Hotels in Tuscany and Umbria: top 13 places in the most picturesque regions of Italy

oscana and Umbria are two pearls among the picturesque Italian landscapes, always bathed in sunshine. These regions are popular among travelers for their abundance of historical and cultural attractions and gastronomic scene. Umbria, hidden in the heart of Italy, fascinates with its ancient cities, palaces, and fantastic mountain scenery. Tuscany, with its numerous vineyards and olive groves, surprises with the elegance and architectural sophistication of Florence and Siena.

Since the 1990s, the unique Italian regions have been taking on a new color, offering tourists a wide range of places to stay among the cypress-dotted hills, rural villages and charming towns that retain a special untouched atmosphere. The following selection contains the best hotels in Tuscany and Umbria that will surprise you with their level of service and give you an unforgettable experience of traveling in Italy.

La Pescaya Resort

A few years ago, Maremma, an extremely beautiful but wild part of the southern coast of the region, was replenished with new members of the Italian community. Two sisters came here from Milan to sell the farm that belonged to their father. Instead, they and their husbands decided to stay in Maremma to reimagine the place. The result is one of the best hotels in Tuscany and Umbria, as well as a good riding school.

La Pescaia Resort has only 14 cozy rooms, most of which are located in a 19th-century villa. There are also several detached houses that are perfect for small families. Linen curtains, four-poster beds, numerous antiques and always fresh flowers create an elegant retro backdrop.

La Pescaia Resort is the place where you can find your inner Tuscan aristocrat. In addition, only local organic products are used to prepare dishes in the on-site hotel restaurant, exactly the same as the modern Marquises of Maremma would choose for their dinner, discussing the olive harvest and watching children play merrily under the old cedar tree on the lawn.

Vocabolo Muscatelli

Part of the Design Hotels chain, this aristocratic hotel offers unparalleled luxury. Vocabolo Muscatelli is located in a restored and renovated monastery in Umbria, a green region of Italy. Occupying an area of 2.5 hectares with a vegetable garden and manicured lawns, the hotel creates an ideal environment for relaxation, where everyone will find the best leisure option for themselves. The complex attracts both Italians and guests from neighboring cities who come to taste signature cocktails in the bar, enjoy Sunday lunch in the restaurant or participate in events organized by the owners.

There are a total of 12 rooms in this excellent Umbria hotel . The apartments combine the stone walls of an ancient monastery with modern art and design. Each bed, custom-made by Emanuele Lispi, impresses with its minimalist silhouette and bold colors.

In the evenings, the restaurant transforms into a vibrant and lively stage for culinary art, where the chef serves flavors of the Middle East and Asia, revealing new gastronomic perspectives in this traditional corner of Italy. Enjoy creative cocktails or wine in the lounge, which feels more like a living room than a hotel bar. Afterwards, embark on a culinary journey in the restaurant, where you will experience flavorful experiences from Umbrian beef with smoked duck and ramen to bread pudding with ricotta, pistachios and vanilla cream flavored with rosewater.

La Bandita Townhouse

Recently, more and more travelers have been seeking solitude in a beautiful mountain town in the region, rather than in a castle or country villa in complete isolation. This is exactly what the Tuscany and Umbria Hotel , which was  opened in 2013, has become. The trendy interiors of the stylish 12-room nest were designed by London-based Ab Rogers Design. The townhouse occupies a former monastery, which allowed La Bandita Townhouse to quickly become part of the life of a small Italian town with picturesque views of sunsets over the Val d'Orcia.

The rooms, spacious and bright, partly reflect Tuscan rustic chic with huge mirrors and exposed stone walls that blend harmoniously with cool urban modernism. No wonder many actors chose this hotel for their vacation while filming the television series The Heirs, working nearby.

On the ground floor of La Bandita Townhouse there is a charming restaurant run by Scottish chef David Mangan. It attracts both locals and guests alike. If you want privacy among the rural landscapes, another hotel of the La Bandita Countryhouse chain is located a few minutes away, boasting one of the most beautiful swimming pools not only in Italy but also in the whole world.

Castello di Vicarello

In the 1970s, while walking in the local hills, Aurora and Carlo Bacheski Berti accidentally found this unique place near Grosseto. The couple decided to start a large-scale restoration of the castle and the surrounding areas, transforming them into beautiful vineyards and organic farmland. The finest hotel in Tuscany and Umbria opened just over a decade ago, embodying the essence of modern luxury, offering high-end service and amenities, as well as exceptional cuisine.

It is a great choice for those who need a relaxing vacation amidst picturesque gardens, lush roses and glimpses of the sea in the misty distance. You can stay in one of the seven suites, each of which is full of special character and unique details. For example, one of the rooms has Balinese beds with intricate carvings, while another has copper bathtubs dating back to the 18th century. Several suites include small kitchens, which are best suited for families traveling with small children. The largest suite is the Villa Chiesina with a private terrace, where it is so nice to sit in the evening with a glass of wine or other drinks, enjoying the views of the Ombrone Valley.

