In short… An elegant, five-room agriturismo in the Maremma—a beautiful yet sleepy part of Tuscany, and a short drive from vineyards, Etruscan ruins, charming villages and lovely beaches.
The vibe… A beautiful project in which four family members all came together with their very different skill sets to create an extremely tasteful place that feels like a refuge. It all started when Silvio, a hotel-industry executive, and his wife moved permanently to this area, wanted to do a local project, and found an abandoned agriturismo that was quite near their farm. His sister, Giuska, was ready for a change after many years of working with Médecins sans Frontières, and was happy to come run the inn—arriving with her four rescue horses and her dog Otto, who doubles as Locanda Fontelupa’s greeter. Their mother, a retired doctor and yoga teacher, was also looking to spend more time in the countryside. All the pieces came together, and they opened two years ago.
The rooms… I loved the styling of the place—it defies a quick label for sure. It felt almost Shaker-meets-Tuscan with a little Far East (beautiful suzanis from Uzbekistan). In a world where so many hotels are over designed, or small family properties might have too much clutter or personal effects, this was just brilliant. I was so curious about how it came together, and in such a short amount of time, that I asked Silvio to share a bit about its design. “I had in mind a place that would defeat the rustic Tuscan stereotype, a nomadic house that would blend local craftsmanship with our own collection of pieces from travels all over the world. I also researched through friends and dealers the pieces that were missing. On the one hand, the guest comfort was given priority, hence the amazing mattresses and many other functional details, and on the other, the layering of objects that had to be old and worn out surrounds you with a feeling of being welcomed in an encampment in a faraway place.”
The food & drink… Everything is local and organic—they care deeply about knowing all their suppliers, and many of them have become friends. There is a lovely breakfast buffet with an abundance of beautiful homemade cakes alongside local yogurts and cheeses, and they like to cook with heirloom wheats that have no or little gluten. I was there for dinner one evening and sat with other guests, all of them very interesting creative types, who were attracted to the place for its values as much as its location.
The wellness… In the off season they have yoga retreats, dance and watercolor workshops.
Be sure to… Take a late afternoon walk in the nearby Etruscan archaeological park, Roselle.
Date of stay… September 24-26, 2024
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