Villa San Michele * * * * *

GOLF COURSES

There are 2 golf courses nearby the Villa San Michele: the Ugolino Golf Club (18 holes) at 8 Kms., and the Poggio de Medici at 25 Kms.

THE SWIMMING POOL

Located on the third terrace, the swimming pool enjoys an incredible view across the Arno Valley and Firenze. The shade of the olive trees protects the lounging swimmers from the full force of the summer sun.
Reached by a winding gravel path, it is situated on a wide, grassy plateau above the gardens and is enhanced by cascading waters.

THE GYMNASIUM

A small gymnasium is available in the hotel containing weights from one to ten kilograms, two bicycles, a treadmill and a step machine.
Changing facilities include showers, toilets, hairdryers, towels, basins etc.
All equipment in the gym faces the window which allows a breathtaking view of Florence over the hotel roofs.

COOKING COURSES

From April to October, cookery enthusiasts, be they beginners or more advanced practitioners, will thus have an opportunity to discover the secrets of Italian cuisine and its various ingredients through a series of specialized lessons held by famous Chefs as well as by culinary experts from Italy and abroad. All the courses are “hands-on” lessons: the students will work directly in the kitchens alongside the experts.

THE LOGGIA BAR

The Villa's three bar serves classic cocktails, vintage liquers and light snacks.
The Loggia Bar is a popular rendezvous for evening cocktails where you can relax before or after dinner and enjoy the stunning views of Florence and the Arno Valley. From 7pm until midnight during the warmer months a pianist plays, sending gentle music floating on the evening air.

THE POOL BAR

The Pool Bar, located beside the panoramic pool, with breathtaking views from the upper terrace of the Villa's gardens is the most idyllic spot for relaxing drinks, lunch al fresco or a light snack.
Enjoy a refreshing cocktail by the pool whilst you contemplate the view.

OPTIONS IN TENNIS

If you want to play tennis, you can visit one of the 2 clubs nearby Villa San Michele: The Alle Cascine, located in Firenze centre (20 minutes by car) and with 10 courts; or the Fiesole, only 5 Kms. from the hotel.
Anyway, other tennis courts are available in Firenze.

FIRENZE... PURE RENAISSANCE
(The Villa provides a courtesy scheduled shuttle bus to Florence's shopping and historical centre)

Except for Venice, no other European city lives of its past like Firenze. After all, it was the birthplace of the Renaissance, an amazing outburst of activity from the 14th to the 16th century that completely changed the Tuscan town and the world. Under the benevolent eye (and purse) of the Medicis, Florence blossomed into an unrivaled repository of art and architectural treasures by geniuses such as Botticelli, Brunelleschi, Cellini, Donatello, Fra Angelico, Ghiberti, Giotto, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Since the 19th century, it has been visited by millions wanting to see Michelangelo's David, Botticelli's Birth of Venus, Brunelleschi's dome on the Duomo, and Giotto's campanile (bell tower).
At first glance, Florence might seem a bit foreboding. Architecturally, it's not a Gothic fantasy of lace like Venice. Many of its palazzi look like severe fortresses, a characteristic of the Medici style. (They were built, after all, to keep foreign enemies at bay.) But these facades, however uninviting, mask treasures within, drawing thousands of visitors who overrun the narrow streets.
May and September are the ideal times to visit. The worst times are the week before and including Easter, and from June until the first week of September.