Collegio alla Querce
Via delle Forbici 21 B, 50133, Florence, Tuscany, Italy

About

"Experience pure romance and luxury at Collegio alla Querce in Italy. The perfect backdrop for honeymoons, romantic breaks, and dream weddings. Book your unforgettable experience today!"

For those who see weddings as art and architecture as poetry.

Once a revered cultural academy perched above Florence, Collegio alla Querce has been masterfully reimagined as a private estate for the modern romantic. Dating back to the 16th century, its past lingers in every vaulted ceiling, frescoed corridor, and echoing cloister — yet it breathes with contemporary ease, dressed in curated minimalism and soft, sculptural elegance.

Collegio alla Querce

Weddings here are not events. They are orchestrated chapters of a grander story — staged across three distinct worlds. Say “I do” beneath the coffered ceiling of the Renaissance-era chapel, rich with history and hushed light. Host your reception in Il Teatro, a breathtaking, restored theatre space where velvet meets grandeur. And end the night under a canopy of stars on the Terrazza dell’Arco, where Florence glows in the distance and every terrace feels suspended in time.

From elopements to multi-day affairs, everything is bespoke by design. The estate’s planners are not coordinators — they are curators — overseeing every element with an editorial eye: florals that echo the estate’s palette, lighting that softens like dusk, and menus that celebrate the rhythm of the Tuscan seasons. The in-house culinary team delivers an elevated, intuitive dining experience — whether you envision a formal seated dinner, a garden banquet, or a moonlit after-party with truffle bites and negronis.

Collegio alla Querce

Before the ceremony, guests gather in Bar Bertelli — once the headmaster’s study, now transformed into a darkly romantic lounge, all leather-bound books and candlelight. And when the night is over, they retreat to one of the 83 rooms and suites: perhaps the Santa Maria del Fiore Suite with its private terrace, or a room within Palazzo Moderno, a seven-suite residence that can be entirely privatised for the wedding party.

At Collegio alla Querce, the atmosphere does the heavy lifting. The architecture frames the emotion. And the feeling of timelessness, intention, and quiet splendour is what lingers long after the last glass of prosecco.

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More about the venue

At a Glance – Collegio alla Querce

Location: Florence, Tuscany – just 15 minutes from the historic centre
Setting: Restored 16th-century cultural academy with panoramic city views
Style: Heritage grandeur meets modern refinement — Renaissance with restraint
Exclusivity: Available for full private hire; multi-day celebrations encouraged
Event Spaces: Terraced gardens, cloisters, historic salons, and a former chapel
Capacity: Up to 120 guests outdoors; 90 indoors across multiple heritage rooms
Accommodation: 83 rooms including guest rooms, suites, grand suites, and a private residence
Ceremonies: Symbolic on-site; legal and religious nearby
Dining: Bespoke menus, multi-day culinary experiences, and an in-house executive chef
Wellness: Design-led spa, outdoor pool (not heated)
Airport Access: 20 minutes from Florence Airport (FLR); 60 minutes from Pisa (PSA)

Swimming Pool

Serenity in motion, beneath vaulted arches

The swimming experience at Collegio alla Querce is one of quiet elegance, set amidst olive trees and Tuscan air, where time seems to slow with every breath. The estate’s outdoor pool is designed for restoration, not performance: no loud splashes or poolside crowds, just serene stillness and soft light.

Collegio alla Querce - Pool

Guests often begin their day with a calming swim or gather for peaceful moments before the celebration begins. It’s a tranquil space — framed by nature, touched by history, and far removed from the ordinary.

Please note that the pool is currently not heated and its use is seasonal.

This isn’t a place for pool parties. It’s a space for pause, presence, and a kind of silence that lingers long after the celebration ends.

Spa

A sanctuary of stillness above the city

Wellness at Collegio alla Querce is not an afterthought — it’s an art form. Carved into the quiet heart of the estate lies a serene, design-led spa inspired by ancient Tuscan rituals and modern sensibilities. Arched ceilings, natural stone, and diffused golden light create a deeply restorative atmosphere.

Brides begin their day with private beauty suites, pre-wedding facials, or tension-melting massages tailored to the emotional pace of the weekend. Couples often book side-by-side treatments followed by herbal infusions in the garden — a quiet pause before celebration.

