Discover What’s New in Tuscany for Summer 2026
From a renovated Renaissance monastery to guest suites in a castle watchtower, the region’s luxury hotels have myriad novelties to offer visitors this season
As soon as spring rolls around each year, daydreams of summer in Italy become evermore tangible. Those in search of world-famous art, historic architecture, fresh pasta, and full-bodied wines—not to mention that oh-so effortless “sprezzatura”—are unsurprisingly drawn to Tuscany, where culturally rich cities are surrounded by the languid rural Italian countryside. Here, amongst rolling hills blanketed in olive groves and grape vines, gravel tracks flanked by sentinel cypresses lead to historic villas, castellos, monasteries, borgos (fortified medieval villages), and farmhouses that have been transformed into luxury accommodations for visitors.
This year, the region welcomes a swath of new hotel openings, existing property updates, and a host of partnerships and bespoke experiences that await newcomers and returning visitors alike. From the full renovation of a Renaissance monastery, to farmhouses and castle watchtowers transformed into guest suites, exclusive access to watch Tuscany’s most famous horse race, and, of course, plenty of food and wine tastings, the region’s charming cities and idyllic countryside await.
Below, discover what’s new for the 2026 season.
1. Castiglion del Bosco
Rosewood’s Castiglion del Bosco—home to Italy’s only private 18-hole golf course—is introducing a host of new experiences for the 2026 season. Perhaps the most special is the hotel’s Palio di Siena Experience on July 2 and August 16, during which guests will have exclusive VIP access to a private palace to watch this legendary medieval horse race. Every Sunday summer evening from June to September, the borgo hosts a summer festival with pop-up artisanal stalls and feasting-style tables. Guests can also book guided truffle expeditions, astronomy sessions, and tours and tastings through the 62 hectares of vineyard—by bike or helicopter. And don’t miss Ristorante Campo del Drago, the hotel’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant that overlooks the verdant landscape of Val d’Orcia and serves Tuscan dishes by Executive Chef Matteo Temperini created with fresh produce from the estate’s organic kitchen garden.
2. Pieve Aldina
In the heart of Chianti, the famous wine region that spans the mountain between Florence and Siena, Pieve Aldina occupies the former summer residence of the Bishops of Siena. Surrounded by olive groves, this historic property’s 22 rooms and suites blend 16th-century frescoes and rustic textures with contemporary furniture. The hotel debuted in 2023 as the first Italian address of the Fontenille Collection, and this May, a second swimming pool is opening to provide guests with even more space to relax and cool off under the Tuscan sun. The original pool overlooking the surrounding hills is part of the Pieve Aldina spa, which offers massages, an infrared sauna, and a hammam. In the evenings, long tables beneath the pergola are laid out in anticipation of Tuscan Chef Niccolò Pini’s wood-fired, herb-infused cuisine, which is enjoyed communally late into the night.
3. Villa San Michele, a Belmond Hotel
Perched on a hillside overlooking Florence and the Arno valley, the storied Villa San Michele is finally reopening its grand, arcade-sheltered doors on April 28, following an intensive 18-month renovation led by Luigi Fragola Architects. The firm enlisted local artisans to restore the Renaissance monastery and its gardens, from artist Elena Carozzi to textile brand Rubelli, and Bianco Bianchi, who has revived the ancient Scagliola technique of layering plaster and pigments that are carefully mixed, molded, and polished. The villa has historic ties to both Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, so it’s the perfect retreat to sojourn after exploring the treasures and technologies of Florence’s galleries and museums.
4. Castello di Vicarello
This summer will mark the first full season of Villa La Vedetta, Castello di Vicarello’s 12th-century watchtower that has been meticulously renovated into a private, standalone two-bedroom villa. Spanning 2,000 square feet over four floors, the residence is outfitted with hand-carved window frames and doors, Marmorino walls, French oak parquet, original terracotta and stone flooring, and bold black-and-white checkered marble. The Castello’s owners, the Baccheschi-Berti brothers, are teaming up with Copihue Atelier to create personalized perfume-making classes in the vegetable garden. They’re also partnering with a local pilot to execute curated flight itineraries to Elba, Montalcino, Val d’Orcia, and greater Maremma countryside.
5. W Florence
Where better to appreciate the historic beauty of Florence than a rooftop bar in the heart of the city? The 119-key W Florence, which debuted in 2025 close to the Santa Maria Novella train station, is kicking off the al fresco aperitivo season by introducing Zefiro Rooftop—a buzzy space boasting panoramic views across the terracotta skyline. Designed by New York-based hospitality specialists AvroKO, the terrace includes lounge and cabana seating with zesty lemon yellow accents, from which to slowly sip signature spritzes. A rotating lineup of local and international DJs will also spin from sunset until late.
6. Chapter Chianti
Across a 16th-century village, just 45 minutes from Florence, a new 82-room, design-led luxury hotel is poised to open in June 2026. Developed by Marco Cilia, the countryside resort has been transformed with interiors by South African designer Tristan du Plessis. Its three restaurants—overseen by Michelin-starred chef Vincenzo Martella—will include a Mexican food truck, while three bars and a 5,300-square-foot spa are also available for guests on-site. A private five-bedroom mansion will enjoy a private pool amongst the seclusion of the olive gardens.
7. La Darbia in Chianti
La Darbia hotel on Lake Garda will open a sister property in Chianti this summer, with 17 suites set within three farmhouse buildings in an ancient hilltop village. Surrounded by century-old olive trees and lavender fields, the stone buildings and terracotta-tiled roofs for which Tuscany is famous have been sensitively restored and updated with contemporary decor. No two suites are alike—some open onto private gardens shaded by wooden pergolas, while others frame the hillside views through large picture windows. At the restaurant, Chef Matteo Monfrinotti’s menu is influenced by the Tuscan countryside’s changing seasons and is best enjoyed on the terrace under the stars.
8. La Roqqa
Tuscany isn’t only rolling countryside and historic hilltop villages. The region also boasts an impressive yet still under-the-radar coastline, and close to its border with Lazio lies the picturesque Monte Argentario. This peninsula, and the town of Porto Ercole that tucks into its bay, is home to La Roqqa—a luxury boutique hotel and beach club opened in 2023 that provides a contemporary counterpoint to the typical rural medieval properties. The interiors showcase the best of modern and contemporary Italian design through the use of midcentury furniture icons and bold splashes of color across the interiors by Palomba Serafini Associati. Meanwhile, its sister location Isolotto Beach Club offers “barefoot chic” under scalloped parasols beside a sandy stretch of coastline.
9. Hotel Il Pellicano
Also in Porto Ercole, Hotel Il Pellicano—ranked 26th on The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 list—is fresh from its 60th anniversary celebrations. The property continues its evolution with the refurbishment of 23 rooms and suites, which blend the building’s 1960s glamour with fresh contemporary flair. A new private beach lift now links the upper pool terrace with the hotel’s private beach, and the ISSIMO boutique has been updated with new display furniture and a Cabinet of Curiosity—an intimate space showcasing pieces selected by Pellicano Hotels CEO and Creative Director, Marie-Louise Sciò.