Villa La Massa - Florence, Candeli

Villa La Massa combines authentic Tuscan style with modernity. Built in the 14th century for a member of the royal Medici family, Villa La Massa - sister hotel to Lake Como’s legendary Villa d’Este - stands proudly on the banks of the Arno River, surrounded by the Chianti hills, just 6 miles from Florence’s Ponte Vecchio. This bucolic country estate features 51 rooms, all different from one another, and decorated in the typical Tuscan style. The 25 acres of fragrant gardens are planted with olive and lemon trees that perfume the air. In the summer, the brand new outdoor swimming pool beckons you into the water for a dip on a hot afternoon. Villa La Massa may be just 20 minutes from the center of Florence, but it feels a world away. Website: www.villalamassa.com