
19. Castello Banfi il Borgo, Tuscany, Italy
Readers' Rating: 90.467
Set amid 7,100 undulating acres of vineyards and olive groves near Montalcino, Castello Banfi, maker of some of the region’s best-known wines, has opened its doors to overnight guests. Former workers’ lodgings have been converted into sumptuous accommodations that embody Tuscan-style good living. The 14 rooms, housed in conjoined 18th-century stone buildings adjacent to the estate’s 12th-century castello, have retained some atmospheric elements of the original structures, from wood-beam ceilings to deep-set windows to terracotta floors, and are done in a cheerful, elegant palette, including softly patterned silk draperies, plump couches, and absurdly comfortable beds with romantic baldachins. Special touches include a gratis bottle of Brunello, an LCD TV hidden in a false bookcase, and free high-speed Internet—a rarity in these parts. La Taverna serves well-prepared Tuscan dishes and, naturally, a strong house wine list. An infinity pool overlooks the bucolic landscape of vineyards.
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