Relais Maria Cristina

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest – I wasn’t expecting much when I first pulled up to Relais Maria Cristina on Via La Pieve. I mean, Chianni isn’t exactly on the typical Tuscany tourist trail, which is actually part of its charm. But this place? It completely caught me off guard in the best possible way. The building itself has that authentic Tuscan stone thing going on, but it’s not trying too hard to be rustic – you know what I mean? It feels lived-in and genuine, like someone’s incredibly stylish Italian grandmother decided to open her country estate to guests. The parking situation is refreshingly straightforward (trust me, after navigating some of those medieval hill towns, this matters), and the staff actually remembers your name after the first day.

What really gets me about this place is how it sits in the landscape. You’re up in the hills, so there’s this incredible view that stretches out toward the coast – on clear days you can actually see hints of the Mediterranean shimmering in the distance. The rooms have these old wooden shutters that you’ll want to throw open first thing in the morning, and honestly, the coffee they bring for breakfast tastes like it was made by someone who actually cares about coffee. The whole property has this quiet sophistication that feels effortless. I stayed in October, and the changing leaves mixed with the cypress trees created this perfect autumn palette that made me understand why people get so sentimental about Tuscany. The pool area (which, let’s be real, you might not need depending on when you visit) overlooks the valley, and there’s something really satisfying about having a glass of wine there as the sun sets behind those rolling hills.

Here’s the thing though – and this is why I keep coming back to this area – Chianni puts you right in the sweet spot between the coast and the more famous inland towns. You’re maybe 30 minutes from the beaches near Cecina, but you can also easily day-trip to places like Volterra or even push toward Siena if you’re feeling ambitious. The staff at Maria Cristina actually knows this region well, so they’ll point you toward that little ceramics workshop in town or tell you which day the market happens in nearby Lajatico (yes, where Andrea Bocelli does his concerts). The evenings here are particularly special – there’s something about the way sound carries in these hills, maybe it’s the way the valleys amplify things, but you’ll hear church bells from distant villages mixing with the general hum of countryside life. It’s the kind of place where you’ll find yourself lingering over dinner longer than planned, not because you have to, but because slowing down just feels natural.

Rooms

• Large Double Room with 1 large double bed for 2 adults
• Large Double Room with 1 large double bed for 2 adults
• Triple Room with Private Bathroom with 1 single bed and 1 large double bed for 3 adults

Reviews

• Florian from Albania (10/10)

  Beautifully renovated property and Maria Cristina amazing host

• Matteo from United States (10/10)

  The vibe, the food for breakfast, the owner Maria Cristina, everything.

• Christine from United Kingdom (10/10)

  The hotel was exceptional. Excellent location and the renervations were so considerate to the history of the building. Cristina was an excellent host. Will definitely be back in the future.

• Carsten from Denmark (10/10)

  Beautiful place, beautiful surrounding. We had a great stay of 5 nights. The owner and hostes Maria Cristina was very friendly and accommodating/helpful

• Moris from Italy (10/10)

  Awesome

• Marion from Norway (10/10)

  It was a wonderful place with very nice hosts, and the homemade cakes were delicious👍👍very clean🙏we will be back!

• Karen from United States (10/10)

  Beautiful home. Immaculately clean. Carefully renovated and stunningly decorated. Cristina has impeccable taste. Located in a quiet area, close to so much of Tuscany! Breakfast is generous and delicious. Freshly baked cherry tart, eggs, fruit, toast, cheese, and the list goes on. Beautiful spacious bathroom with wonderful amenities. Spacious, well appointed bedroom with custom linens, comfortable bed and a beautiful view of the valley. Cristina is a gracious, kind, friendly and helpful proprietor.

• Andrew from United Kingdom (10/10)

  Our experience was exceptional from the warm welcome from Maria Christina, the spectacular room to the home-made organic breakfast.
  The house is exactly like the photos, if not better.
  
  The decor and furnishings are perfect and the attention to detail makes sure you’ll want to return.
  
  On top of that, superbly comfortable bed, great shower and plenty of parking.
  Area is peaceful but within easy reach of restaurants.
  
  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

• Carina from Brazil (10/10)

  What we like about the accommodations was how clean and comfortable the house was. It is an old Tuscan style house that was used for preparing and processing (pressing) olives to gain their oil.
  The owner went to great lengths to refurbish and modernize the entire house with a touch of class and interior decoration that I have not seeing yet.

• Anna from Ukraine (10/10)

  Fantastic stay, exceptional value, exceptional hospitality and we felt like staying at a friends or family home.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities