Press Release

Afar | The 40 Best New Hotels of 2026

UK + Europe: Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Collection, Florence

Why we chose it: For revealing a quieter side of Florence

This cluster of 16th-century buildings that once housed a high school for Florence’s elite has found a brilliant second act as Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Collection. Located just outside the historic center of Florence, the hillside Collegio alla Querce pairs views of the Duomo and Tuscan countryside with 83 rooms and suites, a spa, a lap pool, and a series of carefully restored spaces—including a former principal’s office that now serves as a cocktail bar. Original architectural details and artworks from owner Analjit Singh’s personal collection lend the hotel a sense of history and character that feels distinctly Florentine. $1,700