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Steeped in history and bursting with rustic charm, this romantic 14th-Century farmhouse has beautiful gardens, pretty courtyards and a charming cloister. Take a short uphill walk to the outdoor pool, which is free for hotel guests, although there is a charge for the hire of sun loungers and parasols. Inside the Villa, there's an indoor pool, plus a sauna, steamroom, Jacuzzi and Turkish bath. The wellness centre offers a wide range of treatments designed to soothe, rejuvenate and relax. The noble floor of the Villa is an actual museum adorned with Florentine, Sienese and Umbrian paintings alongside other interesting artefacts. Wine lovers will be fascinated by the wine cellar, still complete with antique machinery and large oak barrels used in ancient production. The restaurant serves authentic Tuscan cuisine along with international dishes and, during the summer, the pretty ivy-draped courtyard provides a delightful setting for meals. During the winter months you can dine in the evocative antique hall. The renovated rooms feature classic décor and modern amenities including air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi. The Classic Rooms are located on the second floor and are accessible via a small courtyard while the Comfort Rooms are set in the main wing.
Nestled in beautiful gardens sprinkled with cypress and olive trees, this delightful hotel is just a ten-minute gentle uphill stroll from the UNESCO-listed medieval walls of San Gimignano. It is perfectly placed for local exploration yet far enough away from the town to provide a peaceful countryside escape. Relax under the shade of a parasol on one of the sunloungers that are dotted on the lawn and around the shell-shaped pool, or slip into the hydromassage pool and soak up the serenity and the mesmerising views over the countryside. The views are quintessential Tuscany – a picture-perfect landscape of endless rolling hills, olive groves and a patchwork of fields and vineyards dotted with medieval towers. In the summer months you can enjoy breakfast on the shaded terrace. Snacks are also available on the terrace and in the evening it is a lovely spot to enjoy a glass of cold Vernaccia or Chianti. Stroll into San Gimignano for a great selection of restaurants and cafés. The historic Piazza della Cisterna is a wonderful evening spot for people watching and drinks. Don’t miss a visit to the square’s award-winning gelateria where you can choose from delicious and creative flavour combinations such as raspberry and rosemary or spicy chocolate and sour cherries. The simple rooms are cosy but comfortable and they all include free Wi-Fi. Standard Rooms are compact and face the small back garden while Superior Rooms are more spacious and some overlook the countryside. It is well worth upgrading to a Classic Countryside View Room with Balcony which offers incredible views over the surrounding countryside.
Hidden in glorious vineyards with spectacular views of Chianti’s rolling hills, this 11th-Century former monastery has been beautifully restored into a luxury hotel where the gardens are adorned with aromatic vineyards, olive groves and shady cypress trees. There’s a choice of three swimming pools to cool off in and although it’s tempting to spend all day relaxing, there’s the opportunity to leave the hotel by bicycle and explore the beautiful surrounding area. For days of pure relaxation and pampering the Wellness Spa caters for every need. Dining at the Castel Monastero is a unique experience. The elegant Contrada overlooks the piazza and serves gourmet Italian cuisine. For a more authentic Tuscan experience, book a table at La Cantina which is set in the monastery’s medieval wine cellars, and enjoy fresh, local produce accompanied by an excellent selection of fine wines. The rooms and suites feature a contemporary design and charming views of the courtyard, the gardens or the surrounding countryside. Deluxe Rooms are slightly larger than Superior Rooms. The elegant Prestige Rooms are even more spacious and have an inviting lounge area while the Tuscan-style Junior Suites feature a lounge and are ideal for groups of up to four.
Montecatini is Tuscany’s most famous spa town. With its thermal baths, vast green spaces and Liberty-style architecture, it’s an ideal base from which to explore rural Tuscany. Grand Hotel Francia e Quirinale is a lovely secluded hotel in the heart of the town and it’s packed with charm and character; think beautiful tapestries, ornate statues and pretty gardens, topped off with genuinely warm hospitality. The Giusfredi-Nencini family have owned and managed the hotel for four generations and they’re passionate about sharing their love and knowledge of the region with their guests. The hotel aims for a ‘zero miles’ approach to create mouth-watering Tuscan dishes. To start the day right, a breakfast of fresh local produce is included each morning. Dining options include the more intimate Sala Ginori restaurant and a plush salon-style lounge bar named after its centrepiece: an 18th-Century Flemish tapestry called The Achilles’ Shield. The outside pool terrace is a highlight – after a day out sightseeing, it’s the perfect place to take a refreshing dip, grab a snack and curl up on a sun lounger. Rooms range from compact and comfy Classic Rooms to spacious suites with balconies and panoramic views. For the most peaceful stay, bag one of the Prestige Suites, which are located on higher floors and have views over Montecatini to the Tuscan countryside.
