Abbadia Sicille Relais

You know what? I wasn’t expecting much when I first pulled up to Abbadia Sicille Relais – I mean, you’re basically driving through the middle of nowhere in Trequanda, past rolling hills and cypress trees for what feels like forever. But then you see this restored abbey complex and it just hits you. The setting is absolutely stunning, perched on a hillside with views that stretch across the Val d’Orcia that honestly make you understand why everyone goes crazy for this part of Tuscany.

The place feels like someone’s elegant country home rather than a hotel, which I guess makes sense since it’s technically a relais. The rooms are in these converted abbey buildings, and they’ve done this thing where they kept all the original character – thick stone walls, exposed beams, that sort of thing – but actually made it comfortable to stay in. My room had this massive window that opened onto the valley, and I’m not kidding when I say I spent half my morning just sitting there with coffee watching the light change on the hills. The bathrooms are modern (thank god), though the water pressure can be a bit temperamental – classic old building stuff.

What really gets me about this place is how quiet it is. I mean, you’re literally surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, so the only sounds are birds and maybe a distant tractor during harvest season. It’s about a 15-minute drive into Trequanda proper, which is this tiny medieval village that most tourists completely miss – but honestly, that’s part of the charm. There’s a little alimentari where you can grab basics, and the locals at the bar will pour you a proper espresso and maybe tell you which wineries are worth visiting if your Italian is decent. The hotel staff actually knows the area really well too, and they’ll point you toward places that aren’t on every travel blog.

The pool area is where you’ll probably spend your afternoons – it’s this infinity-style setup that seems to blend right into the landscape. Gets busy around 3 PM when everyone’s back from sightseeing, but early morning or evening it’s perfect. They serve light meals out there too, nothing fancy but good local ingredients. Parking isn’t an issue since you’re out in the countryside, and honestly, you’ll need a car to really explore the area properly. Montepulciano is about 20 minutes away, Pienza maybe 25, so you can easily day-trip to the bigger towns but come back to this peaceful bubble at night.

Look, it’s not cheap, and if you’re looking for nightlife or tons of amenities, this isn’t your place. But if you want to experience that dreamy Tuscan countryside everyone talks about – waking up to vineyard views, having a glass of local wine as the sun sets over the hills, feeling like you’ve stepped into one of those travel magazines – then this is exactly where you want to be. Just book dinner reservations in advance if you’re planning to eat at nearby restaurants, especially during summer. The smaller villages don’t have tons of options, and the good spots fill up fast.