Sister hotel to the Santa Maria Novella and the L’Orologio, the Balestri reopened in January 2015 following a complete renovation. It is located in the heart of the Santa Croce district, 400 metres from the Ponte Vecchio and close to the Uffizi Gallery.
The views from the rooms at the front are exceptional, particularly at night, and take in the river, Piazzale Michelangelo and the hills of San Leonardo. The 50 bedrooms are decorated in a simple contemporary style with dark oak floors and comfortable beds – rooms on the fifth floor are decorated in a more glamorous style and share a roof terrace with wonderful city views. Our prices are based on rooms with Arno views. An excellent breakfast is served in a ground floor room with tall, arched windows overlooking the river.
Speak to an Italy specialist
Contact our expert team for first-hand advice and a tailor-made quotation.
Pat Bellieni
Senior Reservations Consultant
Recommended by the Kirker Concierge
Exhibition
14 March 2026 - 23 August 2026
Palazzo Strozzi
Rothko in Florence
Mark Rothko (1903-1970) was the undisputed master of American modern art. He rose to prominence for his distinctive abstract canvases which feature large swathes of bold colours in irregular blocks.
Short Break
Locanda Del Molino
Tuscany, Italy
Located in the countryside outside Cortona, Locanda Del Molino is an authentic converted inn with a rustic charm and welcoming atmosphere.
Short Break
Poseidon
Positano, Italy
superior
Built into the hillside of Positano, the family-run Poseidon is an extremely comfortable and stylish hotel. The relaxing atmosphere and charming staff make this one of our favourite hotels on the Amalfi Coast.
Short Break
Grand Hotel Sitea
Turin, Italy
superior
Opened in 1925, this traditional 4 star hotel is located in the historical centre, a few minutes from the via Roma and close to Piazza San Carlo and Piazza Castello.
Short Break
Imperial Tramontano
Sorrento, Italy
superior
The Imperial Tramontano has been welcoming guests since 1812 and enjoys a great position in the centre of town, overlooking the Gulf of Naples.
Short Break
Highly Recommended
Grand Hotel Santa Maria
Santa Maria di Castellabate, Italy
The Grand Hotel Santa Maria is in the quaint village of Santa Maria di Castellabate, amongst dramatic cliffs and sandy beaches.
Short Break
The Carlton
Milan, Italy
deluxe
The latest addition to Sir Rocco Forte’s collection of Italian hotels, The Carlton opened in November 2025 after an ambitious refurbishment project.
Short Break
Antiche Mura
Sorrento, Italy
superior
Located in the heart of Sorrento and named after the ancient fortifications which once surrounded the town, the hotel is a few minutes’ walk from Piazza Tasso and a perfect base from which to explore the town and surrounding area – the Circumvesuviana train station with links to Pompeii and Naples is less than 10 minutes on foot.
Short Break
Albergo Villa Marta
Tuscany, Italy
superior
A beautifully restored 19th-century hunting lodge, Villa Marta is located in the countryside, just three miles from Lucca, and is recommended for those looking to combine sightseeing (Lucca, Pisa and Pietrasanta are all close by) with relaxation.
Short Break
Palazzo Dipinto
Lucca, Italy
superior
Opened in 2017, Palazzo Dipinto is located within the mediaeval city walls, a few steps from Piazza San Michele. Formerly a 13th-century palace, the building has been beautifully converted into a stylish hotel offering contemporary design and excellent, personal service – Roberto Lombardi and his team are always on hand to share their knowledge of this unique and beguiling city.
Short Break
Borgo Dei Conti Resort
Umbria, Italy
deluxe
Under the same ownership of our favourite Venetian hotel, the Londra Palace, Borgo dei Conti is situated on a hilltop overlooking the beautiful Nestor Valley.
Tailor-made Holiday
Verona & Lake Garda
Verona
The charming Roman city of Verona is famous for its summer opera festival but is a fascinating destination all year round with wonderful architecture, excellent restaurants, museums, markets and boutiques.
7 night price from £2,268 pp (low season), £2,998 pp (high season)
What's Included
Tailor-made Holiday
Lake Como & Milan
Milan, Lake Como
The perfect combination of style, culture and relaxation, Milan and dramatic Lake Como make for a classic two-centre holiday.
7 night price from £2,498 per person
What's Included
Tailor-made Holiday
The Sicilian Quartet: Palermo, Agrigento, Syracuse and Taormina
Palermo, Agrigento, Syracuse, Taormina
In Palermo, the island’s capital, you will have time to explore medieval streets and perhaps catch a performance at the magnificent opera house before heading south.
9 night price from £2,498 pp (low season), £3,246 pp (high season)
What's Included
Tailor-made Holiday
Tuscan Coast & Countryside
Tuscany
The unspoilt coastline of southern Tuscany offers sandy beaches, Etruscan ruins and picturesque villages. Head inland and you will discover the essence of Tuscany - vineyards, sweeping views and historic hill towns.
