The hillside above Florence still bears the imprint of generations of students who walked the corridors of Collegio alla Querce. Today those spaces come back to life through a restoration commissioned by Analjit Singh, owner and founder of Leeu Collection, which has preserved the sixteenth-century structure, the marble, the coffered ceilings and the terraced gardens laid out in the spirit of Medici parks.
The Transformation of Collegio alla Querce
The architectural project, by the studio Esteva i Esteva with interiors by ArchFlorence, has turned the former institute into a luxury hotel within Auberge Resorts Collection without erasing its identity. In the corridors, common areas and at Bar Bertelli, portraits of the historic “Principi degli Studi” — the school’s top pupils each year – form a small secular pantheon that restores character to the entire building.
Rooms and Suites
Rooms, suites and grand suites pick up the spirit of the estate with large windows overlooking the gardens, local materials, contemporary furnishings, original details and frescoes restored by hand. La Residenza la Quercia, part of Palazzo Moderno, keeps the layout of a private home, with a panoramic terrace and hot tub designed for guests seeking privacy and a view of the Duomo.
The Culinary Offering at Collegio alla Querce
The gastronomic side speaks Tuscan, through the personal reading of chef Nicola Zamperetti. La Gamella, set between the orangerie, the veranda and the baroque garden, serves a seasonal menu inspired by ingredients from land and sea. At its centre, the open Cicchetti kitchen, built in Florence by Officine Gullo, becomes a meeting place for guests and brigade. Poolside, Café Focolare serves pizza, raw dishes and Florentine sandwiches beneath a vine-covered pergola and, during the festive season, looks out over the Winter Wonderland, complete with an ice-skating rink.
A Break at Bar Bertelli
As evening falls, the former headmaster’s office reveals Bar Bertelli, with high ceilings and shelves of books surrounding guests. Cocktails play with contemporary techniques and spices that evoke distant places, in homage to the stories contained in the school’s old textbooks. Finger food inspired by traditional Tuscan recipes accompanies classic drinks and signature mixes, while the terrace overlooking the red rooftops of Florence is one of the most atmospheric spots for an aperitivo.
The Cultural Identity of Collegio alla Querce
In this way, Collegio alla Querce preserves the original sense of the place: a cultural institution that has become hospitality without losing the memory of the students who once lived there. A hotel that channels Florence with quiet elegance, allowing the building to keep telling its own story.
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Images courtesy Collegio alla Querce, all rights reserved
