If you are looking for a quite little place where to relax and enjoy nature, the agriturismo La Loccaia between Arezzo and Siena is the place to be. Surrounded by vine-clad hills, the place has plenty to offer; from the beautiful garden 2,500 square metres in size to the luxury swimming pool! Several package deals are available. Read below:

Basic package which includes two nights’accommodation (Friday and Saturday) in a double room, breakfast and free swimming at the spa in Rapolano Terme. Price: 95 euros per person; silver package which is a bit more expensive (120 euros) but includes two nights’accommodation, breakfast, dinner and free swimming; gold package that will set you back 150 euros but you will get free tickets to the spa and its various therapies and treatments. Last but not least the platinum package deal for which you must be ready to spend 160 euros. For further information please click here.

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Trapadvisor has just announced the winners of 2010 Travellers’choice destinations awards with Italian destinations ranking among the first three in almost every category. Venice got second place after Montecarlo in the category “best destination in the world, with Florence, Rome and Siena close behind”. Venice also got second place in the list of the world’s most romantic cities, while Florence won in “Best Destination in the World for Culture & Sightseeing”. The only sore point is there are no Italian destinations in the best sea- side resort category, but I’m sure that things will go better next year!

Photo | PhillipC

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Spring is without doubt the best part of the year to visit Tuscany; the whole region is abuzz with the sound of bees and twittering of birds and its rolling green hills seem to have come out of a Renaissance painting. I know this because I have been there. Last May I spent a few days at The Podera La Sterza, a lovely bed and breakfast which offers high quality services and luxurious facilities, including an amazing swimming pool. Moreover the place is just about a half-hour’s drive from Pisa, Siena, Firenze and San Geminiano. This means you don’t have to plan your excursions in advance, but just follow the whim of the moment. By the way, a double room at the Podere La Sterza will set you back about 90 euros (breakfast and brunch included)

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Planning a romantic getaway in Tuscany and the money is not a problem? If your answer is yes, well you don’t need to look any further, the Andana hotel in Maremma is what you were looking for! Situated in the enchanting area between Chianti and the old city of Siena, the hotel was originally one of Duke Leopold ‘s country houses. With its marvellous gardens, green rolling hills and amazing views over the centuries-old vineyards which dot the whole region, the place is a true corner of paradise. The only drawback is that one night at the Antana hotel will cost you 550 euros (double room), but if you want to go the whole hog and stay in one of the luxurious suites, be ready to be set back 1800 euros at least!

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In the heart of Tuscany you will find the Val di Chiana, a valley that runs from the northern part of Lazio, up through the provinces of Siena, Perugia and Arezzo. It’s a nature’s paradise where the famous chianina Tuscan beef comes from. If you’ve ever had good quality meat in Tuscany, including the famous fiorentina steak, it comes from the cows of this region.

With the arrival of spring (we’re hopeful that it will come!), the Val di Chiana is the perfect place to go hiking and trekking in Italy, or even horse riding and cycling. If you prefer to err on the lazy side, there’s the Trenonatura train which will take you through some scenic parts of the valley.

The Montefollonico and Montepulciano trek is an easy 6 km walk which can be completed in a couple of hours. You can enjoy the white paths from the Vinsanto sweet wine town to Montepulciano. For more hard-core walkers, there’s the “Anello di Pietraporciana” which is 15.5 km long and which takes about five hours. It takes you around the Villa della Foce in Pienza, and to the small hamlet of Castiglioncello del Trinoro, near Sarteano. For more information on the lovely Val di Chiana, see the Terre di Siena tourism website.

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Not far from the picturesque village of Montalcino and the ancient town of Siena, there’s a lovely relais called Borgo di Castello Banfi; surrounded by green rolling hills and beautiful vineyards, the relais comprises several old stone houses which in the old days were part of the medieval castle that still dominates the valley; the place has 9 rooms, 5 suites ( all elegantly furnished) and a swimming pool with an amazing view over the Tuscan landscape; a three- night’s stay at this luxurious hotel will cost you 540 per person (1110 if you should decide to take one of the suites); the package includes delicious meals, massages at the wellness centre and guided tours of the wineries in Val D’Orcia.

