La Saracina

"Six rooms, two sisters, and a gorgeous cypress-lined driveway to welcome you"

You know the drive. The one where the gravel crunches under the tyres, flanked on both sides by perfectly spaced, slender cypress trees. It's a classic Tuscan image, but when the hill finally drops away to reveal La Saracina — an old stone farmhouse tucked into banks of lavender and unruly roses - it feels entirely personal.

The Story Behind It

La Saracina has been welcoming travellers since 1997, when a local family took over the property from the American couple who first converted the farmhouse. Today, it's run by two sisters. Gabriella manages the house on site with the help of Oscar, the resident Cocker Spaniel, and is the one you'll most likely meet at breakfast. That sense of family-run hospitality comes through, from the deliberate arrangement of the morning table to the local tips they share over coffee. It really does feel less like a hotel and more like staying with old friends who happen to own a beautiful piece of the valley.

The Rooms

With just six rooms, there's certainly no risk of overcrowding here. Each room has its own independent entrance from the Mediterranean garden and a small, private spot to sit outside. They underwent a full renovation in 2022, retaining the authentic Tuscan architecture such as exposed beams, vaulted brick ceilings, and cool terracotta floors, paired with a mix of antiques and textiles collected over the years.

The bathrooms are large and functional, featuring proper walk-in showers. But what guests usually remember most are the smaller details: the heavy, stonewashed linen sheets that stay cool and breathable even during a sticky July afternoon.

For a bit more self-reliance, there is also an independent apartment with its own kitchen and terrace — ideal if you want to make your own lunch after a morning at the market.

What We Love

Mornings at La Saracina are not something to be rushed. In the cooler months, breakfast is set up by the fireplace in the courtyard's glasshouse; when it warms up, everything moves out to the terrace facing the valley. The food is simple and exceptionally good: daily baked bread, cakes, organic jams, local pecorino, and regional cold cuts.

Once or twice a week, La Saracina cooks a casual, shared dinner for whoever wants to join. It's entirely optional, but sitting around a table passing platters of traditional handmade pasta is usually one of the highlights of a stay and guests really look forward to it. The rest of the day tends to revolve around the stone pool, which sits quietly among the olive trees. If you want to explore further, they can help sort out cooking classes, wine tastings, or even a Vespa rental, but the landscape here really invites you to stay in and enjoy the day.

Getting Around

You will certainly want a car. La Saracina sits right between Montepulciano and Pienza — both are an easy fifteen-minute drive, making them perfect options for dinner. Siena and Lake Trasimeno are about an hour away, while Florence is roughly two hours. Having a car also means you can stop at the smaller wineries, workshops, and roadside trattorias that rarely make it into guidebooks.

If you are flying in, Florence and Rome are the most straightforward options. And while a car handles the luggage, renting a Vespa for a sunny afternoon loop through the UNESCO Val d'Orcia is highly recommended.