Villa La Massa

At the tail end of the summer we decided to try Villa La Massa some 10 kilometres or so outside Florence as an alternative to staying in the frenetic centre of town. Although the suburbs of Florence would not rank high on anyones list of 'must sees', the hotel itself is a beautiful Medici era villa set in well maintained gardens on the banks of the Arno. The restaurant serves some of the best food in Italy and manages to provide that rare combination of first class local ingredients cooked with great care and attention. The location by the river makes a perfect setting for alfresco dining particularly if you want to avoid the oppressive heat . If staying we would suggest booking a room in the main building away from the noise and bustle of the stable wing that houses the kitchen. Although not cheap the Villa really does reflect Italy at its best.