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Located in the green rolling hills around the ancient town of Siena, the Fonteverde hotel and spa has 66 rooms and several luxury suites which are all finely decorated and feature terraces and balconies with an amazing view over the scenic hills of Tuscany . The place also offers several body and beauty treatments including thermal baths and oil massages. And if you should need advice, don’ worry, you can easily talk to one of the doctors who work at the spa. Situated in a 17th century palace, the hotel offers a really interesting package which includes 2 nights’ stay in a double room for only 604 euros ( from Sunday to Thursday). Weekend breaks, however, will cost you 770 euros. The offer includes breakfast, lunch and dinner for two at the restaurant La Corte, several body and beauty treatments and free access to the thermal swimming pools. If you love to take long walks, the hotel also organizes guided excursions which usually take place early in the morning. For more information please click here.

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Not far from Siena there’s an old fort which a few years ago was turned into a luxury relais called Fortilizio Piccolomini; surrounded by scenic rolling hills and beautiful cypress trees, which also line the avenue leading to the main entrance, the relais is 1,838 square metres in size and features 62 rooms, 25 bathrooms, more than 20 flats and several outbuildings (included an old house still in need of repair work) . The place was part of a small medieval fort whose structure is somehow still visible. Its price is set at 7,8 million euros; a bit on the steep side I agree, but one must consider that the Fortilizio Piccolomini is a huge property with wellness centre and tennis court!

Continue reading: Luxury relais on sale near Siena

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Travel portal Trivago, for the Church month of May, has published the most appreciated basilicas, cathedrals and churches in Italy. The top ten churches of Italy are based on the number of internet searches completed in March and April of this year on the Trivago site.

To test your knowledge of Italian churches, we’ve put up the photos of the top ten, most of which are so well known, you shouldn’t have any problems identifying them. The “solution” is after the jump.

All photos from Flickr, from Allie_Caulfield, Mypoorbrain, freshwater2006, Bruce_of_Oz, barb_ar, Roby Ferrari and Wiki Commons.

Continue reading: Italy's most popular churches

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Not far from Siena and Arezzo, there’s a luxury villa up for sale; located in the small town of Foiano della Chiana, this grand house which was built only a few years ago can be yours for only 5 million euros! I know, it’s not cheap but we are talking about a very large house set over four floors and finely finished.

Continue reading: Modern Italian villa for sale in Tuscany

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Whenever clients look back on the days they spent at the hotel Locanda dell’Amorosa, a string of enthusiastic adjectives seems to flow from their pens; this according to the TripAdvisor website at least! Located in the small town of Sinalunga, Tuscany, the hotel (which among other things features an amazing outdoor swimming pool) seems to have come out a fairy tale; it has 24 rooms which include mini bar and internet access and prices range from 200 to 250 euros per night - breakfast included (clearly the price depends on the period you choose)

If you are an outdoor kind of guy, don’t worry, the hotel also offers a wide range of outdoor activities; you can hire a bike or motorbike and discover, on your own, the beauty of the Tuscan countryside or book a visit to the local wineries, dairies and salami factories. The hotel is only a few miles from such beautiful towns as Montepulciano, Pienza, Montalcino and Siena, so you will have the whole of Tuscany within your reach!

Montepulciano a 17 chilometri, Pienza a 22 chilometri, Montalcino a 38, Siena a 47, sempre partendo da Sinalunga, facilmente raggiungibile dall’autostrada A1, 8 chilometri dall’uscita Valdichiana. Un punto di partenza perfetto per un fine settimana in Toscana, per fare il pieno con la natura, la storia, i paesaggi, i cibi e i vini di una delle più belle zone d’Italia.

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We think we may have found the perfect accommodation in Siena, Tuscany, but you’ll have to wait a while to stay. Called Castel Monastero, the country resort will open in July this year, giving guests the opportunity to stay in an Italian medieval hamlet from the 11th century.

The hamlet is called Monastero dell’Ombrone and is situated about 23 kilometres from Siena in the Valle dell’Ombrone. The area is known for its beautiful landscape, amongst the vineyards of Chianti, with hillsides covered in wheat, chestnut forests and cypress walks.

The Tuscan country resort offers 74 suites, a villa, a spa, three swimming pools and a restaurant all in four hectares of green space. Rates haven’t been published yet, but should soon appear on the Castel Monastero site. Other sites of interest in the area include Monteriggioni, San Gimignano, Castellina in Chianti, Radda in Chianti, Greve in Chianti, Pienza, San Quirico d’Orcia and Bagno Vignoni.

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