Relais San Pietro

Rooms

In the farmhouse there are 6 rooms (a single, 3 doubles and 2 suites); in the Canonica, a converted priests’ house, there are 4 more (2 doubles, 2 suites). They come in a variety of shapes and sizes but they are basically of the same style, each named after a flower (Clematis, Rosa Antica, Orchidea - denoted by flower-sprigged straw hats hung on the walls). All have beamed ceilings, shutters at the windows, white cotton bedspreads, wrought iron headboards, kilims on glazed terracotta floors, white-washed walls, hand-painted doors and matching furniture. The look is classic Tuscan farmhouse – simple, uncluttered, hand-crafted – but with an extra layer of comfort.

As in most old farmhouses, some of the rooms are a little dark, with small windows and sombre colours, but dark means cool – though they are all air conditioned except for the single (Mimosa) and the smallest of the doubles (Charming). Each is provided with mineral water, fresh fruit and flowers (there was a huge vase of fragrant longi lilies in our room); some have sunny aspects and lovely views. The bathrooms (most just have showers) are clean and white-tiled, with bathrobes and L’Erbario Toscano toiletries.

Our choice would be Peonia (a sunny Deluxe Suite in the Canonica, with a little living room and views of the hills), Rosa Gialla (a spacious Junior Suite) or Rosa Blu (a double in the farmhouse).