I travelled on the privately owned ITALO train from Milan in Prima Class, which was a very comfortable experience and included a delicious sandwich and refreshments. I arrived at Florence Station and was met by my Kirker driver who then transferred me in a very smart vehicle, to Villa La Massa, located 20 minutes away. I didn’t know what to expect as I had never had a previous opportunity to see this unique property. We stopped at the main gates off a quiet road and as we turned inside the full splendour of the Villa came into view. I was greeted with a very warm welcome and offered a refreshment before being escorted to my room. The main Villa itself dates back to the 13th Century and is located on the banks of the Arno and is the sister hotel of the Villa d’Este on Lake Como. The hotel is made up of 6 buildings, set around 25 acres. The surrounding Tuscan countryside and hills also adds to the feeling of space. Each building has its own character, and some rooms and suites have their own private balconies or terraces. My room was on the corner of the main Villa and had two very tall windows, with views to the Arno and the surrounding countryside. This led to a very peaceful night’s sleep, a far cry from London.
The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle during the day to the centre of Florence, and thanks to the assistance of the Kirker Concierge, I was able to pre book my entrance tickets to the Uffizi and the Accademia. Even in the off Season the city remains very busy, so it was great to avoid the queues with pre-booked tickets. I was also fortunate enough to embark on a half-day guided tour discovering the treasures of the Uffizi concentrating on a personal selection of Renaissance Paintings. My accompanying private guide was invaluable in appreciating the renaissance jewel of Florence, showing me to monuments in unknown corners of Florence and places I hadn’t experienced on my previous visits. My personal highlight was visiting a small ‘local’ Café for the afternoon Caffeine fix (affogato with homemade ice cream), which was delightful.
Following the crowds of the city, I really appreciated the serenity and location of the Villa La Massa, needless to say how much I enjoyed having access to a pool, so close to such an important city. The food was absolutely out of this world and I thoroughly enjoyed having a half day cooking instruction, with both the Head Chef Stefano Ballarino and Executive Chef Lorenzo. I can highly recommend this to anyone staying here. We matched our two-course lunch, with the hotel’s Sommelier’s selection of local wines and thanks to the beautifully warm weather, we had lunch adjacent to the pool – just idyllic! The service, the comfort really lead to a truly memorable stay.
