Villa Mangiacane Luxury Hotel in Tuscany

Villa Mangiacane, a 15th century Renaissance villa built by the Machiavelli family, has been beautifully restored to house 26 luxurious rooms and suites, each unique, in two buildings. From the terraces there are breathtaking views of the Tuscan countryside and even a glimpse of Florence's Duomo dome just 7 miles away.

After a day of touring in Tuscany, the swimming pools, guest spa, and spacious grounds invite you to spend time relaxing or strolling through the vineyards and olive groves.

Villa Mangiacane has 26 individually decorated rooms and suites, each luxurious and unique. Classic rooms, superior rooms with private garden and plunge pool, and junior suites are in the Vineyard Villa along with reception, a large lounge area, and the restaurant.

The main villa houses deluxe rooms, terrace suites, and the spectacular Mangiacane Royal Suite, a huge suite with private dining area, jacuzzi, and steam room. Two terraces off the main villa have stunning views over the Tuscan countryside toward Florence. Period paintings and original Renaissance frescoes decorate the main villa's walls and there are several sitting rooms.

Wireless internet is provided free of charge throughout the villas and grounds. Each room has its own wireless source for good, fast connections.

I stayed in a very large and comfortable terrace suite with living and dining area downstairs and a bedroom loft and bathroom, elegantly decorated in marble, upstairs. Rooms were beautifully furnished with plenty of room to spread out. The living area had a couch, desk, table, and comfortable chairs (see photo). The large terrace, with fantastic views, is shared by several rooms but is divided into separate sitting areas with comfortable chairs, couches, and a large table. It was easy to make myself at home here and it's perfect for a long stay as it doesn't feel like you're in a claustrophobic hotel room.

I viewed several rooms and suites, each decorated in a different style with its own unique features. I would have been more than happy to stay in any of them.

One of the best things to do at Villa Mangiacane is to relax and enjoy the beautiful facilities. Guests can use the spa free of charge and spa treatments are available for a fee. There are many inviting sitting areas, both outdoors and inside. Guests can relax by the pools or on the terraces and stroll through the sculpture gardens, olive groves and vineyards.

Villa Mangiacane's spacious grounds provide ample places for privacy, even when the villa is full. There are three completely separate swimming pools - a beautifully decorated pool by the main villa (shown in the photo), an infinity pool (pool photo) and a small pool with jacuzzi in the spa (spa photo).

Villa Mangiacane is in the heart of Tuscany and is a great base for visiting Florence, Tuscan hill towns, and the Chianti wine country. The villa has a shuttle to take guests into Florence just seven miles away, making it easy to visit the magnificent Renaissance city.

Cooking classes with the villa's chef can be arranged for individuals or small groups. Classes take place in the small kitchen of the main villa. The villa estate produces its own wine and wine tastings can be arranged in the villa's cellar.

In walking distance of the villa are a small grocery store, a pizzeria, and Albergaccio Machiavelli, serving typical Tuscan food. The town of San Casciano, a short drive from the villa, has shops and restaurants.

Breakfast is an elegant array of freshly baked goods, meats and cheeses, fruit, yogurt, and cereals. All the items on the buffet are of top quality. Egg dishes can be ordered from a separate menu, too. On warm days, guests can sit outdoors on the patio of the herb garden.

The villa's small gourmet restaurant serves creative, well-prepared dishes using fresh ingredients. Several choices are on the menu for each course including fish, meat, and vegetarian fare and there are daily specials, too. My favorite part was the basket with several varieties of freshly baked rolls that was brought to the tables each night. We ate at the restaurant both nights and everything was excellent. Desserts looked good, too, although we never had enough room left to try them. The excellent wines produced on the estate are available and there's a wine list with other choices.

Villa Mangiacane offers unique luxury lodging in a magnificent setting with many on-site amenities. If you're looking for luxury lodging in Tuscany, Villa Mangiacane is an excellent choice.

More Villa Mangiacane Pictures Take a look at the villa and grounds with our Villa Mangiacane Photo Gallery.

Reservations and Contact Information:

Villa Mangiacane web site
Phone: (0039)055 829 0123
English is spoken by staff

Reservations for Villa Mangiacane can be made on Venere - book direct.

Villa Mangiacane Location:

Villa Mangiacane is 7 miles directly south of Florence in San Casciano. A car is recommended for day trips but guests can be picked up in Florence by the villa shuttle. There is a free parking area.

Final note about the villa: The name Mangiacane is derived from Magna Cane, or great dog, used to protect the villa for Machiavelli. Dialect changed the name into Mangiacane. It's said that Michaelangelo had a hand in designing the villa and that this is where Niccolò Machiavelli wrote The Prince.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.