Poggio Ai Santi

Rooms

All the suites at Poggio are spacious and beautifully decorated. The décor is still fresh and bright, and a lot of thought has gone into the styling. The effect is rather timeless: its rural roots are firmly in place, but it's clear that Francesca (who designed all the rooms) understands modern trends for simplicity. Fussy fabrics are kept to a minimum; pieces of driftwood and antique furniture add interest. Wooden shutters keep out early morning light, and fresh flowers from the garden scent the air.

The suites are spread out between 3 buildings. In the main house are 3 suites (2 Farmhouse Suites and the Farmhouse Superior Suite) and 2 Pine Forest Superior Suites. Adjacent to the house in the old stables are Garden Suite & Garden Superior Suites, and at the bottom of the garden are the 2 Sea Superior Suites. We loved the Garden Superior Suites with their patios and small garden area filled with flowers, loungers, a table and chairs. One of them, No 3, has a sea view from its patio, while No 2 has a more private garden. Our top choices are the Sea Superior Suites - at 65sqm, they have breathtaking, unobstructed views from their large balconies, which feature spoiling outdoor tubs. They really do have the wow factor.

Most recently added are the 3 Nature Suites, 150m from the main house. Their location, immersed in tranquil scrubland, was picked based on where Poggio's donkeys chose to sleep. The cabin-style suites feature a spacious bedroom with a seating area and floor-to-ceiling sliding windows that open onto a totally private terrace, cocooned in olive trees and rosemary bushes, with glimpses out to the gulf. We haven't seen them in person yet, but we think they look like dreamy honeymoon material.

The suites in the main house lack outside space (the Farmhouse Superior Suite has a very small balcony), but they are the cheapest option. The enormous bathrooms are spectacular throughout: large walk-in showers, double sinks, lots of glass and expensive tiles, plus super-stylish fittings as only the Italians know how to do!

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Central heating
• Coffee / tea making
• Minibar
• Safe box
• TV

Eating

Poggio has a restaurant, Il Sale, which serves fantastic seasonal, mainly homegrown, food. It is full of Italians, which is always a good sign, and the atmosphere is very relaxed. Its opening times vary from month to month, especially during low season (October-March). During the summer lunch and dinner tend to be on offer, and guests can sit on the adjoining terrace with its far-reaching views to the sea. Being so close to the coast, Francesca and Dominique claim they have a duty to provide good seafood, and they take this duty very seriously!

Menus change on a regular basis and there is a choice of about 6 starters and mains. We enjoyed baby squid and artichoke, tiny clams with fresh asparagus, and an amazing seafood linguine which arrived steaming in its juices inside a paper bag. Meat eaters will enjoy the finest, organic Chianina steak, prepared in a number of ways, and for vegetarians there are always fresh, seasonal dishes. The wine that accompanies the food comes mainly from a local estate, and we thought the reasonably priced Vermentino was delicious.

Breakfast (included) is a buffet served in the restaurant, and you can eat there or out on the terrace, or take your plate into the garden or back to your room. There are homemade cakes and pastries, plenty of fresh fruits, juices, yogurts, and plump tomatoes with ham and cheese that you can drizzle liberally with the fantastic olive oil made from the trees next to the hotel.

The hotel's bar-lounge, Il Sal8, describes itself as 'a laboratory of ideas', and serves up a diverse and exciting menu of cocktails, as well as offering a range of other drinks to be enjoyed on their sunny garden terrace.

The concealed kitchenettes in 2 of the Garden Superior Suites and both the Sea Superior Suites are perfect for whipping up a light lunch (you have a 2-ring hob, fridge, sink, cooking utensils and crockery) and there are several grocers and a larger Co-op down the road in San Vincenzo. In the town, you'll also find several good seafood restaurants, including the famous Gambero Rosso; Dominique and Francesca are happy to help you choose an alternative place to eat for the evening.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Organic produce
• Restaurant
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Sandy beaches are just over a 4km drive from San Vincenzo – the best of them reached via a gentle stroll through the pine trees
  
• Dominique and Francesca can arrange a whole host of watersports: windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing and kayaking can all be done nearby and they know the experts
  
• There is a golf course, Il Pegalone at Follonica, 20 minutes away
  
• If you would like to visit the local vineyards, this can also be set up, complete with a driver for the day
  
• There are numerous short walks to be taken from the hotel itself, through olive groves and down small lanes. Look out for donkeys on your way!
  
• Elba is a short ferry ride away (30 mins) and you can take your car from Piombino port, about 15km from Poggio Ai Santi. It's the largest island of the 'Tuscan Archipelago' and is less developed and more laidback than the mainland, with crystal-clear seas, sandy inlets, barren lands where cacti grow, and picturesque ancient villages
  
• Potter about in Piombino: it has a pretty historical centre with a cathedral and palazzo, and its large port is nice to stroll around
  
• Back at the hotel, the garden, with its pool, is a lovely place to spend your time. There's a huge variety of plants and a small vegetable plot (the main vegetable plot is across the road from the hotel), plus a kitchen garden full of herbs. The pool has lovely sea views and is the perfect spot for a glass of Vermentino

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Golf
• Hiking
• Kayaking
• Kitesurfing
• Plantlife / flora
• Sailing
• Swimming
• Windsurfing
• Wine tasting

Kids

No children under the age of 12 years are allowed to stay. There are 3 suites that can accommodate an extra guest on a sofabed for a supplement, plus breakfast for well-behaved teenagers aged 12 years and upwards, but it's really a romantic retreat for adults.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Poggio Ai Santi lies 3km inland from the seaside town of San Vincenzo, which is halfway between Livorno and Grosetto on Tuscany's coastline.

By Air:
There are some flights to Florence Peretola airport (170km). However, most people fly to Pisa Galileo (90km).

From the Airport
A taxi will cost around €130 from Pisa Airport, but you would be better off hiring a car (see below). Or take the train to Campiglia Marittima, 10km from the hotel, then transfer by taxi.

By Car:
See our car rental recommendations. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach the hotel from Pisa Airport.

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.

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

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