Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Italy / Florence / Villa La Massa
Villa La Massa
Florence, Italy · Independent · Grand Luxury
A Florentine noble country estate on the Arno whose origins trace to the late 13th century, converted to a luxury hotel in 1948 and now set across 22 acres of olive groves and lemon orchards in Candeli, ten kilometres east of Florence at the gateway to Chianti Rufina wine country, with a complimentary shuttle to the city.
- Opened 1948
- Neighborhood: Candeli
- Rooms from 323 sq ft (30 m²)
About Villa La Massa
- Villa La Massa began as two houses built around 1525 on the Arno at Candeli by the Landini family during the Medici era.
- The villa retains four corner towers, frescoes and a private chapel from its sixteenth-century origins before becoming a hotel in 1948.
- It earned MICHELIN Two Keys in 2025 and a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star rating for 2026.
- Entry-level rooms start at 323 sq ft (30 m²).
History
Villa La Massa is a Medici-era villa on the banks of the Arno at Candeli, just outside Florence, its origins reaching back to the sixteenth century, when the Landini family built two houses on the river around 1525. The estate passed through many hands over the centuries and retains features such as frescoes, four corner towers and a private chapel.
It was turned into a luxury hotel in 1948 and is today managed by the Villa d'Este group, offering guests a countryside retreat within reach of Florence.
The setting
Villa La Massa settles on Via della Massa, 24, in Candeli — a hamlet on the south bank of the Arno roughly ten kilometers east of Florence, at the gateway to the Chianti Rufina wine country. The estate traces its origins to the late 13th century when noble Florentine families built a country residence here; successive owners, including the Rinuccini family who remodeled it in the late 18th century, held the property until its conversion to a luxury hotel in 1948. Today, 22 acres of olive groves, lemon orchards, and Arno terraces offer pastoral seclusion, while a complimentary shuttle connects guests to Florence — the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore 38 minutes, the Basilica di Santa Croce 39 minutes by transit. 8 km from Duomo di Firenze.
Restaurants and bars
- Il Verrocchio — Restaurant
Experiences
- Wine tastings — Wine tastings are offered as part of incentive stays at the villa.
- Riverside walks — Walks along the Arno river are offered as part of incentive stays.
- Spa rituals — Spa rituals are offered as part of incentive stays at the villa.
Amenities
- Spa
- Pool
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Horseback riding
- Pet-friendly
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star (2026)
- MICHELIN Two Keys (2026)
- Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards (2025)
Open Villa La Massa in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
More hotels in Florence
- Collegio alla Querce — Auberge Resorts · Grand Luxury
- Hotel Lungarno — Lungarno Collection · Grand Luxury
- Hotel Savoy — Rocco Forte · Grand Luxury
- Portrait Firenze — Lungarno Collection · Grand Luxury
- The St. Regis Florence — St. Regis · Grand Luxury
- Four Seasons Hotel Firenze — Four Seasons · Apex Luxury