La Scala Vecchia - Bucine - Tuscany

This really is a get-away-from-it-all family holiday option. Lucia's 25-acre organic farm is up in the wooded hills between Florence, Siena and Cortona. There are 3 apartments on the farm. La Scala Vecchia occupies the upper floor of the old farmhouse, while Il Nocio is downstairs in what would have been the old animal rooms. (These old farmhouses never had internal staircases as the two floors had different users!) The third apartment, La Cantina, is in a separate building.

The apartments have all been restored with an eye for their history. So there are cool terracotta floors and serious wooden roof beams as well as wifi and a brilliantly situated pool. The two bedrooms are large and the bathroom is simple and functional.

The garden has been cleverly organised so each apartment has its own area, while the fenced pool is a short walk down the hill. A holiday at La Ragnaia will give you the chance to unwind - and it's excellent value too.