6 Best Hotels in Tuscany, Italy

This estate, one of the largest still in private hands in Tuscany, was purchased at the beginning of this century and meticulously converted into a second-to-none resort that incorporates a medieval borgo (village) and surrounding farmhouses and has luxurious suites, as well as opulent three- to five-bedroom villas, each with its own pool. There are two on-site restaurants, one formal, the other casual, where cooking lessons are also offered. The highly acclaimed, 18-hole golf course, designed by Tom Weiskopf, is open only to members of the golf club and hotel guests.

Located just outside of Pisa, in San Giuliano Terme—a favorite playground for 18th-century European aristocrats—this elegant resort maintains a decadent old-world feel with beautiful grounds, spacious rooms and suites, and a luxurious spa.

Worldly cares are softly washed away by the comforts of the rooms (some damask linens, tapestry-like canopies, marble highboys), the superlative attentiveness of the staff, and the hotel's magnificent garden setting. A buffet lunch is served on a canopied terrace above the pool, and numerous smaller terraces are tucked away on the sloping cliffs, perfect for a peaceful afternoon nap. Chaises and white umbrellas sit ocean-side on the beach. Some rooms are in separate cottages. If absolute privacy is your main concern—and you're willing to pay for it—one suite has a private pool.

Inspired by the beach resorts of the Greek isles, La Guardia is a minimalist retreat with sweeping sea views and plenty of wicker lamps, seagrass accents, and wooden furniture. Aperitivi on the terrace are a large part of this hotel's appeal, as is the Mediterranean menu conceived by chef Milena Andretto and prepared using only island-sourced ingredients.

Designed by postmodernist Italian architect Paolo Portoghesi, this resort hotel has sweeping views of the Maremman countryside on all sides. The pool and gardens are magnificent, the rooms are tastefully decorated, and the staff is helpful and friendly. 

Spa living might not get any more top-notch than at this resort, where you can roam in a plush white bathrobe (waiting in your room) before dipping into the 37.5°C (100°F) sulfurous pools and where seemingly every possible health and beauty treatment is available. Sleek elegance pervades public and private rooms: tall windows have floor-to-ceiling draperies in rich colors like steel blue and gray or burnt umber and sage; floors are polished wood. Eclectic furniture includes some sleigh-shape benches and oval night tables. You can opt for half or full board to complete the experience.