Borgo Iesolana

At the centre of an immaculate patchwork of fields, vineyards and woods, this irresistible group of old buildings. Mellow stone and warm brick blend, flowers tumble from terracotta pots, arches invite you in out of the sun, a pool beckons. Giovanni and Francesco inherited the estate from their grandfather and live here with their young families. They have created beautiful suites, all different, from the farm buildings, and it is a solid, sensitive conversion. The décor is an upmarket, uncluttered mix of traditional and new: good beds and fabrics, super kitchens, thoughtful lighting. This, too, is an impeccable restoration, with modern Italian furniture and big windows. Lunch and dinner are available every day at the hotel restaurant Trattoria Iesolana: local produce and traditional Tuscan fare. Enjoy an aperitivo at the bar. The farm is beautifully run (the very vines are edged with roses) and produces wine, olive oil, grappa and honey. It lies alongside an old Roman road that once linked Siena with Florence, with views on all sides of Chiantishire.