There are very few places where you can wake to birdsong in the hills and be looking at Botticelli before your first coffee in town. Marignolle Relais & Charme is one of them. Hidden amongst cypresses and rosemary above Florence, this ten-room country relais feels more like a private villa than a hotel, with a pool, flowered gardens and rooms dressed in antique furniture and soft Florentine textiles.

Set between the Certosa monastery and Porta Romana, you are about 5–10 minutes by taxi from the Oltrarno and the Ponte Vecchio, yet already on the road to Chianti. Greve, Panzano, Radda and Castellina sit a comfortable drive away along vineyard-lined roads, while Siena and San Gimignano easily fit into a day’s exploring. With Lorenzo and his team arranging Chianti tastings, cooking classes and Florence museum tickets, this becomes a particularly intelligent choice for couples who want art in the morning, vines in the afternoon and a quiet pool to come home to.

Travel planning

7  nights sharing a deluxe double room

Daily breakfast

Fully comprehensive car hire arranged at the airport

We often pair Marignolle Relais & Charme with Locanda Rossa in the Maremma and Fattoria Svetoni in Montepulciano for a journey linking Florence, the Tuscan coast and hill-town wine country.

Calm, classic rooms with antique pieces, parquet floors and well-fitted wardrobes. Bathrooms have double marble basins, separate WC and walk-in shower, plus tea and coffee set, minibar, Wi-Fi and USB charging.

As per the Deluxe Doubles, but with a private outdoor space furnished with table and chairs — ideal for morning coffee or an evening glass of Chianti.

More spacious, with a king-size bed and small sitting area with table and chairs. Antique furnishings and parquet floors continue the house style; bathrooms feature double basins, separate WC and large shower.

Open-plan (or partially separated) layouts with a king-size bed and two singles, suited to small families or friends. Same elegant décor and generous storage, with bathroom including double basins, separate WC and shower.

Breakfast

Breakfast is served in a glass-walled gazebo looking onto the gardens, opened up in summer to let in the scents of the surrounding greenery and transformed into a cosy “winter garden” when the weather is cooler. The buffet typically includes local jams, wholegrain breads, fresh rolls, hot croissants and homemade cakes, with eggs, bacon and cheeses prepared to order and served on classic porcelain and silverware.

Daytime bites & dinners at the relais

For guests who prefer not to head out every evening, the relais can arrange light lunches and simple, flavourful dinners to be served on site — often in the gazebo or under the garden pergola — accompanied by a thoughtfully chosen selection of Tuscan wines.

Cooking classes & tastings

Food-lovers can book a hands-on Tuscan cooking lesson with Ms Paola, learning traditional dishes with local, seasonal ingredients before sitting down to enjoy them with a glass of Chianti. Wine tastings in nearby Chianti estates or castles can also be arranged.

Dining out nearby

The team are happy to reserve tables at tried-and-trusted trattorie and osterie in Florence or the Florentine hills, from relaxed neighbourhood spots to more refined addresses, and can organise transfers so you can enjoy a second glass without worrying about the drive back.

● Hotel Amenities 🏨

✓ Panoramic outdoor swimming pool with sun loungers (usually open May–October)

✓ Glass breakfast gazebo / winter garden opening directly onto the gardens

✓ Relaxation area with whirlpool, infrared sauna, multi-jet shower and relaxation beds (bookable for private use by room)

✓ Extensive flowered gardens and terraces with seating among cypress and pine

✓ Gated estate with monitored entrance and on-site private parking

✓ Concierge services for museum, gallery, theatre and event bookings

✓ Tailor-made tours of Florence and Tuscany, Chianti wine tastings, farm visits and outlet shopping excursions

✓ Golf green-fee reservations at several nearby courses

✓ Access to a nearby fitness centre (cardio, weights, classes, spinning)

✓ In-room and in-veranda massage treatments on request (relaxing, shiatsu, holistic, ayurvedic)

✓ Free Wi-Fi throughout the property

● In-Room Amenities 🛏️

✓ Free Wi-Fi and USB charging points

✓ LED satellite / cable TV

✓ Direct-dial telephone

✓ Electronic safe

✓ Individually controlled air-conditioning and heating

✓ Soundproofed windows

✓ Minibar with a curated selection of wines and sparkling wines

✓ Tea and coffee kit / kettle

✓ Large shower and separate WC

✓ Double marble basins and oversized mirror (most rooms)

✓ Hairdryer and quality toiletries

✓ Spacious built-in wardrobe

📍 Florence Historic Centre & Ponte Vecchio – Renaissance palazzi, domes and riverfront streets within a short taxi ride, without having to sleep in the bustle.

📍 Palazzo Pitti & Boboli Gardens – Medici palace, galleries and formal gardens on the Oltrarno side, easily reached for half-day cultural wanders.

📍 Piazzale Michelangelo & San Niccolò – The classic panoramic terrace for sunset views over Florence’s rooftops, with cafés and walks down into the riverside quarter.

📍 Certosa di Firenze – Striking hilltop Carthusian monastery on the Florence–Siena road, with cloisters, art and wide views towards the city.

📍 Chianti Classico villages (Greve, Panzano, Radda, Castellina) – Rolling vineyards, stone farmhouses and historic wine estates for tastings and long lunches, reached along scenic country roads.

📍 Siena – Gothic brick skyline, striped cathedral and the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, easy to combine with a Chianti drive.

📍 San Gimignano & Monteriggioni – Tower-crowned hill towns and intact walls offering classic “storybook Tuscany” views and leisurely medieval strolls.

📍 The Mall Luxury Outlet – Designer shopping destination in the countryside for those who like to mix galleries with Gucci.

📍 Ugolino Golf Club & Tuscan golf courses – Historic and modern courses set amongst olive groves and gentle hills, with green-fee booking handled by the relais.