left by Pasha Isma’il, who lived in the villa between the 19th and 20th centuries. The dishes offered at the restaurants are refined revisions of Tuscan cuisine as well as a menu for the health-conscious based on the programs at the wellness center. Adjacent to the restaurant, guests will find a well-stocked cigar room.
The common areas are located in the beautiful rooms on the ground floor of the main Villa and have been restored to their historic splendor utilizing original items such as the magnificent decorations of the Cards Room and the Moresque Room that are ideal for meetings and dinners, the original decorations of the bar in the Ceramics Room, and the baroque luxury of the Mirror Room.
Commissioned by Baron Oppenheim in the second half of the XIX century, Villa Cora was one of the main symbols of elegance and aristocracy in the city. At the time the city was the capital of the Kingdom of Italy and considered the most beautiful residence in Florence.