7 night price from £1,648 pp low season & £2,296 pp
What's Included
Tailor-made Holiday
Classical Italy: Rome, Naples & Pompeii
Rome, Naples
Uncover the fascinating history of the Roman Empire from the Roman Forum and the Pantheon to the Bay of Naples and the well-preserved ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
7 night price from £2,055 per person
What's Included
Tailor-made Holiday
Basilicata: Matera & Maratea
Matera, Maratea
Despite its wonderful unspoiled landscapes and fascinating ancient history, Basilicata remains one of the most undiscovered and authentic regions of Italy.
7 night price from £1,498 pp low season, £1,986 pp high season
What's Included
Tailor-made Holiday
Orta & Maggiore
Lake Orta, Lake Maggiore
Tiny in comparison to Como and Maggiore to the east, Lake Orta remains perhaps the most picturesque and unspoilt of the Italian Lakes.
7 night price from £2,598 pp low season, £3,096 pp high season
What's Included
Tailor-made Holiday
Perugia & The Umbria Countryside
Perugia, Umbria
The fascinating yet little visited city of Perugia is the capital of Umbria and a major centre of medieval art. You will discover vast Etruscan city walls, countless historic buildings, grand piazzas and picturesque streets from your central base,the Brufani Palace.
7 night price from £1,268 pp low season, £1,698 pp high season
What's Included
Tailor-made Holiday
The Italian Riviera: Genoa & The Cinque Terre
Genoa
Venice’s main Mediterranean rival for centuries, Genoa is a fascinating historic city, located on the Ligurian Riviera.
7 night price from £2,109 per person
What's Included
Tailor-made Holiday
Puglia - The Heel of Italy: Matera, Locorotondo & Lecce
Matera, Locorotondo, Lecce
With private car transfers throughout, this itinerary combines unique Matera, just across the border in Basilicata, with two of Puglia’s most beautiful towns.
10 night price from £1,998 pp (low season), £2,996 pp (high season)
What's Included
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
The Cuisine of Puglia with Sophie Grigson
Central Puglia
Every region of Italy has a distinct and fiercely proud local cuisine, but none is such an abundant source of fresh produce as Puglia – from the freshly caught fish of the Adriatic and Ionian seas, to durum wheat for the celebrated local pasta, sun-ripened vegetables and specialities including caciocavallo cheese and the famous burrata.
What's Included
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
Padua & Palladian Villas
Padua
One of the world’s oldest university cities, Padua is an elegant city which has nurtured students from Galileo and Copernicus to the present day.
5 nights price from £2569 per person
Departs: 14 Jun 2027, 20 Sep 2027
What's Included
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
Villas & Gardens Around Rome
Rome
Italy not only has many of the greatest 16th and 17th century gardens in Europe, it also has some which have been extensively restored and indeed created in the 20th century. We visit two of these at Ninfa and La Landriana.
5 nights price from £2645 per person
Departs: 12 Oct 2026
What's Included
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
The Italian Lakes - Gardens & Villas of Lakes Como & Maggiore
Lake Como
One has to go far to find a more perfect and peaceful landscape than the shores of Lake Como, where this tour is based. Tranquil, serene and timeless, the mountains that fringe the crystal waters provide a dramatic backdrop, as do the countless pristine villas that stretch up the hillsides from the lake shores.
5 nights price from £0 per person
Departs: 26 Apr 2027
What's Included
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
Roman Cuisine with Valentina Harris
Rome
Chef, writer and broadcaster Valentina Harris grew up and learned her cooking skills in Rome, a city which has an extraordinary culinary tradition dating back two millennia. This carefully-crafted new itinerary will take you...
What's Included
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
Opera at La Scala, Milan
Milan
La Scala, Milan is, for most opera lovers, the world’s most revered and important opera house. The theatre opened in 1778 with a performance of an opera by Salieri and since then, many of the greatest Italian operas have received their first performance on its hallowed stage.
4 nights price from £2445 per person
Departs: 10 Oct 2026
What's Included
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
The Kirker Ischia Music Festival
Ischia
Travel to the beautiful and verdant island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples with a group of distinguished musicians, who play private concerts in the music room at La Mortella, former home of Sir William Walton and his wife Susana.
7 nights price from £3598 per person
Departs: 9 Oct 2026
What's Included
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
Opera at La Fenice in Venice
Venice
La Fenice in Venice is one of the world’s most historic opera houses. Inaugurated in 1792 the opera house has, like its namesake the phoenix, been destroyed by fire and rebuilt, both in 1836 and 1996.
What's Included
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
An Insider's Venice
Venice
Our new Venice tour is designed to appeal to those who are familiar with the most celebrated landmarks of La Serenissima but would like to venture further beneath the surface of the city in the company of a world-class expert.
What's Included
Cultural Tours & Music Holidays
The Rossini Festival in Pesaro
Held every summer in Pesaro, where the composer was born in 1792, the Rossini Festival has always attracted the world’s greatest bel canto singers. Marilyn Horne, Montserrat Caballe, June Anderson, Rockwell Blake, Chris Merrit and Juan Diego Florez are just a few of those who have sung in Rossini’s hometown.
What's Included
Speak to an expert - 020 7593 2288
Our expert reservations team regularly travel to a wide range of destinations to explore new cities, visit hotels and to research museums, galleries and restaurants so that we can offer the most up-to-date advice and recommendations.
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