La Monastica Resort & Spa

The 16th-century Monastery of Santa Scolastica, once a treasure trove of beautiful frescoes and stained glass panels on a hilltop in Tuscany, has been altered and abandoned many times over the course of its history. Following years of painstaking restoration involving a team of historians, architects, and art conservators, the convent reopened as La Monastica Resort & Spa in 2024. The results are nothing short of spectacular: the original chapel has been transformed into an atmospheric restaurant, the old stone terraces now feature tiered gardens and swimming pools fringed by lemon trees, and the nuns’ humble quarters have been shaped into elegant rooms and suites with sweeping views over the valley below.

Rooms highlight the monastery’s finest assets, including high wood-beamed ceilings, exposed stone walls, and an abundance of natural light, thanks to the elevated position. Simpler rooms are charming and cloister-like, with wooden writing desks and shuttered windows opening to the gardens, while suites are more opulent, with extras like seating areas, kitchenettes, and spacious bathrooms with freestanding tubs. Elsewhere on the property, the one-of-a-kind spa has an ethereal indoor-outdoor pool built into natural rock walls, the old cellar hosts wine tastings, and the peaceful citrus grove is the perfect place to relax with a cappuccino or a spritz.