Lupaia, Tuscany, Italy
An idyllic romantic gateway in the Tuscan countryside
Appreciating the beauty of the surroundings and Montepulciano in front of us
Lupaia is not easy to find and that’s a good thing! This charming traditional Tuscan farmhouse is a hidden gem. Built in 1622, Lupaia is an enchanting farm house perched atop a hillside with exquisite views of Montepulciano on one side and Tuscan hills on the other. You will be charmed by the beauty of the property and the surrounding. Lost in the middle of Tuscan hills and vineyards in a remote area, about 15 minutes drive away from the medieval town of Montepulciano. Once you get there, you quickly realise how totally worth it that off the beaten track drive was. As we arrived, we were welcomed with a glass of Prosecco in the garden overlooking wonderful Tuscan rolling hills! It’s so idyllic, we relaxed instantly.
Stunning landscape of Tuscan hills and vineyards
Welcome Prosecco
Lupaia was a former goat farm which had been left abandoned for 40 years. The 5 stone houses have been lovingly restored, it’s actually hard to describe the charm and beauty of the place. The owners Heidi and Christopher have done an amazing job to really keep the authentic look and feel throughout. It has been sensitively restored with traditional Tuscan details, such as tiled floors, beamed ceilings and lovely old features have been preserved. It blends both the historic beauty of an old farmhouse with the modern luxury of a 5 star boutique hotel. The stone houses are extremely picturesque, really dreamy! It has a great atmosphere and the small size makes it feel quite unique. Each bedroom is beautiful and authentically decorated with thoughtful, romantic lighting. The bed are super comfortable and most of the rooms have their own outdoor space with a table, chairs and sun loungers and hill-town views. We could see all the way to Montepulciano from our bed. We were in one of the deluxe room - Tadema.
View from the bed… Tadema bedroom
Traditional Tuscan details in Tadema deluxe bedroom
In fact throughout the property there are incredible views onto the surrounding countryside and up to the town of Montepulciano. Wandering down a stone path and set of stairs we come to a stunning infinity pool again with a perfect view of the Tuscan hills. A place to truly relax. You can order cocktails from the pool and they will get it served to you so you don’t have to move from your sun lounger.
Infinity pool with a view
The breakfast buffet is set in the large open kitchen and was one of the best Dan has ever had. In the afternoon, you can smell and have a sneak peak at what the excellent chef Andrea is preparing for dinner! Probably another delicious Italian meal with fresh ingredients from the on-site garden or from local farms. The head waiter Marco is super charming, funny and very attentive. You can trust his wine recommendations. We had dinner there a few nights and the food and wine were really excellent, we liked absolutely everything (and we are relatively hard to please!). Read our tips below for meals!
Open plan kitchen
Breakfast of champions!
Tips
You will need to drive through dirt/gravel road to get to Lupaia, we had a Fiat 500 and we managed it :) But if you are not a confident driver you might struggle a bit with a few hills.
Bring books - the swimming pool is a fantastic area to relax
Although we absolutely loved the food and ate everything we were served, we ended up having a 4 course meal a few nights in a row which was a bit excessive. We were made aware after our stay that a lighter option was possible so make sure you ask if you stay for a week and want to enjoy a lighter dinner a few nights.
During our stay we visited Montepulciano, Montalcino, Pienza, Siena, Monticchiello. All easy day trips and recommended.
Book a wine tasting at Avignonesi - we did the tour and wine paired gourmet lunch and it was a highlight of our trip!
Book a lunch at the organic garden restaurant Podere Il Casale - which is also a farm producing the famous Tuscan cheese Pecorino. We were truly amazed by the views (again!) of Val D’Orcia and Mount Amiata (an extinct volcano) and by the food and wine obviously… We loved the white wine La Regina made of 100% Manzoni bianco grapes (a cross between riesling and pinot bianco). A must visit!
Book a dinner at La Porta in Monticchiello - at the terrace if you can! The sunset is incredible.
We were there in July and it was extremely hot so bring sunscreen and hats!
Don’t be afraid to drive off the beaten track and explore the Tuscan countryside. There is tonnes to see, vineyards, olive trees, farm houses, medieval towns…
If you are fitness addict like we are and can’t handle a week without any sports, there are a few options: bring your hiking boots as there are plenty options with wonderful hikes throughout the vineyards and Tuscan olive groves. You can also rent a bike and cycle for the day. We brought our trainers and did a few HIIT session in Lupaia’s garden.
HIIT session in Lupaia’s garden!
Sunset to die for
A spot to relax in the shade
We loved our stay at Lupaia, we felt it was a fantastic place to enjoy Tuscany and we keep a wonderful memory of this charming location. We are looking forward to come back. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have some questions.
Authentic Tuscan farmhouse
