Created to be a place where you’ll “feel the love” and return to it again and again, this farmhouse-turned-luxury-lodge sits atop a gentle rise in rural Tuscany’s pastoral Val d’Orcia. The resort’s collaborative “Amore Toscano” initiative was created to enhance the region’s rich territorial heritage. This means guests will be immersed in the flavors, colors and scents of the beloved region, sleep surrounded by the craftsmanship of local textile makers, painters, and leatherworkers, and be nourished by the bounty of the area's organic farmers, vintners and distillers.

A celebratory hymn to its location in Italy’s charmed Val d’Orcia, this villa for rent in Tuscany was created to share the owners’ love of the region and of life’s simple luxuries. The farmhouse covers a quilted hilltop in the legendary Italian countryside, and cuts a modest, if dashing figure, with its tile-roofed, traditional stone structures, lap pool on the lawn, and unobstructed views over the gentle grain fields that blanket the surrounding hills and valleys.

Nine independent accommodations are designed to be soothing and relaxing, some rooms offering garden patios, and others with views stretching across the pastoral valley. Each room or suite features locally handcrafted beds that are free of metals, and linens created by local artisans in the guests’ choice of linen or cotton. Furnishings are eclectic and easygoing, a mix of antique and vintage finds and simple, clean-lined wooden and upholstered pieces. Floors are made of well-aged stone, old beams soar overhead, and rooms and suites offer large en-suite bathrooms for additional comfort.

Luxury at Locanda comes free of bling and glitz. Instead it offers a return to life’s simple luxuries—the pleasure of a good meal, the indulgence of a poolside nap, the joy of a walk in the garden or a relaxing, deep exhale of a view. The lodge’s on-site restaurant embraces the slow food movement, relying on seasonal Tuscan products and local natural wines. Diners can select from tavern dining or alfresco eating under a pergola, with panoramic views of the countryside.

AROUND

Italy’s Val d’Orcia, crossed by the Orcia River that gives it its name, is located in Tuscany’s southernmost area, and has been a classified UNESCO World Heritage site since 2004. The village nearest this villa for rent in Tuscany is Castiglione d’Orcia, and the region is full of rolling hills, ancient villages, iconic cypress lined country roads, and a quilted rural landscape of vineyards, olive groves, and grain fields. 

Locanda offers easy access to the city of Siena, about 50 kilometers away, and makes a great base for exploring small villages such as Pienza or San Quirico d’Orcia. Must-sees nearby include the villages of Montalcino, with its 14th-century fort and Abbadia San Salvatore, with its Benedictine Abbey. The region also offers abundant hot springs, including the Bagno Vignoni, Bagni di San Filippo, San Casciano dei Bagni, Chianciano, and Rapolano Terme. Those hoping to get out will enjoy hiking and cycling in the chestnut and oak forests surrounding Monte Amiata, about a 25-minute drive from the resort.

LOCATION

Castiglione d’Orcia, Tuscany, Italy. Nearest airport: Siena (approximately 50km).

BEST TIME TO VISIT: April to October