Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Collection, Florence’s newest five-star luxury hotel, invites locals and internationals to experience Collegio on Ice – A Winter Wonderland, a festive season celebrating heritage, craftsmanship and the magic of the holidays in the heart of Tuscany.
Afternoon Tea + Sunday Brunch
For the holiday season, Collegio alla Querce Auberge is hosting pleasurable moments such as Afternoon Tea and Sunday Brunch. Served from Monday to Saturday from 3 to 6pm in the elegant setting of the Conservatorio, the Afternoon Tea (50 euro per person, 60 euro with alcoholic pairings) features a selection of signature pastries and desserts. The Sunday Brunch (160 euro), on the other hand, takes place every Sunday at the La Gamella restaurant, where a sumptuous buffet set up in the open kitchen includes seasonal dishes, fresh pasta made in front of guests and mains served in a convivial style. Each week, the experience will be elevated by a different Tuscan winery, which will present a choice of labels paired with the dishes on the menu, offering guests a journey through flavour and territory.
Collegio on Ice
The Beluga Ice Rink is the undisputed star of the holiday fun at Collegio alla Querce. Sponsored by the internationally renowned ultra-premium vodka brand renowned for its elegance and refinement, the rink will become the radiant centrepiece for the season, enveloped in the scent of pine and the glow of lights reflecting on the ice. Installed in the pool area, nestled among the terraced gardens, guests and visitors will be able to glide across the ice beneath the Florentine sky, immersed in an enchanted atmosphere that celebrates the magic of winter.
Next to the rink, the Frette Lounge will offer comfort and warmth, with cabanas overlooking the ice and blankets and ponchos created by Frette especially for Collegio alla Querce. There’s also the Frette Feel Ceremony, a sensory ritual that celebrates the tactile and visual beauty of the ICONS fabric collections. The ceremony invites guests to slow down time, rediscover the sense of touch, and form a personal connection with the heritage and materiality of each creation. Each presentation will be led by experts from the maison, who will guide guests in exploring the nuances of Frette’s ICONS fabrics, alongside herbal tea sommeliers who will curate a parallel tasting designed to mirror the textures of the textiles.
Next to the rink, two chalets—the Beluga Vodka Bar and the Oyster Gin Bar—open daily, serving signature cocktails, caviar and refined festive treats.
Winter Village
Every weekend from Friday to Sunday, the Winter Village comes to life, a quintessential Christmas market that celebrates craftsmanship and conviviality, open to guests and visitors. The artisans present include Profumoir, an experiential atelier that offers a personalized approach to perfumery with its olfactory library, and Il Borgo Cashmere, an Italian maison that combines Tuscan artisanal tradition with the refinement of cashmere. During the season, a number of different artisans working in a range of crafts will join the village. Additionally, every Sunday a featured artisan will take centre stage, making the project engaging through experiential moments such as Make and Take Home workshops and live demonstrations, during which master craftspeople share their creative process.
Celebrating Christmas + New Year at Collegio alla Querce
The magic of the holidays will fill every corner of Collegio alla Querce, from DJ sets at the skating rink every Friday and Saturday (5-8pm) to jazz in the theatre on Saturday (7-8.30pm) and gospel choirs singing in the theatre every Sunday at 6.30pm.
The hotel’s very own theatre hosts a Tchaikovsky concert (90 euro for adults, 45 euro for children), including welcome drinks and canapés, on December 4 and 26, and a joyful symphonic concert featuring timeless Disney classics on December 18 (90 euro for adults, 45 euro for children). Meanwhile, on December 23, will host a concert by Deborah Moncrief & The New Millennium Gospel Singers, followed by a three-course dinner at La Gamella (starting from 150 euro).
Christmas Eve will be celebrated with an elegant four-course dinner (180 euro), while Christmas Day Brunch (250 euro) aims to be a convivial experience featuring open-kitchen cooking, traditional dishes and a spectacular dessert table inspired by holiday treats.
The holiday season at Collegio alla Querce will culminate with the New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner – Golden Gala Dinner (500 euro). Bathed in a luminous golden atmosphere, the last night of the year will become an ode to elegance, joy and new beginnings in a sparkling event where every detail shines. After Champagne in the Conservatorio and a four-course dinner in Sala Dorati and La Gamella, including live entertainment, at the stroke of midnight, the gardens of Collegio alla Querce will light up with fireworks, welcoming 2026 in a golden glow. The festivities will continue with an exclusive after-party in the on-site theatre, featuring a live DJ set and open bar.
Celebrate New Year’s Day and all the exciting opportunities ahead with brunch at La Gamella (250 euro). Guests can savour a carefully curated selection of sweet and savoury specialties, accompanied by live music to create a festive and uplifting atmosphere.
Collegio alla Querce, Auberge Collection
Via delle Forbici 21B, Florence
+39 055 4049000
