Rooms

Villa Lena’s beautifully simple accommodation is bright, cool and airy: perfect for siestas once Tuscany’s summer heat kicks in. There are artistic touches everywhere, with carefully chosen art hanging on the walls, and small additions that bring interest to otherwise modest interiors: ours had an old typewriter, an Oriental room screen and tiny pops of colour throughout.

The handsome San Michele Large Superiors are great value, with views across the valley and comfortable furniture to make guests feel at home, plus space for an extra bed if you're bringing the little ones. If you'd prefer a little extra space, the Fattoria rooms are housed in a former stable block and have lovely beamed-ceilings, exposed stonework and big French windows.

Families with older kids love the Renacchi apartments (2-3 bedrooms), which are a 10-minute stroll from the main house, and perfect for dipping in and out of Villa Lena’s social side. The building has its own pool, plus a playground and lots of space to run around. Or, for ultimate privacy, there's Casetta Bella, a 3-bedroom house set 15 minutes' walk from the main property, with it's own patio area and private pool shared with the larger 4-bedroom Maison Stento, which has a full kitchen and separate living area.

Features include:

• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Iron
• Minibar
• Mosquito net
• WiFi

Eating

Grown on-site or sourced locally, the food at Villa Lena is beautifully fresh and full of flavour. The set dinner menu changes daily, and a couple of specials offer alternatives if you need them. Everything is distinctly Italian, but resident international chefs change on a monthly basis and bring their own individual style to the table. Our mushroom risotto flan starter was melt-in-the-mouth delicious, but it was the homemade pasta that really stood out. Light and fresh, a simple ricotta ravioli tasted even better when laced with butter, sage and parmigiano.

Breakfast is a buffet of cold meats and cheeses, fresh bread and cakes. For a supplementary cost, guests can order from a small menu of cooked breakfasts (the smashed avocado was worth it). Light lunches are available on request, served on the terrace beside the pool; dinner and breakfast are eaten in the light and airy restaurant, which overlooks rolling Tuscan hills. If you're staying in the apartments you'll find the kitchenettes useful for whipping up lunches or snacks, likewise in Casetta Bella; the San Michele rooms share a communal kitchen.

Features include:

• Bar
• Coffee maker
• Communal dining
• Kids' meals
• Lunch by arrangement
• Organic produce
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Immerse yourself in creativity: workshop with the artists in residence, listen to talks, join in debates and try various mediums: perhaps ceramics, songwriting or painting
  
• We particularly like the sound of the woodland poetry readings, mask-making sessions and fresh floral potions
  
• Join a morning or evening guided yoga session on the beautiful shaded pavilion, with its long views over rolling hills
  
• Borrow a mountain bike to explore or join the 1.5-hour guided hike that takes guests to secret corners of this beautiful estate and through the kitchen gardens
  
• Learn to cook like an Italian. Join the resident chef to make pizza and pasta, or go foraging for a true farm-to-table experience. We tried the pasta making, and our kids loved getting their hands dirty
  
• Spend an afternoon wine-tasting or join a cocktail-making evening in San Michele’s bar. You can day-trip to nearby vineyards, too
  
• Step back in time as you explore the cobbled streets of medieval town San Gimignano, a Unesco site. Don't miss the famous Gelateria Dondoli, with its exciting gelato combinations
  
• Late September-December is truffle-hunting season; search with the expert dogs, then take home what you find - or have it whipped up into pasta dishes by the resident chef, and served with Villa Lena's own wines

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Art classes
• Cooking classes
• Cycling
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Truffle hunting
• Wine tasting
• Yoga

Kids

All ages are well catered for at Villa Lena, with under-3s staying for free. A shallow pool, playground and toy-room keeps little ones entertained, while older children will love the cinema and games room. A long way from anywhere, there’s not much within walking distance to explore. But with more than enough space for all ages to run around in, and creative workshops such as pizza-making and foraging tours that appeal to kids, they certainly won’t get bored. During school holidays, there are free art activities for children, led by visiting art educators.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Close to the main pool, splash pool and restaurant, the Fattoria rooms are well-suited to families with young kids. For large family groups, we’d recommend the spacious Renacchi apartments, which are 10 mins' walk from the main restaurant and share their own pool and playground. Or at 15-20 minutes' walk there's Casetta Bella, a 3-bedroom self-contained house (2 doubles, 1 twin) with a kitchen, living area, and patio, and the even larger Maison Stento which has 4 ensuite bedrooms (3 can be twins), plus a full kitchen, dining, living, and patio; both of these share a private pool.

Distances:

• Airport: 45-minute drive (Pisa)
• Hospital: 20-minute drive
• Shop: 15-minute drive

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Reached via roads barely on the map (though our satnav did get us there), Villa Lena feels a long way from anywhere. And yet, while you’ll need a car to reach it, many of the region’s big hitters, including Florence, Siena, San Gimignano and Lucca, are under 2 hours’ drive, making day-trips possible.

By Air:
Pisa Airport (45km) is a 45-minute drive, and Florence Airport (63km) is just over an hour.

From the Airport:
Villa Lena offers transfers but we'd recommend you hire a car so you can explore the region.

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