VILLA CORA

In a city designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Villa Cora can more than hold its own. Situated south of the River Arno and close to the centre, this former private home is truly spectacular, from the hall of mirrors to the frescoes created by famous artists of the day. Constructed at the end of the 1860s, the grand palazzo was commissioned by one Baron Gustave Oppenheim in honour of his new bride. The rooms brim with breathtaking detail: !ne silks, rare marble, Murano glass, ceramic panelling and gilded friezes all combine in a dazzling celebration of 19th- century craftsmanship. While the marriage quickly "oundered when the Baron suspected his wife of being unfaithful, the original interiors endured and have been restored to their original perfection. If you can bear to tear yourself away, the palazzo is situated close to the Boboli Gardens, a perfectly manicured oasis on a grand scale. There’s really no need to leave, though, as the villa has its own sculpted parkland where you can appreciate more than 100 varieties of rose.

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LEFT FROM TOP The elegant facade of Villa Cora; relax in the magni cent White Room