Work, money, pensions and so much more have no place in your headspace when it’s time to relax. And, there could not be a better place than the Tuscan countryside to rest and reset. [Spoiler: our luxury villas in Italy promise private pools, stunning views and even the option of your own staff and cook].
Here in Italy, we have a saying, ‘il dolce far niente’, the sweetness of doing nothing. You can take it as literally as you want, but what it really means is to be blissfully in the moment, to quiet your thoughts and focus on the beauty around you.
To help you leave the everyday stresses of life behind and enjoy a totally stress-free holiday, here are our top travel hacks to rest and reset in Italy!
Cooking lessons from a master
Ditch the phone and the iPad and grab a spatula. Learning the secrets of Italian cookery is one recipe for eternal happiness and is truly il dolce far niente.
When you stay in a Tuscany Now & More villa, we can arrange to have a local or professional chef come to your kitchen and teach you handmade pasta, traditional desserts or even multi-course Tuscan meals. Smiling faces (and full bellies) guaranteed.
To really experience local Italian living, have our concierge arrange a local farmers’ market tour, choose the freshest produce and learn to prepare a farm-to-table lunch.
Rent a fully-staffed villa with chef
After a busy day sightseeing, the last thing you need is to return to the chore of preparing dinner for everyone. A dip in the pool and a glass of Chianti sounds much more appetising.
Rent a fully staffed and catered Italian villa and one of our Tuscan chefs will cook your meals. With daily housekeeping and staff to lay out breakfast each morning and arrange local experiences, you don’t have to lift a finger! All the amenities of luxury resorts on a purely exclusive level — that’s the TN&M difference.
A day at a natural thermal spa
According to a legend I choose to believe, sitting in a sauna for 30 minutes can burn over 300 calories. Whether this is an exaggeration or not, many of us have experienced the magical “after-sauna glow”.
Tuscany floats on a massive geothermal lake. There are many places you can get a good dose of natural minerals, with massage, thermotherapy, holistic therapy and more. Stress-free day spas include Terme di Saturnia, Fonteverde and Terme di Montecatini. We created a special collection of villas near hot springs and geothermal spas in Tuscany.
Luxury spa retreats in Tuscany and beyond
Our special collection of villas with hot tubs and spas allow you to create your very own wellness vacations in Tuscany. We can arrange for private massages and facials in your villa spa or wellness suite, as well as reiki sessions and sound baths. Make the most of hot tubs with stunning views over Tuscan hills and de-stress in your own private sauna and chromotherapy shower.
Tuscany luxury spa retreats are totally private and exclusive to you at our luxury villa in Italy. Blend with actual spa days at natural springs in Val d’Orcia and morning sun salutations with a local yoga instructor for a getaway that is completely tailored to you and your relaxation needs.
Retail therapy at the outlets
Tuscans pride themselves on quality and skill. History, tradition and craftsmanship are inside every leather bag or bottle of Chianti Classico you buy. Florence is home to many iconic Italian designers.
They also love bargains. So, if you find retail therapy therapeutic, schedule a day at one (or more) of Tuscany’s luxury outlet malls.
A morning dip in your private pool
One of the major benefits of a luxury villa: the swimming pool to yourself first thing every morning. Our villas with heated private pools will always be warm enough to jump right in.
No towels on the sun-loungers or kids with new water pistols. Just birdsong and the distant view of an ancient hilltown for company.
Wine tasting among the vines
Nowhere in my big, leather-bound “De-Stress Handbook” does it say wine is not for unwinding.
Tuscany is home to Sangiovese, a noble grape variety which is responsible for some of the finest red wines in the world. Visit a vineyard to experience its excellence in keeping stress out of sight and out of mind. Or better yet, choose from a list of tailored wine-tastings with a sommelier or Tuscan winemaker from your luxury villa.
Yoga, pilates and meditation
Swap your glass of Brunello for a yoga mat, and finish the day with a few rounds of sun-salutes.
We can organize a private yoga teacher to join you at your villa, to help you achieve serenity in body and mind. (We also have a special collection of Italian villas for yoga retreats.)
Paint with your own palette
Painting is an excellent tool for stress relief. The art of observation and concentration can encourage a near-meditative state and allow you to be entirely present in the moment.
Our villas boast some of the most stunning views of world class Chianti winelands, or the hills around Florence and Orvieto. Paint the landscapes that inspired masters of the Renaissance with an award-winning Florentine artist on your villa grounds. Tanvi Panthare also offers multi-day retreats that include a day in some of Italy’s most important art galleries, whether you are staying near Venice or Siena.
Choose a villa near a village or hill-town
Our villas near villages are perfect for travellers who want to spend less time travelling and more time experiencing Italy. Walk into a pretty town piazzas for a coffee at the bar, dine at local restaurants, shop for fresh local produce and relish the slower pace of Italian living.
Get out in the great outdoors
From villas on the Tuscany coast to our luxury holiday rentals in Umbria, escaping to the Italian countryside is a sure way to help you switch off and relax. Enjoy hikes along the beach with beautiful turquoise waters to soothe you and explore the many beautiful national parks in Umbria, Tuscany and Veneto.
Our concierge can help arrange cycling itineraries and horseback riding for a relaxing luxury getaway in the Tuscany great outdoors.
Let our award-winning concierge handle the rest
Once your trip is booked and you are set to visit Italy, ask our concierge to take care of your travel needs so you don’t have to. They are the experts in everything from pre-trip travel arrangements to sourcing the best local experiences while you are on holiday here in Italy. No request is too big or too small, all you have to do is ask!