Castello di Casole has a magical location, surrounded by rolling hills, vineyards and olive groves. You’ll know you’re in for a treat when you arrive at the long cypress-lined driveway that leads to the medieval castle and its hamlet. This special setting is topped off with the exceptional hospitality and attention to detail you’d expect from the Belmond brand. The castle and its buildings have been sensitively restored and this ethos extends to the land, which has been designated a Model Game Reserve by Provincia di Siena thanks to the hard work of the farmers and gamekeepers. Rooms and suites are dotted in and around the main castle building. For your own outside space, opt for one of the Limonaia Suites, which come with a lovely garden and were once used to house the estate’s lemon trees in cooler climes. The estate has its own restaurant, Tosca, where you can tuck into Tuscan food with a fine-dining twist, or if you’re looking to up the romance then a fairy-tale aperitivo at the floating Enchanted Table in the forest is a must. There are plenty of things to do on the estate, too. Some of the most interesting activities here include the chance to learn about the ancient Etruscan civilization and stargazing in the amphitheatre.
Passing through the gateway in the centuries-old stone walls that encircle Torre a Cona is like stepping back in time to a more leisurely age. The rolling hills cloaked with vineyards and olive groves could be the background of a Renaissance masterpiece, while the beautifully proportioned villa at the heart of the estate is a model of refined 18th-century architecture. Not that it’s a museum piece; it’s very much a working farm, if a particularly elegant one, that produces superb wines, olive oil and even honey. Its historic buildings have been sensitively restored and repurposed so they gain in modern comforts - flattering lighting, dreamy bathrooms and the like - without losing any of their period charm. The result is a feeling of harmony that will work its magic on even the most stressed of visitors. A stay here is all about savouring the elegancies of Tuscan life, from its gastronomic delights to the incredible scenery. Visiting the estate’s highly regarded restaurant, with its spin on traditional Tuscan cuisine, is by no means the only way to enjoy the former. A tour of the winery is a must, not to mention the truffle-hunting trip and bee-keeping experience - all with relevant tastings, of course. As for the immediate surroundings, there are guided horse rides and nature hikes for more energetic moods, endless gardens for quiet strolls, and a stylish vine-fringed swimming pool with loungers and gazebos for when you don’t want to do very much at all. Most of the 25 recently renovated rooms and suites occupy the west wing of the handsome villa itself, except the Classic Rooms, which are in two buildings to the rear. No two are quite the same, though original features such as antique doors, wood-beamed ceilings and terracotta floor tiles are a given - as is the absence of televisions. The Romantic Rooms, in the main villa, have a soft, neutral decor, though it’s worth upgrading to a first-floor Romantic Tuscan View Room or a second-floor Lavish Tuscan View Room for the best vistas of olive groves and rolling hills. If you want more space for sitting, reading or just looking out of the window, there’s an appealing Junior Suite with a smart seating area, the Tuscan View Suite with a unique window and a separate living room, and the largest of all, the Palatial Tuscan View Suite where you can stretch out and imagine being lord of all you survey.
Castellare di Tonda Resort & Spa is a collection of 12 Tuscan farmhouses dotted around a sprawling rural estate around an hour from Florence, Pisa and Siena. This remote resort is surrounded by rolling Tuscan hills, lush woodlands, olive groves and vineyards – perfect for a back-to-nature escape. The farm buildings are ideal for multi-generational family holidays, a rural escape with friends or as a couple, and each one comes with a shared pool (some also have a children's pool). The farmhouses range from secluded apartments to apartment clusters close to the resort facilities including the restaurant, wellness centre, minclub and riding stables. Wellbeing here comes in the form of outdoor adventures and wellness treatments at the spa, which has an ice grotto, a Turkish bath, sauna and a hot tub with panoramic views. It makes it easy to switch up your days balancing quality family time and valuable me-time. Children are well looked after thanks to a kids’ club, kids’ riding school and special events, so adults can sneak off for some cooking lessons, fishing or an ice-cold glass of local wine by the pool.
Villa Casagrande
Relais Santa Chiara
Castel Monastero
Grand Hotel Francia E Quirinale
Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany
Torre a Cona
Castellare di Tonda Resort & Spa
