Locanda Rossa

Rooms

Serene, chic and comfortable, Locanda Rossa’s rooms are split between buildings old and new and all individually decorated. Those in the original farmhouse have a décor of muted earthy colours and feel suitably rustic; shapes and sizes are all unique due to the nature of the old building. Newer rooms are found in a pair of purpose-built properties near reception. These feel a little more utilitarian in design (long rows of rooms), but the interiors are brighter and more flamboyant.

We loved the Junior Suite on the top floor, which had high ceilings with wooden beams making it feel really light and airy. Even the smallest Locanda Rooms and Prestige Rooms feel nice and bright (due to their décor) despite their compact size. Deluxe rooms are worth the extra cost for the additional space they offer. The Garden Suites each have a separate sitting room with 2 sofas, which can be made up as single beds. Most ground-floor rooms have private patches of garden shielded by tall hedges and olive trees; some upstairs rooms have terraces.

On our last visit, we stayed in an Executive Junior Suite (with garden) in one of the new blocks. It was so spacious with a big walk-in closet and a huge bathroom with double sink & shower. There are also Executive Junior Suites upstairs but we'd recommend requesting one with a garden as it was a real treat to have private outdoor space, complete with sunloungers, olive trees, table & chairs. Some have a kitchen but you pay an extra premium for this room.

There are also four 3-bedroom villas, each with a living room, a kitchen-diner and a private garden. Rooms are spread over three floors and gardens are shrouded by tall hedges, so you get plenty of privacy. Great for families.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Bathrobes
• Central heating
• Coffee / tea making
• Cots available
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Minibar
• Mosquito net
• Safe box
• Toiletries
• TV
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast (not included in the villa rates) is a feast served buffet-style in the greenhouse-style restaurant, where tables are set under a canopy overlooking manicured lawns. We gorged on locally produced cheeses (gooey mozzarella balls, fresh ricotta and hard cheeses), charcuterie (local wild boar sausage, Parma ham), olives, lots of cakes, scrambled egg and bacon, Greek yoghurt and nuts/berries. You can even indulge in a bottle of bubbly to start your day, or there's fresh juice and coffee if you're more traditional. There are a la carte options for an extra cost, but even without this was the best breakfast of our trip.

Lunch and dinner are served here, too, or alfresco on the large restaurant terrace. Much of the produce is sourced locally, with the house olive oil and various fruit and vegetables (courgettes, tomatoes, aubergines, melon and so on) grown on the property. There are also 50 bee hives, so they produce their own honey. We enjoyed beef carpaccio and squid for primo, clam spaghetti and wild boar ragu for secondi, sea bass and roast duck for mains. All were presented beautifully and there were happy faces across the board. There’s a kids’ menu, too.

For a post-dinner digestif, head next door to the Red Bar, where big sofas and a laidback atmosphere beckon. Alternatively, if you feel like eating out, there are excellent restaurants in nearby Capalbio. Staff can recommend. There are also grocery shops here; the villas each have a full kitchen with a hob, oven, microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and barbecue.

Features include:

• Bar
• Coffee maker
• Kids' meals
• Restaurant
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Read in the shady gardens, soak up the sun by the gorgeous pool, keep fit on the tennis and paddle courts, or learn how to make pasta at one of the hotel's cooking classes
  
• Chill out in the spa (which can be booked exclusively on request). There's a hammam, Turkish bath, thermal pool, sensory shower and sauna, all of which can be experienced on a 'Spa Path', which is complimentary to i-escape guests. There's also an enticing range of massages and scrubs - make sure you book in advance
  
• Visit the medieval villages of Capalbio, Pitigliano and Sorano, or head to local beaches, where you'll find a choice of beach clubs (10km)
  
• The nearby nature reserve of Lake Burano offers fantastic birdwatching: herons, wild geese, nightingales, great reed warblers, marsh harriers, ospreys, gannet, lapwings and golden plovers. Bring your binoculars
  
• Hire a bike from the Locanda to explore the surrounding countryside, or sign up for a horse-riding trip that ends with a picnic barbecue
  
• Active types can practice their backhand on the tennis and padel courts, or follow one of the marked running trails around the grounds
  
• Visit local vineyards for wine tasting
  
• Explore Il Giardino dei Tarocchi ('Garden of Tarots'), filled with lush greenery and Gaudí-esque mosaic sculptures

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Cycling
• Golf
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Kitesurfing
• Mountain biking
• Sailing
• Scuba diving
• Shopping / markets
• Snorkelling
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Table tennis
• Tennis
• Windsurfing
• Wine tasting

Kids

This is a great choice for families, the kind of place where you can enjoy luxury even though you're travelling with kids. The friendly team give children a warm welcome, plus there’s plenty of space thanks to private gardens and terraces, as well as a dedicated (unheated) kids pool, so you can relax knowing your children aren’t impinging on other people’s fun. The villas are particularly suited to families, but tend to get booked up early. Nearby, there are lots of places to visit to keep all ages entertained.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Some Junior Suites have single sofabeds, while the Garden Suites have 2 single sofabeds. Some Deluxe Junior Suite Kings can interconnect. Most bathrooms are shower only. For families with older children, the 4 villas are best; suited to groups of 2 to 6, they each have 2 double rooms, 1 twin/double room, 3 bathrooms (1 with a tub) and a lounge, kitchen and dining area.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 118km (Rome)
• Shops, including a pharmacy: 3.5km
• Hospital: 25 minutes' drive (Orbetello)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Locanda Rossa is set in the hills of the Tuscan Maremma, a lovely, protected, coastal area. It's just 3.5km from the medieval village of Capalbio.

By Air:
Rome Fiumicino is the closest airport (118km), or you can fly into Rome Ciampino. Pisa is also an easy drive away, and a major hub.

From the Airport
Most guests hire a car. You could take a taxi but one of the joys of being here is exploring the region, for which you'll need transport. The hotel does not offer airport transfers.

By Car:
If you want to hire a car, see our car rental recommendations. You can park for free at the hotel.

By Train:
If you'd prefer to travel overland from the UK, you can reach Tuscany quite easily from London, and from elsewhere in Italy. See the excellent Seat 61 for details. The closest station to the hotel is Capalbio Scalo, and from here you can take a taxi (4km).

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.