Villa Fontelunga
A beautifully restored Tuscan manor house, set above the Val di Chiana and enjoying panoramic views towards the hilltop town of Cortona.
The interior is a mixture of traditional Tuscan style and contemporary design, and the rooms are each individually decorated and all with private bathrooms.
Guests can relax by the swimming pool, set in an olive grove, or enjoy walks through the surrounding countryside. For the more energetic, there is a tennis court and mountain bikes for guests' use.
Service is highly personalised and very friendly. In the evenings, the owners will recommend and reserve tables for you at one of the many excellent restaurants in the area.
A peaceful, stylish and relaxing retreat, and the perfect place from which to explore the stunning towns, countryside and culture of this part of Italy.
Why We Love It
The villa operates on a bed and breakfast basis, though an informal lunch is served for those who want it.
Borgo Santo Pietro
A luxurious villa set amid 13 acres of private grounds in the Tuscan countryside.
The building has now been lovingly restored to the highest standards and its elegant interiors are decorated with antique furnishings, tapestries and hand-painted murals. The rooms and suites are each individually designed and all fully equipped with state-of-the-art lighting, air-conditioning, plasma TVs, DVD players, iPod docking stations and wireless internet.
The extensive grounds include a rose garden, lawns, a swimming pool and an organic orchard and vegetable garden that provide ingredients for the excellent restaurant. Meals are served in the atmospheric dining room or outdoors on the terrace, and there is also a pool bar for light lunches, and a well-stocked cellar. A small spa, housed in an adjoining stone barn, offers a variety of massages and treatments.
Other facilities include tennis and basketball courts, a bocce pitch, badminton, table tennis and a children's playground (babysitting can also be arranged). Guests can explore the surrounding area on foot or on mountain bike.
Why We Love It
The historic building dates back to the 13th century and was originally a resting place for travellers and pilgrims from all over Europe on their way to Rome.
L'Andana
Located in a magnificent part of Tuscany between Chianti and Siena, L'Andana is surrounded by centuries old olive groves in quintessential Tuscan foothill country.
The hotel sits in the heart of the 1,220 acre Tenuta La Badiola estate. In this idyllic setting there are 41 guest rooms and suites designed by architect Ettore Mocchetti using the finest fabrics to create an atmosphere of rustic chic. One of the highlights of any stay at L'Andana is the excellent spa, with four treatment rooms and a fine range of treatments on offer. Guests are also strongly advised to wander around the beautiful gardens and visit the neoclassic chapel. There is also a heated outdoor pool and a rustic library.
With 75 acres of vineyards and 125 acres of olive groves it will come as no surprise to hear that the hotel produces its own wine and olive oil are produced on-site and these are served in the restaurant. Chef Enrico Bartolini has crafted a menu of traditional Tuscan cuisine, using the freshest local ingredients and based on regional recipes, as well as perfectly prepared seafood.
Why We Love It
L'Andana was once the 16th Century summer palace of the Dukes of Leopold, who headed for the hills when the heat became too oppressive.
Hotel Il Pellicano
This magnificent hotel, on Tuscany's Argentario peninsula, is surrounded by centuries-old olive trees set in an extensive garden.
The hotel's central building and cottages contain rooms and suites decorated in an individual style - no two are the same. The dining room has a large terrace with a beautiful sea view, and a cellar which holds more than a thousand different wines. The excellent cuisine is both Italian and international, and the chef has worked in several Michelin-starred restaurants. The hotel has its own spa with treatments by Phytomer, a gym, heated seawater swimming pool with sea views, private beach, watersports available from Paradise Cove and a tennis court. There is also a golf course within 15 minutes drive. The charming fishing village of Porto Ercole is just two miles away, and the medieval town of Capalbio lies only thirty minutes distant.
Why We Love It
Il Pellicano has been awarded the Purple Lily by Relais & Châteaux recognising the hotel as one of the 19 most prestigious hotels among its 469 members.