La Tranquillità

This quaint redbrick villa with its duck-egg-blue shutters and intoxicating gardens is an enchanting escape in the south of Tuscany. Bordered by thick, leylandii hedges, the hectare of grounds is a symphony of colour, with blooming flowers and lush Mediterranean verdure. An orchard teems with cherry, peach and plum trees ripe for the picking. On endless sunny days, loll about under the gazebo, licking peach juice from sticky fingers before jumping into the pool to cool off from the midday heat. In the late afternoon, get together for an alfresco feast under the vine-canopied portico and bask in the enticing smell of the barbecue mingling with the heady scent of rose, lavender and rhododendron. Inside, the walls and furnishings soothe in creams and whites, and rustic-chic, farmhouse touches abound. A formal dining table is the perfect place for special dinners, but if you don’t fancy cooking, Michelin-starred restaurants await your arrival in nearby Cortana.

Home truths:
*You’ll need a car to make the most out of your stay, and parking is available onsite
*The double bedroom can be converted into a twin and visa versa – just ask your host
*The swimming pool is shared with other guests and is open from the end of April to the beginning of October
*Heating, electricity and firewood all come with a set weekly charge – ask your host for more information
*City taxes are not included in the price of the stay and will be collected in person upon check-in
*There will be a weekly linen change