You will find Borgo Merlo in the verdant Chianti hills in the heart of Tuscany. The accommodation here comprises three neighbouring homes that share landscaped gardens. This serene, rural base is a fantastic place to stay with a large group of friends or family and from here, you can enjoy trips to nearby villages and cities such as Florence and Siena.
This pretty hamlet of historic farmhouses is part of a vast 800-acre estate which offers guests complete privacy amidst vineyards, olive groves and dense, ancient woodlands. As well as the hamlet where you will be staying, the estate also boasts several other buildings, including an 11th-century Romanesque church and a castle now used for music events and private celebrations.
As you approach Borgo Merlo through the manicured grounds, you will find three stone homes, all close to each other, which can sleep twenty guests between them. Casa Una is the largest of the dwellings and can sleep eight guests. It has huge living areas where you can come together over evening drinks. Following these, there is a dining room where everyone can gather for dinner unless you prefer to dine al-fresco. The home also has a chic, well-equipped kitchen with everything you need to prepare meals for your party. Upstairs are two double bedrooms and one family-sized bedroom with a double bed and a sofa bed.
Just opposite is Casa Duo, which has five bedrooms, a bright and airy living room and a fully-fitted kitchen spread over two floors. The final dwelling is Casa Tre, with a gym, sauna and one double bedroom.
The garden has an inviting private pool, a jacuzzi, covered dining terraces and seating areas. There is also a vegetable garden where you can pick some fresh produce and use the pizza oven to make your own pizzas for dinner.
If you can bring yourself to leave Borgo Merlo, you can get to know the authentic heart of Tuscany by visiting nearby villages and walking scenic trails through the countryside. Some villages you could visit include Lecchi in Chianti, 5km away, Radda in Chianti, 8km away and Gaiole in Chianti, 14km away. These villages all have their own charm and character and are steeped in history.
You can also visit one of the vineyards that make up the Chianti wine region, where you can sample delicious wines, take tours of the cellars and the grounds and learn more about wine production.
Siena (32km away) and Florence (62km away) are a little further out. These magical, medieval cities are amazing places to spend the day and are filled with historical, artistic and cultural attractions.
