Hotel Le Fontanelle

The photos pretty much tell the story of Hotel Le Fontanelle, a quintessentially Tuscan hotel if ever there was one. The unabashed gorgeousness of the stone farmhouse sitting atop a hill, overlooking a sea of sloping vineyards, is the result of the meticulous, years-long renovation of a structure whose pedigree stretches back to the 13th century. Lush terraced lawns, terra-cotta patios, stepping-stone paths that meander through aromatic herb patches and bougainvillea climbing up the stone walls: why rewrite a recipe like this one?

There’s nothing out of line about the guest rooms, either. The appropriately named Classic rooms, with Florentine terra-cotta floors, wood-beam ceilings and earth-tone furnishings in, well, classic Tuscan style, have views of the Chianti valley or the hotel’s own vineyards. Upgrade to a Prestige room, near the outdoor pool, and in addition to a bit more space you get scents wafting in from the garden and an added layer of privacy in the form of a manicured hedge. The suites maintain the same style, with plenty of space and outstanding views.

As often happens at the best hotels, there’s a choice to be made between enjoying the charms of the property or heading out to explore the area. The medieval city of Siena is just half an hour away, and then there are countryside activities from wine and olive oil tasting to horseback riding to zooming around in the driver’s seat of a Ferrari. It’s hard enough, though, to choose between the indoor and outdoor options at the hotel itself. Views from the outdoor pool, on a terraced lawn toward the top of the hill, are everything you’d expect; while the heated indoor pool, surrounded by comfy loungers and terra-cotta floors, presents bucolic scenes of its own through a trio of enormous arched windows. Same goes for the restaurants; views abound from the farmhouse-style dining room inside or an open-air terrace that’s bursting with flowers. Fortunately you can’t go wrong; everything here’s delicious.

Please note: Hotel Le Fontanelle is open seasonally, April through October.

How to get there
Complimentary shuttle transfers to and from Siena’s city center are available to guests at fixed departure times. These should be booked with the hotel in advance of arrival.

Hotel Le Fontanelle is approximately 25 minutes by car from Siena's train station. Florence Airport is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the hotel.