VILLA POGGIANO

It seems there’s truly no end to the wonders of the Tuscan countryside. Villa Poggiano stands on a picture-perfect hilltop plot overlooking the Val d’Orcia, barely a minute’s drive outside of Montepulciano. It’s an 18th-century villa originally built as a summer home for an aristocratic family from Siena, which means it’s already perfectly suited to its new life as an intimate, residential-style luxury hotel. And it already had an impressive swimming pool, thanks to another former owner, a German army general who lived here during the early 20th century (long story).

Surrounding the villa are some 15 acres of parkland, while the villa itself is comparatively small — just 11 suites and three double rooms. Each one is unique, as is typical for historical structures like this one, and all are decorated in a warm, antique style. Some occupy the original villa, and look out over the gardens and pool, while the others, in the outlying lodge buildings, have expansive views of the Tuscan countryside. It’s worth knowing that there’s no restaurant on site; but thanks to its close proximity to Montepulciano, and the dedication of its staff, you’re never more than a few minutes away from an extraordinary meal — as well as everything else the region has to offer, from cooking classes to wine tours and even landscape photography workshops.