After an inspired renaissance of its own, Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection’s new resort – once a cherished educational institution – has announced it will be welcoming guests from March 2025…
Named for the historic oaks that shade its original, tiered gardens, the storied, 16th-century Collegio alla Querce property rests on a hillside above Florence’s UNESCO-celebrated Centro Storico – its historic town centre – providing unrivalled views of the architectural wonders and magical sunsets of this famed Renaissance city. Tucked down a cypress-lined street, the hotel is uniquely placed as both a timeless urban retreat and Tuscan country estate, offering locals and visitors alike a new vantage point – literally and figuratively – for appreciating the region’s cultural heritage.
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Gazing over the Duomo in its sea of terracotta rooftops, Collegio alla Querce was a centre of learning for more than 100 years. From 1774 onward, Europe’s brightest scholars flowed through its marble-lined hallways on their way to the library, theatre, and chapel, and into the beautiful grounds. Realising the vision of Analjit Singh, owner and founder of Leeu Collection, the property’s transformation into a contemporary 83-room hotel while preserving its original character has been overseen by the award-winning Esteva i Esteva, a Spanish, father-son architectural firm. Local Florentine interior designers, ArchFlorence, have brought to life the hotel’s exquisite guest rooms and suites, five dining venues including the extraordinary Bar Bertelli in the former principal’s office, and a serene Auberge Spa.
“We are thrilled to expand our European footprint by welcoming Florence and Collegio alla Querce into the Auberge family,” said Christian Clerc, President and CEO, Auberge Resorts Collection. “Collegio alla Querce has long been a Florence icon and an integral part of the fabric of this globally-beloved city. We are immensely excited to transform this jewel into Europe’s finest urban resort, where locals and guests can enjoy a highly curated lifestyle experience defined by cultural and artistic enrichment, outstanding gastronomy, and unforgettable moments.”
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When guests arrive at Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection, or return after exploring the marvels of Florence, they are welcomed into a nature-ensconced sanctuary as serene in parts as it is social in others. Expansive lawns cascade through four levels of historic terraced gardens – masterfully restored by landscape designer Franchesca Watson to their full Medici-esque glory – to the inviting swimming pool and its oak-fringed bar and restaurant. Heading indoors, the harmonious symmetry and splendid beauty of the gardens is framed by the soaring windows and reflected in the design of the 66 Guest and Estate Rooms, 16 Suites and the showstopping, 230-square-meter Quercia Suite.
Combining high Renaissance art with modern Italian design, the hotel’s spacious accommodations fuse Auberge’s one-of-a-kind design with the buildings’ original features – from hand-painted frescoes to coffered wood ceilings. Rich colours, locally sourced materials, and contemporary furnishings complement antiques and original artworks, while endless views and personal wine cellars all contribute to a true sense of la bella vita. The individually-named Suites offer gracious living and dining areas, stone bathrooms with large picture windows, and private balconies or terraces with the finest city or countryside views.
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Incorporated into the seven-bedroom, privately-accessed Palazzo Moderno or booked on its own, the signature Quercia Suite encompasses two living rooms, two bathrooms, a butler’s kitchen, and a magnificent rooftop terrace and private plunge pool.
In a city of gourmands and a region globally renowned for its wine, Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection is set to become a captivating new epicurean institution. Celebrating Tuscan ingredients from land and sea, imaginative cuisine providing a fresh perspective on time-honoured traditions can be enjoyed across five dining venues, in-room, and through inspired culinary experiences.
Spilling from the elegant orangerie onto a veranda and into the Baroque garden below, destination restaurant La Gamella presents seasonal Italian classics for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Chef’s Table at its heart is a convivial space to graze, engage with the chefs’ artistry, and learn through cooking masterclasses. It’s also perfect for an evening aperitivo. The atrium-inspired Conservatorio offers all-day dining, transitioning from a sun-filled space for morning coffee and cafe-style lunches to an intimate evening space for small plates and light, bright dinners. Designed for all-day alfresco lingering, poolside restaurant and bar, Café Focolare, serves pizzas, petit pastas, crudos, burgers, and Florence’s famed panini beneath a vine-covered trellis.
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The nightly star of the show is Bar Bertelli, once the headmaster’s office: Offered alongside hand-rolled Italian cigars, cocktails break the rules to delight the senses, accompanied by bar bites inspired by the distant lands explored in the school’s old history texts. Informing the cabinet-of-curiosities vibe of this remarkable venue, exotic memorabilia from the school’s original natural history archives and science laboratories – including an early seismograph and collection of geological treasures – feature in the décor and four prominent glass cases at the entrance.
A haven for self-care and rejuvenation, Aelia is the hotel’s serene Auberge Spa. Honouring the vineyards, olive groves and abundance of fragrant herbs that thrive in Tuscany’s fertile soil, the spa blends slow wellbeing practices with modern science, tailoring treatments to each guest’s needs for guaranteed results. Aelia’s four treatment suites – two with a private pool discreetly set within the greenery and one with a private steam room – are consummately private, each a luxurious world away from the everyday designed to optimize personal wellbeing.
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With its picture postcard views of Florence, its historic buildings, and its garden redolent of the Tuscan countryside, Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection is the perfect setting for a special event. Unique venues offer elegant spaces for every occasion indoors and out, whether a lavish wedding celebration on Terrazza dell’Arco, the outdoor event lawn, or an intimate gathering in the 14-seat Refettorio Private Dining Room to mark a personal milestone. Celebrate beneath the soaring ceilings of La Cappella, the restored chapel, or dine and dance the night away in Il Teatro, the original theatre with its opulent stage and wraparound balcony. In the gardens, elaborate grazing tables impress for social events, while at meetings in Sala Noce and Sala Alloro, a barista ensures the perfect Italian coffee. The Conservatorio’s adjacent library rooms host an art salon series and are also ideal for semi-private gatherings.
This announcement comes at an exciting time of thoughtful and strategic expansion in urban and European markets for Auberge Resorts Collection. The launch of Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection will be followed by the exciting opening of Cambridge House, Auberge Resorts Collection in Mayfair, London, in late 2025. These new properties join two existing Auberge properties in Europe, Domaine des Etangs, Auberge Resorts Collection in France and Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection in Santorini, Greece. Auberge will soon open several additional urban locations including The Shore Club, Auberge Resorts Collection in Miami Beach, The Knox, Auberge Resorts Collection in Dallas and The Hearst Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection in San Francisco.
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