Real Estate Investors in Florence, Italy

Florence, long known for its Renaissance charm and global tourism appeal, is now gaining serious traction among real estate investors. While smaller in scale than Milan or Rome, the city’s unique blend of cultural heritage, world-class universities, affluent tourism, and growing digital nomad population is fuelling demand for boutique hotels, high-end short-term rentals, co-living concepts, and mixed-use redevelopment. The investment thesis? Limited supply, protected historical zones, high occupancy rates, and a luxury-led demand profile that’s remarkably resilient.

Whether you’re developing a serviced apartment block in Oltrarno, transforming a centuries-old building into luxury hospitality, or digitising mid-market student housing in Campo di Marte—this is a city where curated capital meets high barriers to entry. Below is a carefully selected list of real estate investors actively investing in Florence and Tuscany’s surrounding urban nodes.

• CDP Immobiliare – The property arm of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti is involved in heritage redevelopment across Tuscany. In Florence, CDP is working with local authorities to co-develop mixed-use sites and unlock underutilised public assets, particularly in the San Jacopino and Leopolda areas.
• COIMA SGR – One of Italy’s most influential real estate asset managers, COIMA has extended its platform into Florence with interest in boutique hospitality and sustainable residential. Recently scouted prime repositioning deals in the Santa Maria Novella corridor.
• Blue Asset Management – Florence-based investor focused on converting historic palazzi into luxury serviced apartments and hotels. Blue Asset owns several assets around Piazza della Repubblica and Via de’ Tornabuoni. Privately funded, with Middle Eastern capital backing.
• Generali Real Estate – Owns and manages several premium retail and mixed-use properties in central Florence. Holdings include assets on Via Calzaiuoli and the Duomo quadrant. Actively upgrading properties to meet energy performance and tenant experience standards.
• ArtInvest Group – Recently acquired a series of hotel assets in Tuscany, including Florence, aimed at the upper-midscale segment. Focused on ESG retrofits and partnering with global operators such as Marriott and Melia to reposition existing stock.
• Kryalos SGR – Institutional asset manager with a €12bn portfolio. While mostly Milan-focused, Kryalos has entered the Florence market with logistics and hotel-focused mandates. Working with pan-European LPs to expand leisure portfolios along the Florence-Siena corridor.
• Arezio Capital – A boutique family office investing in high-end residential redevelopments in central Florence. Focused on assets under €15M, particularly off-market palazzi conversions into apartments for international buyers. Often co-invests with UK and Swiss HNWIs.
• PAREF Group – The French property group recently acquired a trophy retail asset near Florence’s historic district, signalling broader institutional appetite for Florence. PAREF is evaluating hospitality and co-living conversions with local operators.
• Castello SGR – Known for its presence in Italy’s hotel and healthcare sectors, Castello has acquired and repositioned several boutique hotels in Florence’s city centre. Frequently partners with family offices and international hotel brands.
• Invimit SGR – A government-sponsored asset manager focused on public property reuse. In Florence, Invimit is redeveloping underutilised municipal properties into mixed-income housing and hospitality. Open to JV proposals with ESG orientation.
• Planet Smart City – Known for smart neighbourhood development, Planet is scoping co-living and student housing micro-developments in Florence. Targeting mid-density zones like Novoli and Rifredi with modular construction and tech-enabled living models.
• Redo SGR – The impact-led fund manager is engaging with Florence’s public sector to explore affordable housing models and urban regeneration in outer districts. Often partners with ethical banks and local NGOs on inclusive housing prototypes.
• Bain Capital Real Estate – Through its European hospitality platform, Bain has explored conversion plays in Florence. Acquired a historic hospitality asset in 2023 on Via della Scala to reposition as a soft-branded lifestyle hotel.
• Urbanitae – Spain’s largest real estate crowdfunding platform has supported a series of Florence-based projects including a €4M residential renovation near Santo Spirito. While not yet fully local, they’re testing demand from retail capital for Italian assets.
• Revalo – Florence-based property management and asset servicing firm. While not an investor, Revalo supports most of the local funds and family offices with leasing, refurbishment, and revenue management—particularly in the tourism and short-term rental space.
• Vivere Collections – A luxury hospitality investment platform converting villas and historic townhouses across Florence and Tuscany into fully-serviced residences. Works with institutional family office partners and targets €5–€25M assets with historic protection complexity.
• Immobiliare del Sur – A southern Italian family office expanding into Florence’s outer zones with a focus on residential development. They’ve acquired land in Scandicci and are partnering with local architects to deliver sustainable, modular housing.
• Quintain Europe – Though UK-based, Quintain is exploring continental expansion with Florence on its shortlist for mid-size rental blocks and long-term student housing. Testing local partnerships now; open to co-GP models with Italian developers.
• Casavo – Known for instant buying in Italy’s major cities, Casavo has ramped up in Florence’s residential investment market. Recently acquired multiple small-unit buildings in Campo di Marte for BTR retrofits. Also raising funds for new Propco structures.

Florence’s digital real estate scene is also heating up. With startups like HomesToPeople (short-term let management), Housy (rent automation), and WeStudents (PBSA listing) expanding their offerings, proptech is becoming embedded in how assets are marketed, leased, and monetised—even in a city built on centuries of stone.

Florence’s real estate future won’t be defined by scale—it’ll be defined by quality, curation, and timeless design. And with capital now aligning around those principles, the city is entering its next renaissance—one where investors who respect the past can help shape a modern, liveable, and profitable future.