WORDS & PICTURES: Abi Prowse
Arriving in Maremma, Tuscany, under the cover of the night, I was struck by one particular factor: the utter blackness. Here, at the very heart of Italy, nature still reigns, the winding roads half-consumed by dense forest. We glided silently through medieval hamlets, the locals soundly sleeping within the thick stone walls of their houses, before being cast back out into the darkness of the Tuscan countryside. It is here, just a short journey from the quaint village of Sorano, that the award-winning Sant’Egle Agriturismo is located: a luxury, eco-friendly farmhouse nestled into the embrace of the rolling Tuscan hills.
Nothing could have prepared me for the breathtaking beauty of Sant’Egle’s surrounding nature once the sun had risen the next morning. An agriturismo which prides itself on its sustainability, Sant’Egle exists in harmony with the countryside; chickens peacefully roam the grounds, weaving through the abundant vegetable gardens; gently-waving fields stretch out for miles from every angle. One hundred per cent of energy and electricity used within the hotel is renewable, leaving zero impact on the environment. It is little wonder, then, that WWF Italia declared Sant’Egle to be Italy’s top agriturismo in terms of its sustainability and conservation efforts: a prestigious title that is whole-heartedly well-deserved.
Discover Italy | Postcards from Cinque Terre
Agriturismo Sant’Egle offers 7 different rooms, each uniquely and thoughtfully designed to ensure their guests the most comfortable stay imaginable. Five of these rooms can be found within the main farmhouse; a pair of luxury glamping tents, settled among a spattering of rustic olive trees, make up the remaining two rooms. Home comforts and fine details are key at Sant’Egle, and owners Erika and Alessandro are always on-hand to make sure you have everything you could possibly need. With an interior which succeeds in marrying bright modernism with rustic cosiness, the rooms of the main farmhouse are luxurious yet familiar, the stresses of your daily life seeming to dissipate as you step across the threshold. For those who long to be close to nature, Sant’Egle’s luxury tents are bright, airy, and lovingly simplistic, with large glass doors which perfectly frame the Maremman countryside; as the sun rises, the room is cast in a golden glow of morning light.
Slow living and relaxation are celebrated at Sant’Egle – and with a setting as beautiful as theirs, it’s easy to see why. Tucked into the lush, green hillside is the hotel’s yoga and meditation studio, otherwise known as their holistic space: a bright, east-facing room which floods with light each morning. Alongside these yoga and wellness classes, Agriturismo Sant’Egle also boasts a massage studio, offering a range of treatments, as well as an outdoor hot tub and a saltwater bio-pool. Take this opportunity, swaddled by nature, to detach yourself from the outside world; Sant’Egle encourages guests to unplug with a digital detox during their stay. Select a book from one of the agriturismo’s plentiful bookshelves and sink into a soft, billowing hammock, enjoying the tranquillity of Maremma’s countryside.
It goes almost without saying that food plays an indisputably important role in Italian culture; the identity of every region is defined by its cuisine, each decidedly different from the last. At Sant’Egle, every product and dish on offer uses fresh, local, largely home-grown produce, with meals prepared on-site. Their ample breakfast menu perfectly showcases this range of products, with options such as freshly-picked seasonal fruit, and homemade cakes and jams, delivered to your room or garden area. If you fall in love with any of these products, you’re likely to find them in the agriturismo’s organic shop, as well as a variety of cosmetic products, all crafted by hand using Sant’Egle’s home-grown olive oil.
Browse Sant’Egle’s online store here.
Agriturismo Sant’Egle has, over the years, received a number of prestigious awards, including the TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice and LTG Europe’s Luxury Eco-Resort of the Year; travellers from across the globe have left feeling lighter, more fulfilled, and decidedly more relaxed. A large part of this agriturismo’s well-deserved success is due to the unwavering hospitality of owners Erika and Alessandro, whose passion for sustainability and deep-rooted love of nature is apparent in every detail of Sant’Egle. Always eager to give suggestions and recommendations, helping their guests to fully appreciate everything that stunning Maremma has to offer, entering Sant’Egle feels like returning to the arms of a beloved family member; it is at once comforting and exciting, familiar yet refreshing. Their philosophy? “Tutto ciò di cui hai bisogno, è avere meno… devi solo allontanarti da tutto.” In short: happiness stems from the simpler things in life. We couldn’t agree more.
Article crafted in exchange for gifted stay.