Collegio alla Querce - Spa

Signature offerings include olive oil and rosemary body therapies, oxygen-boosting facials, and detoxifying wraps using local ingredients. Post-wedding, the spa becomes a place to reset — a cocoon of calm after the joy, the dancing, and the champagne.

This is not just a spa — it’s a gentle recalibration. And it lives at the heart of everything Collegio alla Querce offers: immersive, intimate, and entirely in tune with you.

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Designed for fluid celebrations, set against a backdrop of history.

Collegio alla Querce was never meant to host just one kind of wedding. Its layered architecture — from cloistered gardens to frescoed salons — allows for celebrations that unfold across multiple stages, moods, and moments. Whether you're planning an intimate elopement or a full-scale, multi-day gathering, the estate accommodates your guest count beautifully, without ever feeling overwhelming or underwhelming.

  • Outdoor Celebrations: Up to 120 guests across the estate’s terraced gardens and cloistered courtyards

  • Indoor Receptions: Up to 90 guests within the frescoed salons and former chapel

  • Ceremonies: Symbolic ceremonies can be held throughout the estate; legal options are available nearby in Florence

  • Ideal For: Elopements, intimate gatherings, editorial weddings, and full-weekend destination celebrations

  • Flow: Multi-space transitions allow for ceremony, aperitivo, dining, and dancing across distinct locations — all within one historic setting

Pricing/Offers

Tailored celebrations with timeless returns

At Collegio alla Querce, pricing is never a package — it’s a conversation. Every wedding is designed from the ground up, with the estate offering bespoke options based on your vision, guest count, and the level of exclusivity you desire.

For couples choosing exclusive use of the property — including all 83 rooms, gardens, salons, and event spaces — the investment typically begins from €45,000 for a whole wedding weekend, inclusive of venue hire and in-house coordination. This transforms the estate into your private retreat, allowing multi-day celebrations with complete privacy and flow.

For single-day events or smaller gatherings, partial hire options are available, with pricing starting from approximately €15,000 to €20,000, depending on the season, the required spaces, and the number of guests.

Wedding menus start at €180 per guest, with fully tailored culinary experiences available, including tasting menus, paired wine flights, live stations, and post-dinner lounge service. Late-night snacks, after-party cocktails, and bespoke cake commissions are all available à la carte.

Accommodation is priced separately, with preferential rates for full buyouts or wedding block bookings. Rooms typically range from €700 to €3,000 per night, depending on category and season.

Collegio alla Querce is not a venue for the ordinary. It’s a place for couples who value atmosphere, storytelling, and immersive experiences — and want every euro to feel like part of something lasting.

Dining

A feast as refined as the setting. A celebration styled to your story.

At Collegio alla Querce, the wedding table becomes a canvas. Whether set beneath cypress trees in the cloistered garden, inside the candlelit grandeur of the former chapel, or overlooking a panoramic terrace that takes in the entire Florentine skyline, every dining moment is considered, elegant, and effortlessly theatrical.

There are no “packages.” Instead, couples collaborate with the culinary team to create a menu that feels deeply personal, inspired by the season, the region, and the rhythm of the day. Expect multi-course feasts with artfully plated antipasti, hand-rolled pasta, local meats, and heritage vegetables — all paired with rare Tuscan wines and served with a sense of ceremony.

For some, it’s a candlelit seated dinner with silver cutlery and a live violin. For others, it’s a languid garden banquet with long tables, shared platters, and flickering votives. Late-night gelato carts, limoncello stations, and after-dinner digestivo lounges are all possible — curated for your mood, your guests, and your story.

And the cake? Think less tiered tradition, more modern masterpiece — created by artisanal pastry chefs and styled like it belongs in a magazine spread.

This isn’t catering. This is cuisine — elevated, emotional, and always in tune with the beauty of the moment.

Venue Availability

A canvas for every season, a setting for every story.

Collegio alla Querce is available for weddings year-round, offering distinct seasonal moods that can shape the tone of your celebration. From April through October, the estate flourishes in golden Tuscan light — a time when the gardens are in full bloom, aperitifs are served under open skies, and every sunset feels like it’s been choreographed for your guests.

Spring and early autumn are particularly special — warm but not overwhelming, perfect for elegant outdoor ceremonies, panoramic receptions, and golden-hour portraits framed by olive trees and Baroque architecture. These are the months when Florence feels its most romantic, and the estate is at its most alive.

