Italy vacations have long been a top destination for Diego Travel clients, and with the newly opened Collegio alla Querce, an Auberge Hotel, just outside of Florence, we’ve been getting a lot of questions about the difference between Four Seasons Hotel Florence and Collegio alla Querce.  If you are undecided between which of these Four Seasons Preferred Partner and Virtuoso properties might be right for you, we are here to point you in the right direction.  In addition to helping our clients navigate the differences between these two luxury resorts, as a preferred partner, our clients received exclusive access to 

• Promos that aren’t always available online
• $100+ hotel credit with your stay
• Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
• Priority room upgrade when available
• VIP welcome amenity
• Custom Diego Travel welcome box with goodies for new clients who utilize our custom trip planning

Both Four Seasons Hotel Firenze  and Collegio alla Querce are the perfect resort-style hotels in Florence, Italy, giving a perfect sense of place to feel as though you are worlds away, but just minutes from the city center.  Both offer an authentic feel, luxury service and outdoor heated pools, expansive grounds for al fresco dining, and spaces for destination weddings and/or small group gatherings.

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze is located just a 10-minute walk from the Duomo, which is centrally located in Florence.  In other words, it’s a bit of a walk, but you do not need to take a car or shuttle to get to the city center.  Collegio alla Querce is located on a hillside overlooking the city of Florence, and requires a 10-minute taxi or shuttle.  The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle for guests that runs on a loop.  Both options are about a 10-15 minute drive to the Santa Maria Novella train station, or a 30-minute drive to the Florence international airport.

• There are 115 accommodations/rooms at Four Seasons Hotel Florence
• Rooms range from a Superior room to historical suites such as the Presidential Suite
• Four Seasons Hotel Firenze is a historical hotel from the Renaissance period, built in the 15th and 16th centuries
• Home to the largest spa and wellness center in Florence
• Activities include Four Seasons kids club, on-site personal training, cooking classes, live music and DJs, seasonal activities, art exhibitions, and more.

• There are 83 rooms and suites at Collegio alla Querce
• Rooms range from the entry-level Arcata King to the 6,258 sq ft 3-story Palazzo Moderno, a multi-bedroom private residence, perfect for privacy and family gatherings
• Also a 16th century historical building that was, until recently, an all-boys boarding school, this newly-opened hotel has been meticulously restored to be a first-class luxury hotel
• If you want to feel relaxed, as if you are in a refined yet casual Tuscan country home
• Activities include a small spa with local ingredients and a small menu of treatments that nurture the soul, access to local experiences such as after-hours at the Accademmia, and to feel worlds away from Florence, even though you are just a 10-minute shuttle bus ride away.

The history of the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze was originally built by the Medici family and was home to Pope Leo XI at one point in the 16th century.  The interior design maintains the Renaissance feel, with heavy curtains, carved wood, frescoed ceilings, heavy furniture, and a more traditional feel overall.  Because of this, I think it is a more attractive option to older clients who want his regal vibe.  It’s also a wonderful property for kids to be able to run around on the grounds, while parents might enjoy a cocktail in peace at one of their outdoor dining venues.

I personally loved the grandeur of the tiered and manicured gardens, with the large rectangular pool overlooking the front of the property, and the rooms at the back of the building with breathtaking views of the UNESCO-designated city of Florence.  Because it is brand new and the floor plan was redesigned to be a hotel with modern-day amenities, rooms and bathrooms feel more spacious than at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze.  The vibe here is young and hip, with chic interior design elements that still maintain nods to the boys boarding school throughout.  For example, in one of the bars, the wall is lined with oil portraits of former boarding school students.  So cool!

It’s ideal for large, traditional family gatherings, with special events and live music throughout the high season’s summer months.  Guests at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze range in age from their 30s to 80s, with it being a crowd favorite for multi-generational families or larger groups.  Because of the range of room options, there is something for everyone, from connecting entry level rooms to superior historical suites.  Overall, I think Four Seasons Hotel Florence is great for families both small and large, or multiple families traveling together.

Aside from families, Four Seasons Hotel Firenze is ideal for couples as well, as you can choose between accommodations at one of the two buildings on property. The spa and wellness center is second to none in Florence.  The chapel is a great place to host a private romantic dinner, or even a proposal if you’re looking for a special place in Italy to propose.

While I was one of the first guests to stay at the newly opened Collegio alla Querce, I noticed that many of the other guests were young couples in their 30s or 40s.  I feel because of the aesthetic, it will appeal to a younger crowd, but because of its pricepoint, it will maintain its exclusivity.  If you’ve been to Florence before, and you’re looking to venture into the city for some shopping or meals, but not necessarily to trek the entire city from end to end, I think this would be an ideal hotel to enjoy the grounds, with shorter stints into Florence.

We are always here to walk our clients through questions, itineraries, and custom trip planning.  If you really can’t decide which property you’ll enjoy more, it sometimes comes down to cost and we can help you navigate which is a better value for your dates.  Alternatively, you could easily spend 2 nights at each, making it an ideal 4-night stay in Florence but with two totally different experiences.  Our goal is to always match our clients to the perfect fit for your needs, and to get you the most value with our preferred partner amenities, no matter where you are staying in the world.  You can also book yourself by clicking on the link below.

