Auberge Resorts Collection has announced that reservations are now open for Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection, its highly anticipated Italian flagship property and spa located in Florence.

Slated for a March 2025 debut, the 83-room luxury hotel will be nestled amid lush gardens on a rolling hillside in northern Florence, offering sweeping views of the city and its iconic Duomo di Firenze.

Once a prestigious cultural institution and boarding school, the property has been reimagined as a luxurious retreat, spread across three interconnected 16th-century buildings. These include a historic chapel, a theatre, two fine-dining restaurants, a bar housed in the former headmaster’s office, and Aelia, an exclusive Auberge-branded spa.

According to Auberge, Aelia will be a sanctuary of replenishment and holistic wellbeing, with a focus on longevity and experiential therapies.

Guests will be able to enjoy private wellness suites — including one designed for couples, complete with a plunge pool — and two relaxation areas: a spa terrace and the L’Oliveta garden hideaway.

A modern fitness centre, weekly wellness programming and a large outdoor pool shaded by oak trees will enhance the offering.

Healing space

Rooted in Italy’s rich cultural and natural heritage, the spa will combine local rituals with aromatic healing practices that reflect the essence of Tuscany.

Treatments will be personalised by practitioners, ranging from therapeutic traditions inspired by the region to restorative infusions sourced from organic gardens and olive groves.

Vivianne Garcia-Tunon, global vice president of wellbeing at Auberge, said: “Set in the Tuscan hills, this storied 16th-century property – a refined country estate reimagined as a contemporary hotel, combining high Renaissance art with modern Italian design – will offer a serene setting for relaxation, as well as a vibrant social atmosphere for connecting with family and friends.

“As part of the retreat, guests will experience Aelia, an Auberge Spa, a private wellness destination inspired by the sun's nourishing properties, featuring programmes inspired by the property’s vines, grove, gardens and spirit.”

The architectural restoration of the estate is being led by Spanish father-son design duo, Esteva i Esteva, who are preserving the original character of the structures while introducing contemporary design elements. Local firm ArchFlorence is also collaborating on the project’s interior design.

Auberge’s European expansion plansAuberge Resorts was appointed to manage Collegio alla Querce, in 2021 by Leeu Collection, a South African hospitality group that acquired the property in 2017.

Leeu Collection owns and operates several boutique hotels with spas in South Africa and England’s Lake District. The group was founded by Analjit Singh, father of Veer Singh, who created India’s renowned Vana wellness retreat, now owned by Six Senses, as of 2022.

Collegio alla Querce will be Auberge’s third European property, joining locations in Greece and France.

The brand is set to further expand its European presence with a London debut in 2025, featuring a two-floor spa inspired by Roman bathhouses.