Our stay at Poderi Arcangelo in the rolling hills of San Gimignano was nothing short of magical. Surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, the views were the kind that stop you in your tracks – especially at sunset when the Tuscan hills glow gold. The food was exceptional every day, with authentic local flavours that made each meal a highlight. The staff were warm, welcoming and always tried their best to help, adding to the charm of the place. The location is perfect for exploring nearby treasures such as San Gimignano itself, Certaldo, and Volterra.
One thing to note – a hire car is essential. Public transport is virtually non-existent here; we couldn’t get a bus at all and taxis, while available, were scarce and very expensive – we spent €400 on just three journeys. This isn’t the hotel’s fault, though it would have been helpful to know in advance.
Also, while the property is beautiful, there’s no real indoor bar area for relaxing before or after dinner. There is an outdoor bar, but it only opens on weekends and closes at 18:00, so an early evening drink isn’t always possible.
Despite this, we had seven days of bliss and would return in a heartbeat – next time with a hire car, ready to explore every corner of this stunning part of Tuscany.