A Classical Hotel in Florence, Italy

MARIA DIEGO

June 18, 2025

Built by the Medici family starting in 1473, the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze is an irreplaceable landmark in Florence’s history, and provides its guests with the incomparable opportunity to sleep in the same building which once was home to Pope Leo XI. The beautiful sprawling estate of one of Florence’s best luxury hotels, is dotted with historically significant statues, and often plays host to artist pop ups. The hotel’s 115 rooms are divided between the two buildings, Palazzo della Gherardesca, built in 1473, and Palazzo del Nero, built in the 16th century. The buildings maintain original marble, hand-painted frescos, and the original chapel located in the lobby of Palazzo della Gherardesca, which is my favorite room in the hotel, which can be rented out for a private dinner, wedding proposal or even intimate weddings. It is truly one of the most beautiful rooms I have ever seen

Perfect For: Honeymoons | Couples | Families | Anniversary Trips | Romantic Getaways | Groups | Corporate Groups | Weddings

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Any building built by the Medici family in the 15th century is irreproducible, so for starters, there is that.  Having the largest walled garden in Florence is also unique, and provides a completely different experience than other Florentine hotels.  The evening live music is also ideal for summer al fresco evenings.  Part of the pool is heated year-round, but it is a very small section.  If you prefer to have a large heated pool year-round, then I recommend Villa Cora, another option on the other side of Florence and the only property that offers a year-round heated pool. 

While all rooms at The Four Seasons Hotel Firenze are absolutely stunning, the historical suites will make you feel like royalty, stepping back in time to the Renaissance era.  The frescos and ceilings in these suites are unparalleled, and make your stays here very special and well worth the price tag. 

They have an open concept kitchen for cooking classes to learn how to make homemade pasta.  As a mom of three, I also love the Four Seasons kids club, that really can’t be beat.  Nowhere else in the city will your kids have the grounds and the kids activities that are offered here at The Four Seasons Hotel Firenze.

Rates start around €960 per night during low season in a superior room, and can go up to €30,000 per night during high season for the Presidential Suite. Our clients receive Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities, which include daily breakfast, additional resort credit (amount dependent on room category booked), and priority upgrade. Four Seasons Preferred Partners also have access to exclusive promos that aren’t available online, so always check our booking platform here. These offers are always available so long as you select the Preferred Partner rate code. For example, right now, our clients receive an additional €200 Euro hotel credit on top of the Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities.

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability

• Daily full breakfast for 2 people per bedroom, served in the restaurant or in-room dining

• $100 USD hotel credit for rooms, $200 for suites and specialty suites

• Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability

• VIP Welcome amenity

• Diego Travel welcome box with custom trip planning

A Florence Destination Resort

MARIA DIEGO

June 3, 2025

One of the most exciting new hotel openings in Europe has made its debut in Florence, and I was honored to be one of Collegio alla Querce’s first guests. Formerly a prestigious boarding school, this masterpiece of a hotel has been lovingly converted with painstaking attention to detail, and a craftsmanship that honors the building’s history while creating a modern aesthetic and elevated feel. The result is a perfect symbiosis of old-world charm with modern day luxuries. The 83 guest rooms and suites are more spacious and comfortable than your average European hotel, and the hotel size is boutique yet offers all the amenities you will find at a larger resort.

Perfect For: Honeymoons | Couples | Families | Anniversary Trips | Romantic Getaways | Groups | Corporate Groups | Weddings

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For starters, Collegio alla Querce is a unique proposition in the city of Florence for being so newly built, yet still preserving its historical roots and authenticity. It is design-forward, so if you’re an interior designer-wannabe like me, then you will love every detail. Who knew that a mulberry-colored toilet and sink could be pulled off so well, but the design team here is simply genius. I took about a thousand photos to use for inspiration of our own home design. Other hotels throughout Italy are undeniably gorgeous, with so many elements of marble and Italian baroque pieces, but they maintain more of the old world regalness, or go for a more modern Italian design that oftentimes feels dated to me. At Collegio alla Querce, the design is classical, yet feels fresh and so tastefully done. Comparable hotels to this aesthetic would be The Portrait Milano.

The resort (I’m purposely calling it resort here) is unique in that it does require a car to get in and out of Florence, but they run a shuttle on a loop, and it was easy enough to get a ride into town. We took a taxi back. To be honest, in the heat of an Italian summer, who wants to be in the busy city center anyway? I prefer to retreat back to a place where I can rest, feel as though I’m in Tuscany , and sit back with a good glass of wine and relaxing dinner.

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• Daily breakfast credit of $55 per person, for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant (credit is non-cumulative)
• $100 USD equivalent Resort or Hotel credit to be utilized during stay
• Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability

Don’t discount Italy in March and April!  Everyone loves to visit Italy in the summer and early fall, but we stayed in late March/early April, and everything was just starting to bloom.  The weather was gorgeous, the streets weren’t crowded, dining out didn’t require booking reservations months out.  I highly recommend a stay ideally in early April to take advantage of lower rates, cooler weather, and the start of a dreamy floral season in Italy.

Book a villa like Palazzo Moderno, Collegio alla Querce’s largest and most exclusive villa.  It is located across three floors with a private driveway for total privacy.  Offering 7-bedrooms, it is perfect for a large family or group.  It has its own rooftop plunge pool, stunning rooftop views, and their entire Palazzo team will curate a bespoke experience for you.