Villa Fontelunga

Villa Fontelunga is not at all the stereotypical Tuscan experience. This Padronale residence has been thoroughly redesigned, and is a charming blend of old and new, an sharp contrast to the wax-museum standard of frescoes-and-antiques Italian villa hotels.

We have nothing against those old-fashioned hotels, and they are an Italian specialty, in perennial high demand. But it is refreshing to know there is another option, an unpretentiously contemporary place where the traditional antique furniture sits alongside pieces by Philippe Starck and Arne Jacobsen, a small villa (just 9 rooms) that feels more like a guest house than a hotel.

The views are striking, looking over the Val di Chiana toward Cortona, and taking in the storied Tuscan countryside, all olive groves and cypress; a quieter and more understated view than that some of the attention-grabbing seaside resorts, but that's the point. One comes to Villa Fontelunga to escape from it all, not to take part in the three-ring circus of mainstream Italian luxury travel.

The hotel lacks its own restaurant, though the surrounding area is home to many, and the terrace is the ideal spot from which to admire the views while having breakfast, lunch, or drinks. And it's not all nature walks and vineyards, though there are plenty of those — Arezzo is home to Prada, Gucci, and Armani's outlet stores.

Please note: Villa Fontelunga requires a two-night minimum stay, and is open seasonally, March through November. However, for Villa Gallo and Villa Galletto, there is a seven-night minimum requirement.