For those drawn to intimacy and atmosphere, winter weddings at Collegio alla Querce offer something rare: flickering candles in vaulted salons, fireside dinners in the former chapel, and a sense of theatrical stillness. December weddings, in particular, feel quietly regal and benefit from enhanced privacy, availability, and bespoke winter offers.

Whether you’re planning a one-day affair or a three-day destination celebration, the estate recommends booking early — ideally 12 to 18 months in advance — to secure your ideal dates and ensure a seamless planning process.

Rooms

Renaissance Calm, Contemporary Grandeur

Collegio alla Querce offers 83 rooms in total — each one a quiet symphony of heritage and design. Across its historic walls, every room has been reimagined with restraint, reverence, and a touch of modern poetry. It’s not about opulence here — it’s about atmosphere.

You’ll find 49 guest rooms, designed with a subtle hand: arched ceilings, oak parquet, soft textiles, and curated objects that feel collected, not decorated. Garden and courtyard views bring the outside in, while some rooms whisper of the city with glimpses of Florence’s rooftops.

Then there are the 28 suites, offering more space to breathe and dream. Separate living areas, oversized windows, walk-in wardrobes, and deep-soaking tubs turn each suite into a sanctuary. A few features have rare details — sculpted fireplaces, domed ceilings — perfect for bridal portraits or golden-hour getting-ready moments.

At the pinnacle sit 6 Grand Suites, where original frescoes, coffered ceilings, and antique Florentine furnishings create a cinematic setting — perfect for editorial shoots or once-in-a-lifetime stays. Each Grand Suite feels like its own story — elegant, emotive, and built for those who appreciate architecture as much as intimacy.

And for those who seek absolute privacy, there is Residenza La Quercia: a palatial 210-square-metre rooftop residence with a private terrace and cinematic Duomo views. It forms part of Palazzo Moderno — a secluded ensemble of seven rooms and suites that can be fully privatised for family or bridal party stays.

This is not a hotel where you check in and unpack.
This is where you arrive… and exhale.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can we host our wedding exclusively at the property?
Yes. Collegio alla Querce is available for exclusive hire, allowing you to transform the entire estate into your private celebration space — including gardens, salons, suites, and dining rooms. It feels less like booking a venue and more like borrowing a Florentine estate for the weekend.

2. What is the maximum guest capacity for a wedding?
The property can host up to 120 guests outdoors in the terraced gardens or courtyard, and up to 90 guests indoors across the historical salons and former chapel. Smaller, more editorial-style weddings and elopements are also beautifully accommodated.

3. Is the venue licensed for legal ceremonies?
While symbolic ceremonies are most commonly hosted on-site, legal civil ceremonies can be arranged nearby in Florence with the support of your planner or the venue’s concierge.

4. Is there an in-house planner, or can we bring our own?
Couples are welcome to work with their planner. Collegio alla Querce also collaborates with a curated list of luxury wedding planners who have an intimate understanding of the venue's layout, rhythm, and styling.

5. Are there indoor backup options in case of rain?
Yes. The estate offers several indoor spaces — including frescoed salons and the stunning former chapel — that serve as atmospheric, editorial-ready settings for ceremonies and dining, should the weather change.

6. How many guests can the venue accommodate overnight?
With 83 rooms across the estate — including suites, grand accommodations, and privatised spaces such as Palazzo Moderno — the venue can comfortably host most wedding parties and VIP guests, creating a true destination celebration without the need to split the group across multiple hotels.

7. What time does the music need to end?
Outdoor music typically concludes by 11:30 PM, but the celebration can continue indoors into the early hours, allowing for after-parties, DJ sets, and candlelit lounges.

8. Can we design a custom wedding menu?
Yes. Every wedding menu is carefully crafted in collaboration with the executive chef, with a focus on seasonality, local sourcing, and your tastes. From formal multi-course dinners to relaxed al fresco garden feasts, every detail is tailored.

9. Are children welcome at the venue?
Yes, though the venue leans toward elegant adult celebrations. Families with children are accommodated with care, and private nannies or bespoke activities can be arranged.

10. How far is the venue from Florence’s historic centre and airport?
Collegio alla Querce is just 15 minutes from Florence’s city centre and around 20 minutes from Florence Airport (FLR) — close enough for convenience, yet tucked away in a world of quiet luxury.