Berignone Forest Nature Reserve, Volterra hotel rooms at the Independent

"Our stay at Poderi Arcangelo in the rolling hills of San Gimignano was nothing short of magical. Surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, the views were the kind that stop you in your tracks – especially at sunset when the Tuscan hills glow gold. The food was exceptional every day, with authentic local flavours that made each meal a highlight. The staff were warm, welcoming and always tried their best to help, adding to the charm of the place. The location is perfect for exploring nearby treasures such as San Gimignano itself, Certaldo, and Volterra. One thing to note – a hire car is essential. Public transport is virtually non-existent here; we couldn’t get a bus at all and taxis, while available, were scarce and very expensive – we spent €400 on just three journeys. This isn’t the hotel’s fault, though it would have been helpful to know in advance. Also, while the property is beautiful, there’s no real indoor bar area for relaxing before or after dinner. There is an outdoor bar, but it only opens on weekends and closes at 18:00, so an early evening drink isn’t always possible. Despite this, we had seven days of bliss and would return in a heartbeat – next time with a hire car, ready to explore every corner of this stunning part of Tuscany. "

"The building, the views, the staff, the food, everything was just incredible. It was so quiet we felt like we were the only people there until we went for breakfast and realised there were others in the hotel. The view from the our room at the back of the hotel over the Tuscan hills will live with me for a very long time. "

"Absolutely beautiful!!! It’s a bit of a long way to get to from Florence especially if you’re taking the bus but the accommodation and food is spectacular! "

"Very nice hotel "

"Beautiful location overlooking the hills of Tuscany! Right from Martina checking us in, and the beautiful room with views, everything was amazing! Very clean rooms and comfortable bed. Very nice bathroom and all the amenities. We enjoyed the breakfast each morning, nice selection of food to choose from. The hotel terrace was a great place to sit and enjoy the view with a glass of wine (thanks Greg!). All staff were pleasant and friendly! Definitely recommend!"

"service was great, they helped us plan our time there and the city of Sienna was fantastic. The hotel is outside the main area but 1-2 minutes away in a great location"

"Very nice Resort. Excellent dining staff and the meals were great! would highly recommend staying here."

"We just need a mirror in the room to see your entire body please urgent . Other than these is the perfect hotel to stay in Lake Como area "

"The best place to stay . I loved it "