Special Places to Stay - More than a bed for the night

Half way up the hill, high above the Mugnone valley, is this blissful and bucolic spot; you could be miles from anywhere. But no: there's a pizzeria you can walk to and Florence can be glimpsed through the trees. Surrounded by olive orchards and fields, Il Fornaccio (the 'bread oven') is a 16th-century farmhouse whose oak and chestnut beams and terracotta floors have been beautifully restored. Loredana lives here with young daughter Eleonora, loves company (and dogs: meet the elderly German shepherd), gives you private sunbeds and tranquil seating corners and prepares breakfasts of homemade cakes, yogurts, fruits and jams before she leaves for work. Bedrooms feel lived in and loved, one reached via the living room, the other below, with a private kitchenette and a charming courtyard under the spreading linden tree: perfect for families. Both rooms have spectacular views. On cooler days you can share Loredana's books, fire and CDs; in summer you be sitting at the rustic stone table in the refreshing shade of the ancient oak, or plucking cherries and figs from the trees. Lovely.