SPA Excelsior - Hotel Excelsior Florence

The SPA at Hotel Excelsior Florence occupies a carefully restored cellar beneath a grand 19th-century palazzo on Piazza Ognissanti on the north bank of the Arno, one of Florence's most prestigious riverside addresses. The building dates from the late 1800s and the spa interior retains its original vaulted brick ceilings and stone walls, creating an intimate underground atmosphere that contrasts with the bustling city immediately above. The Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery are within a five-minute walk along the Lungarno embankment.

The spa's signature treatment line centres on Tuscan viticultural ingredients: polyphenols extracted from Chianti Classico Sangiovese grape seeds — a potent antioxidant source derived from the same varietals that produce Tuscany's most celebrated wines. The Tuscan Vigna body wrap applies these grape-extract compounds in a heated mud-paste form credited with anti-ageing and circulatory benefits consistent with established polyphenol research. Scalp treatments use cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil from Chianti estates, integrating a second pillar of Tuscan agricultural heritage into the spa's regional identity.

The thermal circuit includes a hydromassage bath, sauna, and steam room, supplemented by a relaxation room for post-treatment rest. Treatment duration ranges from 50 to 90 minutes across a menu that includes classic Swedish massage, express facial, and the full couples' journey. The hotel's rooftop terrace — commanding unobstructed views across the Arno towards the Oltrarno district and Ponte Vecchio — is accessible to spa guests for post-treatment relaxation, an unusual privilege for an urban city-centre spa of this category.

Therapists are trained in classical European massage traditions and in the specific application protocols of the house's Tuscan botanical product range. The spa serves both hotel guests and external visitors, with advance reservation required; the facility operates four treatment rooms and capacity during Florence's peak spring and autumn seasons is limited. Non-hotel visitors can book through standalone treatment appointments or combined spa-and-lunch packages pairing the spa with the hotel's dining offerings. Treatments are priced at €80 (~$87) to €200 (~$218), and the spa operates daily from 9AM to 8PM.