The former stables of the castle have been converted into an extraordinary kitchen, where you can see all the stages of cooking or sign up for a cooking class with Aurora to prepare your own meal. All dishes are based on products grown in the 25-hectare gardens of the estate or purchased from local farmers

In Castello di Vicarello you will find many opportunities for interesting leisure activities. The complex will especially appeal to lovers of long walks, as there are six hectares of vineyards and rows of olive trees. Other amenities available to guests include a small Scandinavian-style spa with an open-air hot tub, as well as two infinity pools.

Borgo Santo Pietro.

Ducks swim along the cypress-lined avenue at Borgo Santo Pietro in Palazzetto. There is a winding lawn with a croquet field, tennis courts, and a lake that looks like a Monet piece, complete with lilies and a real artist's studio that works at the hotel. Behind the main building is a lawn where a family of alpacas lives. The gardens are full of fresh fruit, and the vegetable garden supplies the Borgo Santo Pietro Hotel and La Bottega del Buon Caffè, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Florence.

Together with his wife, Klaus Tutrup has transformed this Italian hideaway into one of the most popular hotels in Tuscany after purchasing an authentic 18th-century villa with its own bakery and farm. The latest addition was the opening of a magnificent spa center, which offers views of fields dotted with wild flowers.

Inside, you will find eight cozy rooms and suites with frescoes on the walls, bathtubs on legs and antique furniture. Guests can also book more modern suites in the courtyard decorated with fragrant lavender. Guests will enjoy breakfast each morning in the huge farmhouse-style room or, weather permitting, on the terrace with the green hills in the background.

Bocce games are regularly organized on the lawn under the canopy of vine arches, and once a week romantic movie screenings are held in the same place, illuminated by fairy lights.

Tuscany Castelfalfi Resort

Located less than an hour's drive from Florence and Pisa, one of the best hotels in Tuscany occupies 1100 hectares of land amidst picturesque unspoiled countryside, including olive groves, vineyards, a golf course, spa and hotel. Recently, Toscana Resort Castelfalfi was acquired by an Indonesian entrepreneur who was able to significantly improve the complex. In particular, it concerns the renovated rooms. Some of the rooms have interiors decorated in the style of "the old tobacco", while others are modern new buildings with the appropriate design. Among the amenities that have recently appeared are the following:

• a climbing wall;
• a new kids' club;
• an adventure theme park with zip lines, an archery range, etc.

Both adults and children will find something to do: from cooking lessons to falconry with Harris the hawk and fishing on the lake. There is a charming, peaceful garden within walking distance of the estate, as well as a church and a medieval castle transformed into the La Rocca restaurant with fantastic views from the terrace, especially at sunset. Other venues include the Country Club House and La Via del Sale, which offer gourmet dishes such as delicious octopus pasta, or the traditional trattoria Il Rosmarino.

Borgo Pignano

This country estate, set among 750 acres of organic farmland with vineyards and olive groves, is deservedly among thetop 13 best hotels in Tuscany and Umbria. Borgo Pignano offers 14 comfortable rooms, many of which have original frescoes and even grand pianos, as well as small cottages. In addition, guests have the opportunity to book a farmhouse for up to 20 people, which is perfect for a long-term stay, even if you want to spend the whole summer in Italy. Among the facilities available to guests are the following:

• a new spa offering authentic treatments;
• a swimming pool carved out of limestone
• ballroom
• library;
• gallery and painting lessons, etc.

All the products that guests see in the form of dishes or fresh pastries in the bakery are sourced from the local land - from vegetables and fruits to meat and honey obtained from free-range bees. Even the lavender soap and high-quality olive oil are made in-house and can be purchased as souvenirs. When you get hungry, head to the Al Fresco restaurant, whose specialty is fresh wood-fired pizza. Another restaurant, Villa Pignano, offers amazing tasting menus with unusual combinations. For example, ravioli with chocolate and blue cheese or lamb with almonds and lavender. The selection of Tuscan wines is also impressive, but before heading out for dinner, be sure to visit Francisco with his bar on the terrace. This outstanding mixologist is almost as famous as the estate itself and makes some of the most delicious Negronis.

Rosewood Castiglione del Bosco

Among the top 10 best hotels in Tuscany and Umbria, Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco deserves special attention. Its history begins in 2003, when a representative of the fashion brand Massimo Ferragamo acquired a huge Montalcino estate, including olive groves, truffle-rich forests, and even one of the oldest wineries in the region. The property is also large enough to easily accommodate an 18-hole golf course.

Accommodation options currently include 42 comfortable rooms decorated in an elegant style with a French touch. The apartments include unique antiques, large and comfortable four-poster beds; some of the rooms have private terraces. Guests can also choose from 11 farmhouses, skillfully transformed into villas with private pools.

Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco offers a wide range of activities to suit all tastes, from the excitement of truffle hunting in the surrounding forests to stargazing sessions and pasta cooking classes. Be sure to visit the elegant spa to relax, and after your treatments, visit the Osteria La Canonica restaurant, located in a former priest's house.

Monteverdi

A vacation in 2003 changed the life of a Cincinnati lawyer who fell in love with the dilapidated village of Castiglioncello del Trinoro, dating back to the 12th century, at first sight. It was then that Michael Cioffi decided to buy the place, located on top of a hill with fantastic views, and turn it from an abandoned medieval monument into one of the best hotels in Tuscany and Umbria.

Monteverdi includes a main hotel as well as three villas available for booking. Thanks to the designer Ilaria Miani, it was possible to capture an aesthetic that combines modern and rustic. The ten bedrooms include ancient restored beams, lime walls and authentic Tuscan tiles. The windows offer magnificent views of Renaissance rooftops and cypress-lined valleys, and the spacious bathrooms feature huge industrial-style showers and sinks carved from solid pieces of local marble.

The following key amenities are provided for guests' comfort:

• infinity pool;
• Enoteca at Monteverdi wine bar, which offers weekly tastings and simple lunches every day;
• a picturesque lavender garden;
• Oreade restaurant, which offers a seasonal menu.

It is a place full of culture, as it regularly hosts interesting events, such as art lectures and an autumn exhibition of works created as part of programs led by Sarah McCrory.

Castello di Casole

This is not just the highest rated hotel in Tuscany , but a real majestic castle built more than a millennium ago. However, the heyday of Castello di Casole as a popular place to stay among travelers began in the 1960s. In 2018, the hotel sparkled with new colors, after a large-scale restoration of the castle and the surrounding area of 1700 hectares commissioned by the new owner Belmond.

The rooms have a sensitive Tuscan style, and 18 of the 39 bedrooms located in the main building are furnished with traditional wooden beds with exquisite carvings, and the bathrooms are decorated with expensive Carrara marble. The remaining apartments are the more modern Limonaia and Oliveto suites, decorated by Italian designer Alessandro Mendini.

The pride of the complex is the stunning spa under the vaulted ceiling, where you can order deep cleansing facials or hot stone massages. There is also an excellent restaurant on site, headed by Chef Daniele Sera, with a large selection of local wine and special views at sunset.

Castel Monastero.

This is an excellent Tuscany hotel located near Siena amidst tranquil rural landscapes. Castel Monastero in the XI century was a monastery surrounded by chestnut groves and vineyards; then - a castle, and after a while - a country residence of the aristocratic family of the Kidji. Nowadays, it is a great place to stay, which allows you to feel the warm atmosphere of Italy. Many of the rooms and suites still have authentic details, such as terracotta floors, wooden beams, and frescoes depicting the surrounding area.

The menu of Contrada restaurant was developed with the help of Gordon Ramsay, although the star chef visits this place only a few times a year, the rest of the time Nello Cassese is in charge. In addition to gourmet food, guests can enjoy weight loss, anti-aging, and detoxification programs developed by Professor Giorgio Calabrese. Also on the territory of Castel Monastero there is a special swimming pool with sea water, a huge spa center.

Hotel Castello di Reschio.

There are 50 farmhouses scattered among the picturesque hills of northern Umbria that are over 500 years old. Unfortunately, not all of them are for rent, but you can still stay in some of them. Among other things, the Hotel Castello di Reschio offers a five-bedroom Palazzo, as well as a traditional Villa São Paulo dating back to the 17th century.

The apartments harmoniously combine modern shades with a strictly worldly style: travertine marble, restored terracotta tiles, loft-style windows, stylish kitchens decorated with concrete. The owner of this good hotel in Umbria is Count Benedikt Bolza, who creates the design of the furniture himself, which is made to his order by local carpenters and blacksmiths. Here you can also see the works of sculptor Nick Fiddian Green, as well as visit the recently opened exhibition of his bronze works.

There are infinity pools, tours of wine cellars with accompanying tastings. Upon request, it is possible to sign up for culinary master classes led by Chef Rosario Russo in the restaurant's kitchen.

Torre di Moravola

Torre di Moravola is one of the best hotels for a vacation in Tuscany and Umbria. A steep gravel path leads here, winding through the wooded hills of the region. At the end of the trail you will find a 10th-century watchtower, innovatively restored by architect Christopher Chong and designer Seanside Mackenzie. Guests can stay in minimalist suites with cool gray tiled floors, marble and travertine plaster walls, which are successfully combined with monochrome carpets and deep soaking tubs.

On the grounds you will find several places for relaxing, from wide sun terraces to the swimming pool, which offers views of dense oak forests and olive groves.