7 L’ANDANA, TUSCANY, ITALY
FORGET THE TOURISTY HILL TOWNS IN TUSCANY AND HEAD TO THE HIDDEN GEM OF MAREMMA INSTEAD, WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY FABULOUS ITALIAN FOOD AND FINE WINE. SET ALONG THE AREA’S SOUTHWESTERN COAST, WHERE IT’S QUIETER AND MORE RELAXED, YOU’RE SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS, SPRAWLING VINEYARDS AND CRYSTAL WATERS AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE.
NESTLED AWAY IN 500-HECTARES OF UNSPOILT COUNTRYSIDE, TWO HOURS FROM PISA, L’ANDANA IS A LUXURY 33-SUITE RESORT WITH A PALATIAL FEEL THAT DATES BACK TO THE 19TH CENTURY, WHEN GRAND DUKE LEOPOLD II RESIDED HERE EACH SUMMER.
VAST AND HOMELY, THE ROOMS HAVE ENORMOUS BEDS, BESPOKE REGAL FURNISHINGS AND ENORMOUS MARBLE BATHTUBS. EACH PIECE OF FURNITURE IS HANDPICKED AND CRAFTED BY ARTISANS IN MILAN SO NO TWO ROOMS ARE THE SAME.
AMID THE CYPRESS TRESS AND OLIVE GROVES THAT LINE THE ESTATE YOU’LL FIND THREE POOLS, TWO THERMAL SPAS AND TWO RESTAURANTS, INCLUDING LA TRATTORIA,
WHICH IS RUN BY ENRICO BARTOLINI – ITALY’S YOUNGEST CHEF TO BE AWARDED TWO MICHELIN STARS. EXPECT TO FEAST ON THE FINEST GOURMET DISHES IN THE REGION SPRINKLED WITH AROMATIC HERBS AND
OLIVE OIL SUSTAINABLY SOURCED FROM
THE HOTEL’S ELEGANT GARDENS.
GIVE THE HEARTY, TRADITIONAL RECIPES A TRY FOR YOURSELF DURING A TWO-HOUR COOKING CLASS (£153), AND REST UP AFTERWARDS WITH A PAMPERING 50-MINUTE DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE (£114) IN THE RESORT’S ESPA SPA. THE MORE ACTIVE CAN TRY A GYM CLASS, HORSE RIDING OR NORDIC WALKING.
FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO GET OUT AND EXPLORE, THE HISTORIC FISHING TOWN OF CASTIGLIONE DELLA PESCAIA IS 15 MINUTES AWAY. AMBLE ALONG THE ENCHANTING WINDING LANES OR VISIT THE IMPRESSIVE HILLTOP FORTRESS THAT BOASTS SPECTACULAR VIEWS OUT TO SEA AS FAR AS SARDINIA. STOP OFF FOR SOME SHADE AND A WELL-EARNED GELATO LATE AFTERNOON AND YOU’LL LIKELY SPOT A WEDDING PARTY WANDERING THROUGH THE STREETS – A POPULAR LOCAL CUSTOM. Coral Rickard
THE COST ROOMS AT L’ANDANA (ANDANA.IT; +39 0564 944800) START FROM £194PP PER NIGHT, INCLUDING BREAKFAST. RETURN FLIGHTS TO PISA FROM GATWICK
WITH EASYJET (EASYJET.COM) FROM £140.