Colle Alberti Country House

Rooms

There are 18 rooms in this sprawling country house, from cosy doubles with garden views to spacious suites with sofabeds for extra guests. Some of the rooms have exposed wooden beams or scalloped brick ceilings – a testiment to the history of the building and the traditional architecture of the area. Otherwise, the style is clean and minimalist, with simple furnishing made with natural materials and a neutral palette.

The Standard Rooms are just right for a couple looking for a simple base from which to explore Tuscany, while the Superior and Superior Plus rooms are better for honeymooners wanting to spread out a bit and enjoy the views. We stayed in a Superior Room, which was simple and spacious, with windows that opened out to the most beautiful views over the vineyards.

If you want to whip up your own meals, there's the Junior Suite with Kitchen or The Barn – a split-level cottage with two double bedrooms (one can be twinned), two ensuite bathrooms and a fully equipped kitchen.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Bathrobes
• Coffee / tea making
• Cots available
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Safe box
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is served in the glass-walled dining room or outside in the sunshine, and includes a generous buffet with freshly baked bread, fruit, pastries, yoghurt, local cheeses and homemade jam. They also offer à la carte options like scrambled eggs, omelettes and fluffy pancakes, along with your choice of coffee.

Dinner is a set three-course menu with a pasta dish or soup, a main course and a dessert. The menu changes daily, inspired by the seasons, the freshest ingredients available, and a touch of creativity from their chef. When we stayed, we enjoyed tasty malfatti (ricotta dumplings), delicately pan-fried cod and chickpeas, and a light yet decadent tiramisu. The dishes reflect the warm, genuine flavours of traditional Tuscan home cooking, and are best enjoyed alongside a bottle of the estate's wine and a view of the sunset.

There's also an inviting bar with comfortable seating and cosy nooks scattered around. Have a drink and chat with their friendly team, or take your glass down to the pool to sip in the sun.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Dinner by arrangement
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Take a day trip to Florence, just under an hour's drive but we recommend taking the train from nearby Empoli station and make sure to book any sights well in advance.
  
• Pisa and Lucca are also both within an hour, both glorious medieval cities with iconic buildings, galleries, great shopping and fine Tuscan food
  
• A lesser known gem is Pistoia, half an hour north, packed with Romanesque churches, atmospheric lanes, plus markets, street music and a modern art museum
  
• The hotel can arrange private guided tours of the nearby cities but make sure to request this in advance, especially in the summer months
  
• There's a vast network of cycling routes accessible from the hotel so it's easy to explore this beautiful landscape on bike. The hotel can arrange bike rental on request.
  
• Visit the nearby town Cerreto Guidi and explore the centuries old Villa Medicea and the hunting museum inside
  
• Culture and wine lovers will love the tour of the wine cellars to learn more about the building and the area's fascinating history
  
• After a day of exploration, the unheated 15m pool (open April to October) is the perfect place to unwind and cool down

  Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Cooking classes
  • Cycling
  • Golf
  • Hiking
  • Historical sites
  • Private guided tours
  • Shopping / markets
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Walking
  • Walking tours
  • Wine tasting

Kids

With a range of rooms and even self-catering options, this is a great place for families to relax and unwind. Keep in mind, there isn't much for children to do on the property, and nothing within walking distance, but if you're looking for a simple base to come back to after a day of sightseeing, it's a beautiful and spacious spot.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

All but one of the rooms can fit a baby cot on request, and a handful of the rooms and suites have a sofa bed on request for older children. For self-catering, opt for the Junior Suite with Kitchen or The Barn.

For larger families, The Barn has two double bedrooms, and one can be made into a twin room.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

Distances:

• Shop: 5 min drive/2 km
• Hospital: 12 min drive/5.6 km
• Beach: 1 hr drive/65 km (Marina di Pisa)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Colle Alberti overlooks the Arno valley in northern Tuscany equidistant between Pisa and Florence.

By Air:
Pisa airport is 50km away and is served by lots of international flights - click on the links below for a list of airlines. Florence airport is only 40km, but served by fewer flights.

From the Airport
The hotel can arrange transfers, but most guests hire a car as part of a wider tour of Tuscany - see our car-rental recommendations. There is a large car park beside the hotel.

By Train:
Florence and Pisa are both well connected to other parts of Italy. You can take a taxi from the stations to the hotel, or ask staff to arrange a transfer.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Italy and getting around