Auberge Resorts Collection has been appointed by Leeu Collection to manage Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection in Florence, Italy.

Set to open in 2023, the resort will stretch across pristine gardens on a rolling hill on the northside of Florence’s historic city centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Leeu Collection operates three five-star boutique properties with spas in South Africa, as well as a country retreat in England’s Lake District. The group is founded by Analjit Singh – the father of Veer Singh who owns the Vana destination spa in India.

Anjalit Singh said: “The approach taken by Auberge Resorts is very much in keeping with the Leeu ethos of crafting unrivalled luxury escapes that work with and promote the finest partners in the locality. This collaboration, therefore, feels like a natural fit and we look forward to working with them to build a sensational destination.”

A former cultural institution and boarding school turned luxury hotel, Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection will encompass three adjacent 16th-century buildings, including an original chapel and theatre.

Similar to other Leeu properties, the resort will feature a rejuvenating spa offering four treatment rooms – each with its own sauna and steamroom. Guests will also have access to an outdoor swimming pool and fitness centre.

Spanish father-son architect group Esteva i Esteva has been enlisted to preserve the structures’ original character while propelling the hotel into a new era of contemporary style.

Local Florentine interior designers, ArchFlorence, will bring Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection to life with interiors that combine High Renaissance art with modern Italian design.

Upon completion, the Renaissance-era destination will be reborn as an 82-room hotel,
set amongst lush surroundings with expansive lawns and five levels of terraced Baroque gardens.

Additional facilities will include a dedicated wine tasting room, art gallery, curated boutique and an on-site enoteca offering tastings of fine Italian wine.

Dining options will comprise a destination restaurant, a glass-enclosed garden room set amongst olive trees for daytime dining, a sophisticated bar and cigar lounge set in the former academic admissions office and an outdoor pool bar.

For meetings and celebrations, a dedicated meeting room will be complemented by the theatre and chapel, which will double as space for events, art installations and workshops.

Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Resorts Collection will be Auberge Resorts' second property in Europe, joining its Greek destination.

This year, the brand will expand and open seven further hotels across Mexico, Costa Rica, New Mexico, Virginia and California.