Vicarello di Volterra

In Tuscany, the definition of country living is fairly elastic, meaning anything from “rustic three-room monastery” to “winery with infinity pool.” At Vicarello di Volterra, any notion that you’ll be roughing it should be dispensed with as soon as you spy the villa, where five-star resort amenities are smoothly integrated with the restored interiors and antique furniture of a luxury property the size of a medieval village. Even if you do happen to be the monastic type, Vicarello’s expansive spa and wellness center will do its best to pamper you straight into modernity.

With fifteen apartment-style suites spread across six buildings, there’s certainly no danger of feeling like the frescoed walls are closing in. The interior design mostly forgoes the “edgy” juxtaposition of old and new (there’s a refreshing lack of the vaulted ceiling/postmodern chandelier motif) in favor of letting a few well-chosen public spaces handle the throwback angle. Guest rooms are spacious enough to house fully equipped kitchens, and the fresh palette of creams and whites never detracts from the peaceful setting.

Any resort worth its salt knows how to incorporate a spa, and while Vicarello di Volterra isn’t your typical wellness retreat, all the ingredients are in place, from the outdoor pool overlooking the hillside to the litany of massage treatments. If you’re inclined to leave your personal kitchen untouched — and who could blame you — the hotel’s own Borgo Vicarello restaurant offers a whirlwind tour of the regional cuisine. If you’re carbo-loading for a bike tour of the region itself, this hotel is incredibly well-situated, about an hour from Pisa, Siena and Firenze. Molto bene.

• 15 Rooms
• Style: Traditional Elegance
• Atmosphere: Quiet

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