Rooms

There are 2 villas: Gallo (sleeps 4 in 2 double/twin bedrooms) and Galletto (sleeps 2 in one double bedroom). They both back onto a gorgeous lavender garden and swimming pool, which is shared between all guests; but soaring brick walls and a clever internal layout mean that each house seems to face away from the other, with views towards rolling hills and fields. Each has its own entrance and car-parking space, and its own sunny lawned garden (we thought Galletto's was the prettier and more private of the two).

All bedrooms are air-conditioned and furnished with a mix of cool classics and traditional Italian – upholstered headboards in pale colours, diaphonous white muslin, Arne Jacobsen Ant chairs. And we love the pebble mosaics in the luxurious ensuite bathrooms.

There are fireplaces in the living rooms, for cosying up on cool spring nights. You get TV/DVD, internet access and a daily maid service. Kitchens are clean and white, with terracotta worktops and space for indoor dining if you need it.

Gallo is perfect for families, having two double bedrooms (both can be made up as twins), each with air-conditioning, personal stereo systems and ensuite bathroom. It's split over two levels, the lower part enjoying sliding full-height French windows for airy poolside living. Galletto is a scaled down version, with just one double bedroom, an ensuite bathroom with a sunken bath, a kitchen and lounge-diner. The latter has a glazed aspect which opens onto the pool terrace, but the rest of the accommodation faces a private garden and is cleverly hidden behind a wall, so honeymooners and loved-up couples can feel suitably ensconced.

Features include:

• Fan
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

Each villa is provided with a welcome hamper – basic provisions but enough to make a meal (pasta, pasta sauce, wine, tea, coffee, bread, cheese etc). For keen self-caterers there are simple shops in Pozzo (3 minutes by car), and supermarkets and a Monday fruit/veg market in Foiano (5 minutes by car). Each villa has the option of dining poolside or on its outdoor dining deck; the kitchens are smart and bright, and equipped with dishwasher, washing machine, coffee machine etc. But you don’t have to lift a finger: the “concierge villa” concept provides the option of hiring a resident cook just for one night, or for the entire holiday; or, twice a week, you can amble down to the sister hotel for dinner.

Features include:

• Chef on request
• Dinner by arrangement
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Kids' meals
• Lunch by arrangement
• Oven
• Shopping service
• Vegetarian options
• Welcome hamper

Activities

• This is a blissful spot to do very little: a morning exploring one of the nearby hilltowns, a pasta lunch and perhaps a winery tour, then a lazy afternoon around the pool and lawned gardens...
  
• Our favourite hilltowns include nearby Cortona (25km), an art-rich medieval town spilling down a hillside above the Val di Chiana; and the gorgeous duo of Montepulciano and Pienza (25-30km), the former home to Vino Nobile, the latter an immaculate homage to the locally-born 15th-century Pope, Pius II Piccolomini
  
• More energetic types can borrow the mountain bikes or tennis court at the sister hotel, or ask about horse-riding at the Farneta stables
  
• Lake Trasimeno is just 30km away, with Renaissance churches and medieval castles, boat-trips to Maggiore and Polvese islands, and sailing centres at Passignano and Castiglione
  
• A little further are Siena (50km), Italy’s best-preserved medieval city, with its black-and-white marble duomo and buzzing Piazza del Campo; Perugia (60km), a bustling city with stylish shops and jazz concerts (and home of those irresistible little Bacci chocolates); and Florence (100km along the A1), with its huge duomo, world-famous Uffizi and statue-laden piazzas
  
• Staff can also direct you to cut-price designer outlets near Montevarchi, book an 18-hole golf course near Siena, or book a masseur or yoga instructor in the unlikely event that you need help relaxing!

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Golf
• Horse riding
• Mountain biking
• Sailing
• Shopping / markets
• Tennis
• Windsurfing
• Wine tasting
• Yoga

Kids

Children are welcome, and the larger villa is perfect for a family of 4. Babysitting can be arranged and you can squeeze a fold-up bed in either house (to make 3 / 5 people respectively). And with tennis and swimming pools at the main hotel, plus a choice of catered or self-catered dining, it's an indulgent family option.

Most children aren't as captivated by Tuscany's charming vineyards and art galleries as their parents, so do a little research before you go. Florence has 3 museums especially for children 8+ (all with a playroom for those 3-7): Palazzo Vecchio, Museo di Storia della Scianza and Museo Stibbert. Climbing bell towers in towns like Siena is a good way to entertain and tire them out at the same time.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

Gallo is perfect for a family of 4 - though you should be prepared to share the pool with the occupants of Galletto (unless you book both)

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 1 hour
• Hospital: 10 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Superbly positioned in southern Tuscany, near the Umbrian border and the town of Foiano della Chiana. It's 10 minutes from the motorway, and 5 minutes from sister hotel Villa Fontelunga.

By Train
If you'd prefer to travel overland from the UK, you can reach Florence and Tuscany quite easily from London. See the excellent Seat 61 for details. There is a station at Chiusi on the Florence-Rome line.

By Air
There are some flights to Florence Peretola airport (90km). However, most people fly to Pisa Galileo (148km), then and drive or take the train. Rome and Milan airports are about 3 hours from Florence.

By Car
Driving through Tuscany's countryside is an absolute delight. If you want to hire a car, see our car rental recommendations.

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