You’ll be walking distance (or a short Vespa) from the San Galgano Abbey, home of the famed Sword in the Stone, although if you spent days lounging by the infinity pool and never left the resort, we’d hardly judge. We loved the intimate Borgo Spa, which makes its own in-house products from the herbs and animals on the property, as well as the onsite cooking school and Michelin starred restaurant Meo Modo, which dishes up the modern farm to plate fare with a dignity one wouldn’t expect in a remote countryside resort. We spent part of our own honeymoon at this gorgeous escape.
For ultimate luxury, book one of the private villas with their exclusive use walled gardens or one of two brand new suites featuring private pools. Bohemian meets elegant, the resort looks straight out of an Instagram dream, with its picturesque walled gardens, infinity-edge pool overlooking vineyards, and its massive “white road” driveway lined with Cypress trees.
#Lilypond rainshower plus
If it’s just Prada and Miu Miu you’re after, travel about an hour further afield for Space, located at the Prada factory, which boasts a dedicated outlet for clothing, shoes, and bags, plus an onsite café.įor honeymooners or those who wish to truly escape from it all, Relais Borgo Santo Pietro is another excellent option, a collection of fewer than 20 rooms and suites in a 13th century villa. Goods are usually last season, not specialty “made for factory store” varieties. You’ll fight your way among tour busses on a weekend, but the sale prices are often worth the crowds. The resorts themselves are practically playgrounds for the epicurean-inclined, but for those who want something a bit more physical for their souvenirs, plan for an afternoon The Mall, an outdoor outlet mecca with more than two dozen shops, including massive outposts of Gucci, Valentino, Tods, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi and Prada, plus other top names including Loro Piana, Moncler, Jimmy Choo, Aquazzura and more. It’s well worth a seven-wine cru tasting, as well as lunch at the onsite Rinuccio 1180, where you’ll see 360-degree views of the surrounding countryside. You can taste your way through Chianti Classico in the impressive winery that’s been in the same family for 26 generations, since the year 1385. Similar in vibe and proximity to Florence is Castello di Casole, a Belmond Resort, one of the largest private landholdings in all of Italy – if you’re traveling with kids, this is one of the more family-friendly high-end Tuscan options in the area.Īrguably one of the best names in Tuscan wine, Antinori is a must-stop and just an hour from Florence perfectly positioned on the highway toward Siena. The Osteria also offers a cooking school, branded by KitchenAid, where guests learn to make traditional Tuscan fare, taste local olive oils, and, of course, sample local wine. Today, the Vallombrosan Order, a type of Benedictine monk, make excellent wine on the property. While you’re in town, don’t miss a dinner or afternoon at the cooking school of Osteria di Passignano, an ancient monastery dating back to the year 395, established by the archbishop of Florence.
Request suite 118, with its beautiful frescoes, or 116, with a gorgeously arched ceiling, or Room 222, which boasts a 30-square-foot rain shower with two showerheads.
The hotel offers regular shuttle service to both Florence and Siena, making a day trip possible, but not mandatory. That’s the size of New Jersey, or roughly the size of Israel… so planning your perfect visit requires a detailed vision for the scope and style of your travels.įlorence, the state capital and cradle of the Renaissance, is the area’s biggest draw, but you’ll find diverse and worthwhile terrain throughout the region, from the posh Forte dei Marmi to the beautifully preserved Siena, where the famous Palio horserace takes place every July and August.īut to truly enjoy Tuscany, it’s less a forced march through the Uffizi and Accademia with bits of wine and cheese thrown in for succor and more a leisurely stroll through small towns, with a great resort or villa as your home base.įor a city break/country escape, we love Castello del Nero, a 12th century restored castle turned 52-room hotel just 40 minutes south of Florence, on the outskirts of Chianti country, recently re-flagged under the wellness-oriented Como Hotels brand. But what many travelers forget is that Tuscany takes up much of central Italy, occupying nearly 9,000 square miles.