Minor Hotels has signed a 33-room hotel in Tuscany’s San Gimignano, converting part of a former convent and prison into its second Colbert Collection property in Italy.
ExCelle Hotel San Gimignano, Colbert Collection is scheduled to open in 2027 within the historic San Domenico Complex, in the town’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed centre.
The hotel forms part of a wider redevelopment that will bring performance spaces, dining, shops and a museum to the landmark site.
Former Convent Cells to Become Guestrooms
The hotel’s 33 guestrooms will be created from the building’s original convent cells. Plans also include a restaurant and bar, with the design preserving the structure’s historic character while introducing contemporary accommodation.
Guests will have access to cultural and artistic programming across the wider San Domenico Complex, connecting the hotel stay with the site’s new public spaces and attractions.
Cultural Redevelopment Includes Theatre and Museum
The broader project includes a theatre and opera arena with capacity for more than 1,000 guests, alongside restaurants, retail boutiques, meeting and event venues, and a museum.
Opera Laboratori, an Italian cultural heritage management company, is leading the regeneration. The firm has more than three decades of experience working with museums, historic sites and cultural institutions.
Its CEO, Beppe Costa, said the aim was to create a destination where culture, creativity and hospitality coexist with the building’s history, while contributing to San Gimignano’s cultural and economic life.
Gonzalo Aguilar, CEO of Minor Hotels Europe & Americas, said the partnership would preserve an important landmark and bring together accommodation, gastronomy and cultural experiences.
Colbert Collection Builds on Florence Debut
The signing follows the May 2026 opening of Porta Rossa Hotel Firenze, the first hotel to join Colbert Collection. The brand’s next planned openings also include The WestDill Mayfair Hotel London, expected in the first quarter of 2027.
Colbert Collection is Minor Hotels’ premium soft brand for independent properties, allowing hotels to retain their individual identities while joining the group’s portfolio. Its focus is on dining, cultural discovery and connections with the surrounding community.
The San Gimignano project will add to Minor Hotels’ existing Italian presence of 60 properties across seven brands: Anantara, Tivoli, NH Collection, nhow, Avani, Colbert Collection and NH Hotels.
