La Collegiata

It’s practically a law of geography that every Tuscan hill town must be impossibly pretty, and every little hotel perched on its outskirts a portal to a life of simple pleasures. But even by these standards, La Collegiata stands out. Built in 1587 as a monastery, the old stone buildings and manicured gardens continue to feel like a place apart, a haven of heightened tranquility in an area that’s not exactly nerve-fraying to begin with. And just to render the modern world an even more distant memory, it’s all surrounded by a park comprised of cypress-covered slopes, with the distinctive medieval skyline of San Gimignano — famous for its fourteen ancient towers — crowning another hill off in the distance.

La Collegiata’s twenty-one rooms tend toward the rustic, though the austerity of the former monks’ quarters was at some point replaced by a more florid, antique style. If you’re after avant-garde design theatrics, this is definitely not your place; the look is old-school rural Italian all the way, with a lost-in-time charm of its own. A small, simple pool surrounded by hedges and lawns, with a constant flow of scents blowing in from the adjacent restaurant and garden, prove that high-concept design is not always required for high pleasure.

What was once the monastery’s chapel now serves as the hotel’s restaurant, L’Eco Divino. No surprise, the food is local and seasonal, and a cellar full of good Tuscan wines means there’s something to pair with whatever’s in season. During the warmer months, meals can be taken in the rose garden beside the restaurant, where views of San Gimignano’s towers round out the full-sensory experience.

Please note: La Collegiata is open seasonally, from April to October.

How to get there:
La Collegiata is located 35 miles from Firenze Peretola Airport (FLR), and 42 miles from Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport (PSA). The nearest train station, Poggibonsi, is 9 miles away.