Slow, intimate, authentic. This eighteenth century farmhouse was purchased by Ubaldo and Laura who restored the property and converted it, with the help of their son Giacomo and daughter Bianca, into a family run boutique hotel. However, more than a hotel, Villa San Sanino feels like home into which the family, who lives on the premises, welcomes you with open arms.

In the mornings you wake up to this secluded setting in which nature plays a fundamental role from the sound of birds chirping to the scent of lavender and freshly mowed grass. You make your way down to La Limonaia, a restaurant set under a pergola overlooking  the vast Tuscan landscapes. In the mornings, freshly baked crostata or apple cake will be taken to your table alongside croissants, biscuits, seasonal fruit and freshly squeezed orange juice. Lunches and dinners are also served here, exclusively to in-house guests, in which the order is taken at breakfast so the family can purchase the ingredients fresh on the day. Pici, home made, with Tuscan ragù is a dish not to be missed, as is the home made cream ice-cream ‘affogato’ with coffee, limoncello, chocolate or strawberry coulis to complete your meal.

Diving deep into Tuscan culture is not defined solely by the surroundings or the cuisine. There are numerous experiences offered at Villa San Sanino from cooking classes to visiting Cantina Ercolani, a wine cellar in the Underground City of Montepulciano where various art objects and Etruscan tombs have been discovered. Or perhaps taking a crash course in Olive Oil tasting at Frantoio Buraschi, a family run oil mill who produce exceptional quality, certified olive oil.

This is for you if: You are looking for somewhere that feels like home – the walking around bare-foot kind of home.

Good to know: Villa San Sanino is 1 hr away from Siena and 1.5hrs from the airport of Florence

The feel: Intimate. With only 4 suites, even at its fullest capacity the atmosphere is quiet and idyllic.

Pillow talk: Antique furnishings contrast with advanced technology (every room has their own Netflix profile!)

Cuisine: Expect authentic Tuscan classics cooked by Laura and Mami.

Unmissable experience: Discovering the local flavours: such as the olive oil at Frantoio Buraschi, the only oil mill certified to claim the IGP Toscano Montepulciano denomination and wine among the Etruscan tombes at Cantina Ercolani.