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Tuscany hotels
Recent years have seen an explosion in not only the number but also the variety of Tuscan accommodation options. In historic towns like Siena, Pisa, or Lucca, traditional hotels are being challenged by luxury bed and breakfasts, historic palazzo conversions, and apartment rentals. And the country scene is even more diffuse: Lodging is now available in a bewildering range of establishments. These range from ultraluxe hotels in restored historic buildings such as Castello del Nero to humble "agriturismo" options. In between you'll find everything from village apartments to farmhouses on wine estates, country villas, and whole converted villages such as Il Borro. There are some cheaper options to be found if you search carefully, but on the whole Tuscany is more expensive than neighboring regions such as Umbria or Lazio. The dream of having your very own Tuscan farmhouse with pool—at least for a week or two—is serviced by an ever-expanding army of agencies, tour operators, holiday-let websites, and individual home owners. Reputable websites range from huge international owner-direct operations like Vacation Rentals By Owner (www.vrbo.com) to Italy (and Tuscany) specialists such as Vacanze in Italia (www.homeabroad.com), Cottages to Castles (www.cottagestocastles.com), and more high-end, bespoke agencies such as Bellini Travel (www.bellinitravel.com). Watch out for the small print, especially the rules regarding deposits and cancellations. In towns and villages, tourist offices (APT or Ufficio Turistico) keep records of registered apartment rentals (affitacamere)—you can consult a full list on the Tuscan tourist board portal www.turismo.toscana.it.
One of Italy's most exclusive hotels enjoys an incomparable setting on a hillside just below Fiesole to the north of Florence's city center (takes 20-25 minutes...more
Il Poggiale, opened in 2003, is a welcome addition to the local scene; it's also excellent value for money by local standards. A 16th-century patrician villa...more
On a rise overlooking the fertile Chiana valley, a few miles west of Cortona, this foursquare, blushing-pink villa was bought by three friends—two...more
Not content with proving that a Scot could breeze into Florence, open a restaurant (Beccofino), and have Florentines themselves queuing up for a table, the...more
Simple pleasures are the order of the day at this seven-room haven deep in Chianti country—a glass of wine by the pool, a wide-screen view of rolling...more
A thousand-year-old monastery on 2,000 acres of Tuscan countryside, La Badia di Coltibuono recently opened its eight guest rooms to the public (previously, they...more
It's hard to find a reason to leave this sumptuous 50-room resort with its heated pool, private pebbly beach on the Cala dei Santi, and superb (but pricey)...more
A delightful 17th-century villa surrounded by cypresses, olive orchards, and vineyards, this Relais & Châteaux property is personally managed by...more
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