Via Roma 33 Tuscany Boutique Hotel & Spa – Adults Only

You know what? I’ve stayed at my fair share of boutique hotels, but Via Roma 33 hit different – and I mean that in the best way possible. First off, you’re right in the heart of Stia, which honestly feels like stepping into a Tuscan postcard that somehow hasn’t been completely overrun by tour buses yet. The hotel sits on the main street (literally Via Roma, go figure), but here’s the thing about Stia – even the “main street” has this wonderfully sleepy quality where the loudest sound you’ll hear is probably the church bells or maybe some Italian nonna calling to her grandkids.

The moment you walk in, there’s this immediate sense that someone actually thought about every single detail. I’m talking about the kind of place where the lighting makes you look good in photos without trying too hard, and the staff remembers your name by day two. The spa – honestly, I wasn’t expecting much because hotel spas can be hit or miss – but this one actually delivers. They’ve got this treatment room that overlooks the Casentino valley, and I swear the massage therapist had magic hands. The whole adults-only thing means you can actually relax by the pool without worrying about cannonballs disrupting your afternoon wine situation. Speaking of wine, they’ve got this little ritual where they serve local Chianti during aperitivo hour, and the sommelier (who’s also the owner’s son, I think?) knows his stuff about the smaller Tuscan producers that you’ve probably never heard of but definitely should try.

What really gets me about this place is how it feels both polished and authentic – like, you’re clearly in a well-run hotel, but you’re also genuinely experiencing this corner of Tuscany that most people zoom past on their way to Florence or Siena. The rooms have these beautiful wooden beams and stone accents that feel original, not like some designer’s interpretation of “rustic Italian.” Plus, you can walk to that little bridge over the Arno (yeah, the same river that flows through Florence) in about two minutes, and there’s this bakery – Panificio Gori – just down the street where locals actually line up for focaccia in the morning. The hotel’s concierge, Maria, will tell you exactly when to go to avoid the tiny rush. Pro tip: if you’re here between May and September, book dinner at their restaurant because the chef sources everything from farms within like a 20-kilometer radius, and the pici pasta is legitimately the best I’ve had outside of someone’s nonna’s kitchen. Just don’t expect to stay skinny – I mean, you’re in Tuscany, embrace it.