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

Nestled only a brief distance from Florence, throughout the hills of Tuscany, is a historic Medici property the place you possibly can dwell 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 center of the sprawling property is Villa La Ferdinanda. Inbuilt 1596 by Ferdinando I de’ Medici, the villa, which is replete with varied frescoes and sculptures, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Web site since 2013.

Surrounded by rolling hills and unspoiled countryside, the estate-turned-resort supplies three distinctive lodgings for visitors to soak up 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 ambiance.

As I entered the villa’s courtyard and made my means 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 suppose they had been painted by the staff at Meliá after they opened the lodge in 2022. Initially, the rooms within the adjoining lodge had been residence 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 allure stays.

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

The lodge operates two eating places throughout the property, however the tiny village has a number 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 throughout the village, the lodge 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 lodge and what you possibly can anticipate while you go to this historical village within the coronary heart of Tuscany.

The Rooms

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

Every room exudes authentically rustic Italian vibes, with a shade 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 number 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 acquired fairly heat throughout my summer time keep, and the A/C was lower than efficient.) The village-located residences even have kitchenettes and eating areas for a real residential expertise. A minibar options native snacks and, in fact, wine.

Meals and Drink

Tenuta di Artimino options two eating places and a wine bar on the property, however the village is residence 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 may be served all through dinner. Biagio Pignatta, serving Tuscan delicacies, operates on what the lodge calls a “zero-kilometer” strategy, guaranteeing 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 lodge and one other throughout the village. The bigger lodge pool is ideal for stress-free with associates within the afternoon, whereas the village pool is extra intimate and a tranquil hideaway for sunbathing in peace.

Cyclists love the world for its many hills, and the property affords bikes for exploring the countryside. Do you have to carry your personal, safe bike storage can also be obtainable. A tennis courtroom is offered on the property as effectively.

A picnic space overlooks the sprawling vineyards, the place visitors can be supplied a gourmand picnic basket stuffed with typical Tuscan fare throughout a personal wine tasting. The lodge affords a number of different actions to totally immerse you in la dolce vita, from cooking lessons to wine tastings and pairings with a sommelier. Sometimes, the lodge hosts particular music occasions; throughout my keep, there was a night opera efficiency on the villa. Whereas in Artimino, you possibly can go to the archaeological museum and study extra in regards to 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 similar to babysitting companies, altering tables, child beds, children’ meals, and pool security fences for safety.

Tenuta di Artimino can also be fairly pet-friendly — you may even see the lodge’s basic supervisor taking a name whereas his pet schnauzer sits at his ft. Pet-friendly rooms embrace 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, similar 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 scale 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 broad entry doorways, handrails, emergency cords, stair-free entry to buildings, wheelchair entry, and walk-in showers with seats.

The Spa

After indulging in a number of wine tastings, you possibly can 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 can too go for a soak inside a wine barrel, accompanied by a glass of wine. The spa additionally features a Finnish sauna, Turkish tub, sensory bathe, ice fountain, hydro-massage pool, and relaxation space, the place natural tea is served.

Location

Tenuta Di Artimino is about 45 minutes outdoors Florence and half-hour from Amerigo Vespucci Airport. The Medici property itself is 1,800 acres and has gorgeous views of the encircling vineyards and olive groves. Whereas a automobile could be needed for exploring outdoors the village’s confines, I discovered loads to do throughout the villa and the village throughout my keep.

Find out how to Get the Most Worth Out of Your Keep

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