Tuscany has never really needed help attracting visitors. The hills, the wine, the food, the art; it has always looked after itself. And yet, something is shifting. A new generation of hoteliers, some returning to family land, others arriving with fresh eyes and serious ambition, is quietly rewriting what a Tuscan hotel can be. This season brings a number of openings and rebirths across the region and together, they make a compelling case for booking a Tuscan trip all over again… even if you’ve already been twenty times.
1
Borgo Pignano, Florence
In the hills between Volterra and San Gimignano, Borgo Pignano is a 12th century estate with ancient stone walls, typical Tuscan terracotta floors and hand-hewn timber beams. Spread across more than 300 hectares of organic Tuscan land, it operates as a fully working agricultural estate where almost everything served at the table, used in the spa or placed in the rooms is grown or produced on site. Dining spans three distinct addresses: Villa Pignano, the Green Michelin Star restaurant under Culinary Director Stefano Cavallini and Executive Chef Angelantonio Cioffi, Ristorante Al Fresco, for long outdoor lunches in the Tuscan sunshine; and Il Camino, the more intimate fireside address for cooler evenings. Accommodation ranges from rooms and suites in the 18th-century villa to private farmhouse villas with their own pools; the newest being the 1,000-square-metre Villa Cusignano, with six bedrooms, a double pool and a private chef.
2
La Reserve, Florence
Grégory and Olivia Marciano seem like born-and-bred Florentines, but they’re 100% Parisian. In 2020, they moved with their three children to the Tuscan capital to begin a new adventure, bringing a touch of French art de vivre with them. On Via Santo Spirito, in the Oltrarno, they bought a rundown 15th-century building and turned it into six stately residences, opening on October 16th under the prestigious hotel group La Réserve. The interiors are by studio Gilles & Boissier, known for projects in villas, apartments and private yachts. And indeed, the Marcianos’ idea is precisely to make their guests feel at home in the historic center of Florence, with the Ferragamos and the Cavallis as neighbors. The renovation work was demanding. Beneath unremarkable false ceilings, they uncovered frescoes from different eras, which now enrich the custom-designed sculptural furniture, the 150 works of art and just as many antique pieces, and the art books that make both the private apartments and the shared spaces unique. Guests can cook for themselves or request a private chef, book room service from the typical restaurant Camillo, or take a cooking class with the chefs from Harris Bar. Then there are Grégory and Olivia themselves, true insiders by now, who suggest the right places and a few hidden gems, like the tennis court at their own home and an aperitivo by boat on the Arno. And of course, they drink champagne, ça va sans dire!
3
Palazzo Ruspoli, Florence
Steps from the Duomo, Palazzo Ruspoli has opened on Via de’ Martelli 5, bringing a quietly different kind of Florentine hospitality to one of the city’s most storied addresses. The building dates to the late 19th century, when Florence served as Italy’s capital, though its roots reach deeper: the site once housed the canonica of the Baptistery of San Giovanni. Architect Luigi Fragola has restored it with great intelligence combining a palette of deep, nuanced greens in dialogue with the city’s historic chromatics, reclaimed antique floors, hand-forged ironwork, and interiors that speak softly without losing their authority. Twelve rooms and suites, three independently configured apartments and a private panoramic terrace complete the offering.
4
Villa San Michele, Fiesole
After 18 months of careful restoration, Villa San Michele, one of Belmond’s eight Italian properties, reopens on 28 April 2026 with a refreshed aesthetic that honours more than five centuries of history. The new direction leans into a thoughtful balance of wellness, nature and cultural identity, with an extended season that now stretches through winter. Interiors, reimagined by Luigi Fragola’s studio, draw deeply on both landscape and legacy. The drama of the setting is undiminished, but the atmosphere is now more intimate, shaped by local materials and artisanal craftsmanship. Outside, landscape architect Luca Ghezzi has subtly elevated the grounds with new pathways, flower-filled corners, and panoramic viewpoints from which to admire Florence, far from the maddening crowds. The spa marks a notable addition. Developed in partnership with Guerlain, the brand’s first collaboration of its kind in Italy. It goes beyond the conventional, conceived as a sanctuary for slowing down. Expect natural materials, hushed lighting and treatments that nod to monastic traditions. In addition, a holistic program has been developed with designer JJ Martin, including sessions of yoga, breathing, and sound healing.
5
Le Lappe, arezzo
Tucked within the Tenuta Pratolino estate, down a half-mile dirt road that cuts through olive groves and skirts a hillside, Le Lappe pairs two ancient stone buildings: an 18th-century villa built atop the remains of a Medieval watchtower, and a 16th-century former convent. Worlds away from urban life yet just an hour from Florence’s airport, the eleven-room hotel has been in the Galeffi family since the postwar period, and reopened this year after a six-month restoration by AD100 designer Remy Renzullo and architect Niccolò Calabrese de Feo. Each room has its own woodburning fireplace, cast-iron soaking tub, and walls hand-painted by Florentine artist Assia Pallavicino, furnished with pieces from family homes, European auction houses and local artisans, nearly every item crafted or restored within an hour of the estate. At the on-site restaurant, chef Sara Gonelli, who grew up beside the property, cooks seasonal, generational recipes using estate-grown ingredients, including acclaimed high-altitude olive oil.
6
La Darbia, Chianti
A pine-shaded path winds its way to La Darbia estate. Here, a typical Tuscan country setting opens onto a self-contained estate of 17 suites, two swimming pools and a restaurant. This is the southern counterpart to the original La Darbia on Lake Orta in northern Italy, where architects Matteo and Gian Carlo Primatesta transformed an abandoned hamlet into a twenty-self-catered roomed hotel. Here, at La Darbia Chianti, Studio Primatesta did a similar job; there’s a clear dialogue between the two properties: a shared commitment to preserving rustic authenticity, balanced with pared-back interiors, natural tones and an understated, contemporary ease. As for the cuisine, Chef Matteo Monfrinotti’s menu is inspired by the seasons of the tuscan countryside, and takes a refined, creative imprint. As in their sister property, wellness is central at La Darbia and here, beyond idyllic walks along the lavender-lined pathways, retreat to one of the spa suites for some steam-room and sauna moments.
7
Chapter, Chianti
Chapter has opened it’s second chapter, following the success of Chapter Roma, in a restored 16th-century village, surrounded by more than 40 hectares of countryside. The transformation, led by South African designer Tristan Du Plessis of Studio A, reimagines the historic borgo with a confident, contemporary edge. Original features remain, but they’re offset by a design language that is sharper, more expressive. Food is central to the experience. Michelin-starred chef Vincenzo Martella oversees the hotel’s three restaurants and bars, shaping a culinary programme rooted in his “Roots and Branches” philosophy—where Italian tradition meets a more creative, modern interpretation. At Osso, Tuscan meat dishes are reworked with a lighter, contemporary touch, while the Pool Bar Parasole leans into Mediterranean ease. The Main Bar brings a more urban, New York-inflected energy, and Hey Güey, the group’s Mexican food truck, adds a playful, informal note with tacos and empanadas. Wellness here takes on a more social dimension; the 500-square-metre travertine-clad interiors house saunas, steam rooms, saltwater pools and hydrotherapy circuits.
