Driving up through the Tuscan hills to this beautiful property, from the moment you enter, you are greeted by the familiarity and warmth of visiting a dear friend’s home. The views are breath-taking and the décor, nothing short of spectacular as you take mental notes for designing your dream home. Within the first few moments of being shown around the beautiful property the light fragrances captivate your senses whilst the décor seamlessly brings the outside olive trees and landscape colour schemes inside.
You are instantly blown away by the two stunning open kitchens, one with an extensive selection of wonderful wines and where the chef can be found rustling up a tasty delight and the other showcasing his wares with delicious freshly made pastries and biscotti as a side to the centrepiece table covered in fresh fruit so beautiful it could have been a painting from the Renaissance period.
Tearing ourselves away from the ‘help yourself whenever you’re peckish’ kitchen, we were welcomed to our beautifully appointed suite which although simple yet stylish and luxurious at first glance, came with some exceptionally innovative touches that blew us away – from light sensors in the dressing room to Bluetooth connectivity in the shower big enough for the whole family. The décor exhumed luxury and comfort, with beautifully soft linen bedding which kept us fresh on a warm night and a heavenly bath tub with Tuscan air seeping in through the open window which made it impossible to get out of, especially when combined with divine Erbario Toscano olive oil bath treats.
Although there isn’t an onsite restaurant, guests are welcomed to request the chef prepares them a light lunch outside of the main meals, and we couldn’t recommend this enough. What more could you ask for than fresh tomatoes from Nonna’s garden and pasta so delicious the sauce dances on your taste buds. This was just the start of the culinary treats Locanda al Colle had in store for us. We retreated to the beautiful salt-water swimming pool, relaxing on sun loungers so comfortable we could have easily dozed all day, if it wasn’t for the afternoon treats calling us from the kitchen.
The family style dinner was exceptional, from the warm welcome of freshly made canapes, delicious wines and free flowing prosecco to the most tantalising home-made yet Michelin-quality meal with something for everyone. Guests are welcomed to sit on family style tables or enjoy a more romantic setting for two – every option is catered for and every dish served with such love and passion, it’s impossible to say no to more. We retired for the evening onto our terrace, looking up at a magical star filled sky, wanting to absorb every moment of the peacefulness.
Awaking to the smell of freshly baked goods at breakfast, we knew we were in for a treat with every request catered for before it had even been made. Whether you spend the day relaxing onsite, lazing by the pool or enjoying the sunset, the tranquillity of Locanda al Colle is impactful from the moment you enter the grounds. Riccardo has a lot of activities to offer, should you wish to, from in-house cooking lessons, visits to vineyards or marble quarry’s, to boat trips or having a cobbler come onsite to design your very own pair of shoes. He has thought of everything with even the little ones get to experience paper-mache mask making. We however, found it impossible to leave this beautiful haven and we cannot wait to return.
