Back in time in Italy

The bucolic surrounds of Montecucco in Tuscany are a fitting match for Castel Porrona Relais, an exclusive retreat secluded within a medieval stone village. From its opening on 23 April, the private enclave will offer discerning guests a choice between staying in one of the 25 rooms and suites of the boutique hotel or the nearly-thousand-year-old castle, which is available on an exclusive-use basis only. Each of the rooms has been outfitted with luscious materials to recreate a sense of the decadence the noble estate once enjoyed. Il Chiostro Restaurant offers fine dining within a sublime garden setting, while Agua SPA is a retreat for the senses with a Moroccan-inspired water zone. The borgo, as the village is known, lies within an easy drive of some of the region’s finest attractions; simply ask the concierge team to organise a trip into Siena or Florence, a wine tasting in nearby Montalcino or a yacht charter along the coast near Punta Ala.