This Tuscan Resort Is Set Inside a Unesco Medieval Village — With an Genuine Pizzeria and a Hidden Swimming Pool

Nestled only a brief distance from Florence, inside the hills of Tuscany, is a historic Medici property the place you’ll be able to stay like Italian royalty.

Providing breathtaking views from a hilltop overlooking the close by vineyards and olive groves, Tenuta di Artimino, a part of the Meliá Assortment, is steeped in historical past and tradition. The property’s origins hint again to an Etruscan settlement, which later grew to become a medieval village and, later, a beloved searching lodge of the Medici, who dominated Tuscany and Florence for 3 centuries.

The guts of the sprawling property is Villa La Ferdinanda. In-built 1596 by Ferdinando I de’ Medici, the villa, which is replete with numerous frescoes and sculptures, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Web site since 2013.

Surrounded by rolling hills and unspoiled countryside, the estate-turned-resort gives three distinctive lodgings for company to absorb its magnificence. There are the Paggeria Medicea rooms, housed subsequent to the enduring villa, the Il Borgo lodges within the village of Artimino, and Le Fagianaie nation houses — however whichever you select, every of those three settings will absolutely immerse you within the classically Tuscan environment.

As I entered the villa’s courtyard and made my method up the grand marble staircase, I couldn’t imagine the element and situation of the frescoes and work that had survived for over 400 years. You’ll assume they had been painted by the crew at Meliá once they opened the resort in 2022. Initially, the rooms within the adjoining resort had been house to horse stables centuries in the past, however hay and horses have since been changed with terracotta flooring and stone fireplaces. Nonetheless, loads of rustic Italian appeal stays.

Extra rooms are positioned within the village of Artimino itself, which is a brief stroll (or buggy experience) from the villa. These flats have been transformed from different buildings. My room was as soon as a chapel for the village. Le Fagianaie, the farmhouse, includes six different flats supposed for households and bigger teams.

The resort operates two eating places inside the property, however the tiny village has a couple of extra, together with Da Delfina, whose second-generation proprietor, Carlo, took over the restaurant from his mom within the Nineteen Fifties. (Visiting gave me an concept of how little has modified inside the village, the resort opening however.) A restaurant, a wine bar, a gelateria, and an archeology museum are additionally must-visits when you are “on the town.”

Learn on for a full assessment of the resort and what you’ll be able to anticipate whenever you go to this historic village within the coronary heart of Tuscany.

The Rooms

Rooms on the property are positioned throughout the property within the 36-room Paggeria Medicea resort adjoining to the villa, a farmhouse with six flats, and 59 flats inside the walled village of Artimino itself.

Every room exudes authentically rustic Italian vibes, with a colour palette of reds and greens set in opposition to wealthy tapestries and ornate rugs. The loos are stocked with toiletries from Culti and have walk-in showers, whereas a couple of rooms have stand-alone bathtubs.

I stayed in a village room, a part of a transformed chapel, with excessive ceilings (painted with a celestial mural), uncovered stone partitions, and a lofted bed room. (Be warned that the bed room space bought fairly heat throughout my summer season keep, and the A/C was lower than efficient.) The village-located flats even have kitchenettes and eating areas for a real residential expertise. A minibar options native snacks and, after all, wine.

Meals and Drink

Tenuta di Artimino options two eating places and a wine bar on the property, however the village is house to a small pizzeria and some different cafes.

La Cantina del Redi, housed within the historic Fattoria di Artimino, affords extra grand views that completely accompany the grand quantities of meals you can be served all through dinner. Biagio Pignatta, serving Tuscan delicacies, operates on what the resort calls a “zero-kilometer” strategy, making certain all meals served is from inside a 100-kilometer radius of the restaurant.

As a part of this strategy, Biagio Pignatta has a personal backyard that gives cooks with seasonal contemporary fruit and greens to assist them create the dishes served. A wine bar celebrates wine from the area, emphasizing the wines of Artimino.

Actions and Experiences

The property has two swimming pools, one close to the resort and one other inside the village. The bigger resort pool is ideal for stress-free with mates within the afternoon, whereas the village pool is extra intimate and a tranquil hideaway for sunbathing in peace.

Cyclists love the realm for its many hills, and the property affords bikes for exploring the countryside. Must you carry your individual, safe bike storage can also be accessible. A tennis court docket is obtainable on the property as properly.

A picnic space overlooks the sprawling vineyards, the place company will probably be supplied a gourmand picnic basket stuffed with typical Tuscan fare throughout a personal wine tasting. The resort affords a number of different actions to completely immerse you in la dolce vita, from cooking lessons to wine tastings and pairings with a sommelier. Sometimes, the resort hosts particular music occasions; throughout my keep, there was a night opera efficiency on the villa. Whereas in Artimino, you’ll be able to go to the archaeological museum and study extra concerning the village’s historical past and its earliest settlers.

Household-friendly Choices

The property features a youngsters’s play space and has different family-friendly choices akin to babysitting companies, altering tables, child beds, youngsters’ meals, and pool security fences for safety.

Tenuta di Artimino can also be fairly pet-friendly — you might even see the resort’s normal supervisor taking a name whereas his pet schnauzer sits at his ft. Pet-friendly rooms embody canine beds, meals and water dishes, a pet basket, and particular facilities.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Tenuta di Artimino options many sustainability efforts to make the property extra energy-efficient, akin to double-glazing on the home windows, LED lighting, no single-use cutlery or plates, and energy-saving home equipment. Rooms use water-efficient showers and bogs to cut back water utilization, and the property has a complete recycling program. The restaurant’s “zero-kilometer” philosophy ensures that the meals served comes from both the massive backyard on the property or inside 100 kilometers.

Choose rooms all through the property have been tailored for accessibility. Company will discover extensive entry doorways, handrails, emergency cords, stair-free entry to buildings, wheelchair entry, and walk-in showers with seats.

The Spa

After indulging in a couple of wine tastings, you’ll be able to unwind within the spa and detox with a therapeutic massage or facial. The spa affords a menu of wine-themed facials, together with a deeply hydrating “Sangiovese” and an anti-aging “Cabernet” therapy. You may also go for a soak inside a wine barrel, accompanied by a glass of wine. The spa additionally features a Finnish sauna, Turkish bathtub, sensory bathe, ice fountain, hydro-massage pool, and relaxation space, the place natural tea is served.

Location

Tenuta Di Artimino is about 45 minutes exterior Florence and half-hour from Amerigo Vespucci Airport. The Medici property itself is 1,800 acres and has beautiful views of the encompassing vineyards and olive groves. Whereas a automotive could be essential for exploring exterior the village’s confines, I discovered a lot to do inside the villa and the village throughout my keep.

How one can Get the Most Worth Out of Your Keep

Signing up for MeliáRewards, Meliá’s loyalty program, is an effective way to earn particular advantages and factors in your keep, which you need to use to guide a room sooner or later.