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

Have the best of both worlds: live like a Florentine but eschew city heat and hassle. You'll adore this handsome, symmetrical, 17th-century villa that lies just outside Florence. Beaming Benedetta welcomes you through the imposing entrance, at once diffusing any impression of formality you may have deduced from the immaculate gardens, the dignified statues and the imperial entrance stair – which leads you from a cypress tree-lined pathway into the marbled hallway. The bedrooms are beautiful, elegant and utterly original: wooden ceilings and terracotta floors, the occasional lavish four-poster, oil paintings, smartly upholstered armchairs, window arches and fresh flowers. The self-catering apartments have their own private little gardens, and there's a stunning pool surrounded by lounging wicker chairs and cream parasols. The owners produce their own wine so ask to visit the cantina and stock up before you leave. This is a real Tuscan retreat with wonderfully down-to-earth hosts; the guest book bursts with praise from returning guests.