Follonico Hotel

A mellow old farmhouse, set in beautiful countryside in the UNESCO-protected Val d’Orcia, lovingly restored by its owners who run it as a laid-back, intimate agriturismo, albeit with the style and feel of a boutique hotel.

The 200-year-old stone building is set in delightfully informal organic gardens brimming with lavender and climbing roses, where friendly family pets and chickens, geese and the odd sheep roam freely. Vineyards and olive groves provide the wraparound backdrop.

The retro interiors reflect the simple, Tuscan vernacular rural architecture, but not at the expense of comfort; beds are firm and made up with beautiful linens, the spacious bathrooms have rain showers. There’s a superb home-made breakfast that includes freshly-baked bread, homemade cakes and jams, free-range eggs and in-house honey.

A perfect choice for those who want an authentic Tuscan experience, this is an ideal launch pad for exploring the beautiful Val d’Orcia and its lovely hilltowns. Siena is an hour’s drive to the north.