Grand Hotel Villa Cora Firenze

Grand Hotel Villa Cora is situated in extensive and meticulously kept grounds on the outskirts of Florence, on the hillside above the Boboli Gardens and near to the Piazzale Michelangelo. Villa Oppenheim, as Villa Cora was originally known, was built in the late 1860's, in the years when Florence served as capital of the newly founded republic of Italy. Legend has it that the Baron Oppenheim built the opulent mansion in honor of his beautiful young wife and it was here that the couple hosted a never-ending series of high society events attended by the Florentine aristocracy and numerous Italian and international dignitaries.

The excessive socialising eventually paid its toll on the relationship between the Oppenheim's who, after becoming the subject of much scandal and local gossip, abandoned the villa. The villa then became the Florentine residence of the one time Empress Eugenia - widow of Napoleon III. Some time later the property passed under the ownership of Egidio Cora, after whom the villa takes its present name. Egidio's son, Giuliano, was an eminent and much travelled Florentine ambassador who frequented the capitals of Europe and beyond and became a personal friend of the Ethiopian Emperor, Hailé Selassie.

The villa subsequently fell in to a period of gradual decline and eventual abandon. During this time nearly all the contents of the mansion were sold or lost so that when Villa Cora was restored and transformed in luxury hotel, new furnishings were designed based only on a few surviving original drawings of the rooms. Grand Hotel Villa Cora has 48 bedrooms and suites with panoramic views of Florence and the surrounding Tuscan hillside. A number of the rooms also have charming balconies overlooking the hotel gardens. All rooms have with double phone lines, LCD screen TV, and fast internet connection.

Guests dining at the hotel's 'Taverna Machiavelli' and 'Veranda' poolside restaurant are served excellent Florentine and Italian cuisine. Grand Hotel Villa Cora, with its secluded location, extensive grounds and sumptuous banqueting halls is a favourite venue for high profile weddings and gala events in Florence.
The hotel is one of very few in Florence to have a large outdoor swimming pool. The Foriblu urban spa is just 2 minutes away from Villa Cora and served by the hotel shuttle service.