After the first announcements in France, the United States and Spain, which took place in April, Michelin today revealed its first selection of hotels awarded with a two or three MICHELIN keys in Italy. With the usual selection and evaluation mechanism, the “red” has opened a new chapter in the service it has been providing to travelers for more than 120 years, with the aim of consolidating itself as a point of reference in the hotel sector aiming to become the first the world’s independent restaurant and hotel booking platform.
Just like stars, keys are awarded through the application of very specific criteria ranging from excellence in architecture to consistency between the price and the experience offered and have a very specific meaning:
A MICHELIN Key: a special stay A true jewel of character and personality. It can break the mold, offer something different, or simply be one of the best of its kind. The service is always up to par and offers much more than similarly priced establishments.
Two MICHELIN Keys: an exceptional stay An extraordinary place from every point of view, offering a memorable experience. A hotel of character, personality and charm, managed with passion and considerable care. Valuable design or architecture and a strong bond with the area in which it is located are the elements that allow you to experience an exceptional stay.
Three MICHELIN Keys: a unique stay The ultimate in comfort, service, style and elegance. It is one of the most extraordinary hotels in the world and a destination in itself for the trip of a lifetime. It has all the elements to make every stay truly unforgettable.
In a parterre that brings together more than 140 top-class structures scattered along the country, what stands out is the Tuscany which brings home, in one go, 41 keys distributed in 1 three keys (out of the 8 total that received the highest recognition), 7 two keys and 24 structures with a key for a total of 32 structures accommodations mentioned.
To conquer the 3 keys is the Rosewood Castiglion Del Bosco, in Montalcino, which in addition to its Michelin-starred restaurant has an organic vegetable garden and a cooking school. This hotel, set on a 2000-hectare agricultural estate that also includes a winery, welcomes guests in rooms and suites that often offer large terraces, thus incorporating the color palette of the inimitable Tuscan landscape into the travel experience.
Between the 2 keys in Florence, travelers will find many hotel proposals, from Four Seasons Hotelhoused in a Renaissance palace, a Portinari Salviati Palace, which occupies a 15th century palace built on the site of the ancient home of Beatrice Portinari, Dante’s muse. In addition to the romanticism of literary suggestions, the hotel offers a luxury spa and the Michelin-starred restaurant Atto by Vito Mollica. The lily city is also home to two other award-winning structures: Villa Coraimmersed in a centuries-old garden overlooking the Boboli Gardens and beyond Villa La Massa, built in the 13th century as the country residence of a noble Florentine family, set in 10 hectares of parkland. The Tuscan list of 2 keys completes Hotel Borgo San Felice in Castelnuovo di Berardenga e the Casole Castle in Siena.
Among the hotel structures to win a key, in Tuscany, the capital obviously stands out, bringing 7 structures to the “podium” – To Astra, Brunelleschi Hotel, Hotel Calimala, Hotel Lungarno, Riva Lofts Florence, Bellosguardo Tower, Velona’s Jungle Luxury Suites – but there is no shortage of worthy representatives scattered among the provinces including Villa Fontelunga (Arezzo), The Andana (Castiglione della Pescaia), Villa San Michele (Fiesole), the Principe Forte dei Marmi (Forte dei Marmi), Banfi Castle – Il Borgo Relais & Chateaux and Villa le Prata – Bishop’s Residence (Montalcino), COMO Castello del Nero (Tavernelle Val di Pesa), Follonico Suite B&B, Lupaia And Siena House (Tower of Siena), Borgo Santo Pietro (Chiusdino), Vicarello Castle (Cinigiano), Counts of San Boniface (Gavorrano), Precise Tale Poggio alla Sala (Montepulciano), The Pelican (Porto Ercole), Locanda al Colle (Camaiore), Red Inn (Capalbio).
