An Escape In The Tuscan Countryside

When on a journey to Italy, one expects to be staying in tighter quarters as there is less space to work with. This is especially true in older cities, such as Rome and Florence, which don't have much room to expand in the heart of the city.

But one Italian resort is rich with space and offers the type of sprawling comfort that North American travelers are familiar with. With a golf course on the property, this medieval village-turned-resort offers an intriguing getaway in the Tuscan countryside. While on a recent trip to the area, we stayed at La Bagnaia Golf & Spa Resort Siena, Curio Collection by Hilton and not only is it a good hub for those doing day trips to Siena, San Gimignano and Montepulciano, but it's also a really unique place to stay.

Historical Hotel Grounds

La Bagnaia Golf & Spa Resort Siena was the first hotel in Italy to be picked for the Curio Collection by Hilton and for good reason: it's very unique. The land has roots dating back to the eleventh and twelfth centuries, when it was a functioning medieval village. It includes the church of Saints Vincenzo and Anastasio, which is still used for ceremonies these days. They've kept some of the décor intact and you can find a number of artifacts, furniture, and tunnels dating back to those times.

A Sprawling Property

Spread out over 1,100 hectares of land, there are no close quarters at the resort. They're laid out on top of a hill in the Tuscan countryside, offering splendid views of sunset. The resort is surrounded by a full golf course – a rarity in Italy – and 600 hectares of woods and gardens. Nearby – about a five-minute drive –  is the spa, which offers services like massage and bathing in a naturally-flowing thermal spring.

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You're in Italy, so you'll want to go out and see the nearby sites of Siena and San Gimignano, but even when you want to stay close to to the resort and unwind, there's plenty of space to do so.

What Is Nearby

Siena, one of the most popular tourist towns in Italy, is just a twenty-minute drive from La Bagnaia. Getting around Siena can be a little bit of a hassle if you're staying there, but if you're at La Bagnaia with a car, it makes it really easy to get in and out. You can park near the old town very reasonably and make the short walk to the Siena Cathedral and Piazza Del Campo within about fifteen minutes.

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San Gimignano is popular for day trips and that's about all the time it requires. Spend a few hours checking out the Collegiate Church of San Gimignano, Palazzo Communale, and Piazza della Cisterna before relaxing at a table with an aperitif.

There are some fantastic restaurants in Orgia, a tiny town close to the resort. The décor inside is no frills, but the cuisine is what you're there for. Family-owned joints like Ristorante Cateni offer brilliant Tuscan delights. If you're going at night, Google Maps can get you there and back, but drive slowly because there are no street lights.

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