Ah, unwinding in Italia! My favorite place to relax in Italy is currently Tuscany. My husband and I went to Italy for the first time this past June for our honeymoon. After a hectic year of wedding planning, we were looking forward to a stretch of relaxation. As the Italians like to say: la dolce far niente. The sweetness of doing nothing. Except maybe eating endless proscuitto and sorbetto.
In order to accommodate both of our interests, we opted for a mixture of sightseeing and relaxation. The itinerary included Venice, Tuscany, Sorrento, Positano, Capri, and Rome. We made sure not to book too many sightseeing activities so we could truly relax.
All of the stops were great but my favorite place to decompress was surprisingly Tuscany.
I say surprisingly because as someone who grew up on the east coast, I tend to gravitate towards the beach. And while the Amalfi Coast area was indeed stunning, it was quite crowded and difficult to get around at times.
WHY TUSCANY
The countryside scenery is also equally breathtaking. There are many beautiful views, from the rolling hills of the Chianti vineyards to the beautiful wildflowers and olive groves. It’s very peaceful and significantly less crowded than the Amalfi region. The people are warm, the food amazing and there is a lot to see and do. It was the perfect place to unwind.
WHAT TO DO
Despite being nestled in the countryside, there are many activities including wine and olive oil tastings, hiking, horseback riding, and sunrise hot air balloon rides. You can hire private drivers to take you around to the vineyards or just stroll through the local towns.
There are day trips into Siena and Florence if you need a little action. Hotels often provide shuttle services to and from the neighboring cities. You are not limited to staying at your hotel, although I was super happy there too.
WHERE TO STAY
We fell in love with the Castello Del Nero Hotel and Spa. It has stunning grounds, an outdoor pool, spa, and multiple on-site restaurants including Michelin-starred La Torre. We experienced top-notch service from the concierge to the restaurants. The rooms were spacious and modern. There wasn’t one thing to not love about this place. I would have extended my stay if I could.
If you are looking for a place to decompress and relax in Italy, then add Tuscany to your list of places to visit. Grab a good book, order a glass of wine and plant yourself in a lounge chair by the pool overlooking the rolling hills. Bacia your worries goodbye.
