Nestled into the valley below Pienza, Villa Romantica lies like an island in the middle of a golden field, surrounded by beautiful gardens. Sleeping up to 12 and with a private pool and its own subterranean yoga and Pilates studio, the villa hosts retreats and workshops as comfortably and generously as it welcomes groups of friends and families enjoying holiday time together.

The building was a ruin when sisters Barbara and Sabrina found it, but with painstaking care and attention, they set about restoring the spirit of this traditional country house. They recovered bricks and tiles from fields nearby or local salvage yards and brought the oak floors, stone fireplaces and wooden-beamed ceilings back to life. Hand-painted tiles and colour-washed walls came next and antique furniture was gathered from local markets. Piece by piece, they created a comfortable, authentically Tuscan home – and a practical space for easy summer living.

In addition to the main living room with its large stone fireplace and the well-equipped farmhouse kitchen, there’s also a smaller kitchen and living room in the right wing of the house, so those staying there can enjoy their own space. The main kitchen opens out onto a large patio, where a table awaits for lunches and dinners with a view if you don’t want to eat inside. There’s also a vegetable garden to add some homegrown produce to the occasion – or a chef can do the cooking for you, as well as giving you a lesson in the fine art of Tuscan cuisine.

Near the vegetable garden, about 100m from the main building, is the spacious gym – a studio and relaxation room with a padded floor and a mirrored wall that’s ideal for classes or just your own private yoga or Pilates practice. If you book a massage (paid for locally), this is also where you’ll meet the therapist, unless you’d prefer to be outside in the lovely garden. The long, narrow pool, heated if you prefer and great for swimming lengths, is the perfect complement to a healthier week away – or just an opportunity for a cooling dip on a hot summer’s day. There are also numerous seating areas around the farmhouse, so you can always find your own space for reading or even drawing and painting the spectacular landscape laid out before you.

This being Tuscany, the surrounding area is ripe for foodies with cheese tasting in historic Pienza, just a seven-minute drive away, and wine-tasting in the world-famous Montalcino and Montelpulciano, both less than half an hour away. Perfectly picturesque Bagno Vignoni is about a 20-minute drive away. For centuries, pilgrims have stopped here on their way to Rome to enjoy the natural thermal springs – and you’re welcome to do the same, perhaps after a walk through the spectacular Val d’Orcia countryside.

Our choice of Italian properties is diverse, ranging from simple charm to genuine luxury and style. Much of our portfolio is privately owned, and price alone is therefore not a universal guide. We contract all our accommodation in person, and each property has its individual appeal.

To help you make the right choice based on your own priorities, we have devised a simple grading guide to be considered in conjunction with each individual property description, awarding up to a maximum of five stars for the below categories.