Picolo recommends · Hotel in Florence, Tuscany
Villa Cora
Under painted ceilings and mirrored walls, the city noise gives way to birdsong in a garden with a heated pool and a view.
Viale Machiavelli is a wide avenue that climbs the slope behind the Boboli Gardens on its way to Piazzale Michelangelo. Villa Cora stands along it, a grand villa with a garden of its own and a heated pool looking out over the hillside.
Inside are frescoed ceilings, mirrored salons and a bar set in what was once the library. When you want the city, guests can ride the hotel shuttle down into town.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose Villa Cora
We chose Villa Cora as our romantic pick. It suits couples who want a retreat to come back to after a day of churches and galleries, and families who need a pool to keep everyone happy.
You pay for the calm with a hill. Porta Romana and the Pitti Palace are around fifteen minutes downhill on foot, and the walk back up at night is a climb, so it is awkward if you like a midday break in your room.
What you get
- Heated pool with a view
- Quiet garden
- Bar in the former library
- Shuttle to the city centre
- Frescoed ceilings and mirrored salons
A day at Villa Cora
- Morning
- A swim in the heated pool before the city warms up.
- Midday
- Take the shuttle down and walk through the Boboli Gardens.
- Afternoon
- The Pitti Palace, then back up the hill for a rest.
- Evening
- A drink in the library bar before sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo up the road.
Location
Viale Machiavelli, Oltrarno, Florence, Italy
Open in MapsQuestions about Villa Cora
Does Villa Cora have a pool?
Yes. A heated pool sits in the garden, looking out across the hillside, which makes the villa a good pick for families and summer stays.
How do you get from Villa Cora to the centre of Florence?
The hotel offers guests a shuttle down to the centre. On foot it is roughly a quarter of an hour downhill to Porta Romana and the Pitti Palace.
Is Villa Cora good for a romantic trip?
Yes. With frescoes, mirrored salons, a library bar and a quiet garden, it is our romantic pick in Florence, best for couples who want calm after the city.
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Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
How Picolo chooses
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