I recently spent three nights in Tuscany for a family wedding, and we made sure to build in time to explore this beautiful corner of Italy.

Flying into Pisa was straightforward. Going through the new EES took a little while but was very simple. Once through, we headed to the café for breakfast, where I tried a slice of buccellato (a traditional sweet bread) with a much‑needed coffee.

Collecting the hire car was easy. The pick‑up area is about a five‑minute walk from the terminal, or you can hop on the free shuttle bus if you prefer.

First stop: Palaia and the countryside

Our first destination was Palaia, around a 45‑minute, easy drive from Pisa. After meeting up with family, we continued on to our hotel: Boccioleto Resort & Spa.

Tucked away down an unmade, dusty road, this traditional 4‑star hotel has just 28 rooms and spectacular views across the Tuscan countryside. It offers pure peace and quiet, with nothing but views and birdsong. Think lazy afternoons by the outdoor pool, plenty of sunbeds, friendly staff and a restaurant that guests genuinely rave about.

Our room (number 107) was spread over two floors. Downstairs there was a sitting room with a sofa, large TV and the bathroom. The bedroom was reached by climbing 25 steps to the upper level, where we had a spacious room with windows on three sides and a very comfortable bed.

Breakfast was self‑service with plenty of choice, which you could enjoy either indoors or out on the patio. We also had one lunch and one evening meal at the hotel, and both were superb.

During the hottest part of the day we cooled off with quick dips in the pool, which has sweeping views across the surrounding hills and fields.

A day trip to San Gimignano

From Boccioleto it is an easy day trip to San Gimignano, a famous medieval hill town known for its tall stone towers and intact city walls. Parking was straightforward; we paid 8.50 euros for five hours. It is well worth a visit for a relaxed stroll around the narrow streets and a browse in the many small local shops.

Unexpected wildlife encounters

One of the most unexpected highlights was the wildlife. Over just a few days we spotted wild boar, deer, lizards, numerous butterflies, hoopoes, eagles and red kites, and we heard reports of porcupines in the area too.

We also noticed how popular the region is with cyclists, chatting to several people who were touring by bike. On the local roads we were overtaken by a series of wonderful vintage cars that were clearly taking part in a rally, adding even more character to the landscape.

A relaxing Tuscan escape

Overall, it was a wonderfully relaxing few days away: a mix of family celebration, peaceful countryside, great food and the chance to dip into Tuscany’s medieval history and natural beauty.