battyet
Google
We stayed in Castello La Leccia for 3 nights after several busy days exploring Florence and Lake Garda. Unlike many of the guests, we weren’t using the hotel as a central location whilst exploring Tuscany but were simply looking for somewhere to relax and unwind, and that’s exactly what we found.||The hotel itself is beautiful, with a rustic charm yet everything has been carefully designed and feels clean and crisp and modern at the same time. The grounds are large but not sprawling so everything is just a short stroll away, yet at the same time the limited rooms means you can have your own space and barely see other guests at times. We felt like we had an intimate and private hotel to ourselves at points. ||The views of the grounds and Tuscan hills are nothing short of spectacular, whether that’s during the day or on an evening watching the sun set with colours I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. The photographs simply don’t do it justice. There is an abundance of outdoor space to take it all in, with several locations to sit and enjoy. It was a little cooler when we visited in early October but we found the Lemon House (conservatory) was perfect to get the sun (there was still plenty during the day), views, and stay warm with a glass of wine. The pool is stunning and has an infinity view whilst you’re in it - although it’s not for the faint hearted later in the year. ||We had a room in the separate annex that was large, clean and again had a rustic yet modern charm. Warning, the bathroom element in these rooms is separated from the bedroom with just a screen, something we only discovered when we got there but it was private enough once we got used to it. We were really happy with the room regardless and it has everything you’d expect of a modern boutique hotel. ||The food was excellent. We happened to stay when there were a couple of themed nights so tried the main menu, pizza night and a BBQ night and all were great and reasonably priced. The lunch menu is smaller but has plenty of choice. The wine and drinks were the same, their own wine was excellent and well priced. Breakfast was also excellent with both self serve pastries and continental food, and cooked to order options. The food and drinks are all agroturismo, meaning everything is local to the area (within reason of course), which made it all the more special. ||Other things to note are that you just charge to your room throughout, which makes for a stress free experience (and we were taken through out bill day by day as we checked out to ratify). You’re served delightful snacks with most of your drinks. The sauna and steam room are great but need to be booked (no stress though) so you have privacy for your time in there. They also offer a reduced rate wine tour for guests, which was excellent and we only paid €15 each. The walk/hike around the grounds says expert and says 2 hours duration, yet I’m a novice at best and was wearing simple trainers and it only took me an hour - the last part is a slog back up the hill but it’s worth a go if you have some spare time. The markers on the route keep you right so you can’t really get lost. ||Because we were simply staying at the hotel and not touring, we relied on public transport - but be warned, there are no trains that will get you close and taxis are not easy to find. We took the train from Florence to Poggibonsi, and booked a taxi to and from the hotel (about 30 mins) with a reliable and friendly local taxi driver : Stefano (Chianti Drive) - +39 333 284 9710. We couldn’t recommend him enough, he was like our personal tour guide on the drive, he turned up when he promised, and he adjusted to take us all the way to Florence on the way back after train strikes caused us some trouble. We simply dealt with him via WhatsApp to book. Taxi from Poggibonsi to the hotel was €60 each way and €150 to Florence. ||The thing that struck us most about this hotel, other than the extreme beauty of the place, was the friendliness and attentiveness of the staff who made you feel welcome and nothing seemed too much. They explain it as you being part of their family and it really felt that way, I’ve not experienced service like that before. ||Simply the best hotel experience I’ve ever had - beautiful, relaxing and enjoyable.