Property Spotlight: Villa Lena, Florence Hotel

There are so many highlights, I honestly start to lose track.

First, just driving up to Villa Lena was a bucolic dream. The staff are so kind and welcoming.

We loved our room - one of the 12 in the Fattoria building. Cozy-modern-chic would be the way to describe it; boasting a spacious bathroom and super comfortable bed.

Rooms you don't want to leave aside, the creative arts program is what really sets this stay apart.

Various talented artisans are brought in residence to host interactive experiences for guests. Mario and I got our hands on a fun clay workshop (which was included in our rate), but there's everything from flower arranging to still-life drawing to keep one busy.

Yogis will appreciate a morning stretch in the scenic outdoor yoga pavilion and heading into a meditation area adorned with rows of dried flowers hanging from the ceiling.

Of course, food and wine are on the menu here, with pasta-making and cocktail workshops, as well as wine tastings (additional fees apply).

Naturally, the estate's own olive oil can be sampled at Osteria San Michele, their restaurant serving delicious farm-to-table fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Side note: My clients – a family of 5 who stayed five nights here – booked the half-board rate and loved having breakfast and dinner sorted so they could venture out during the day, and totally relax in the evening.

If you've got something to celebrate, Villa Lena has spectacular event spaces. As someone who scopes out wedding venues for clients, I've got my eye on this estate as the staff are fully capable of providing everything required for an incredible destination wedding weekend.

And finally, I applaud Villa Lena's IRIS initiative that supports and empowers refugees through training programs.

Villa Lena by the numbers...

• Estate: 500 hectares

• Rooms: 18

• Apartments: 5

• Independent houses: 2

• Swimming pools: 3

• Restaurant: 1

• Bars: 2

• Olive groves: 2,000 trees

• Olive oil production: 12 tons

• Vineyards: 2.4 hectares

• Vegetable garden: 3,300 sqm

• Yoga decks: 2 (indoor and outdoor)

• Art pieces: 1,000+

• Dog: 1 named Igor

I highly recommend Villa Lena for couples, families and honeymooners. Anyone seeking a relaxing retreat. It also makes a stunning location for a destination wedding. The hotel's proximity to Florence makes it perfect for those wanting to experience quintessential Tuscany.

The only caveat here is that travelers with mobility issues might struggle getting around the property as there are a lot of inclines with it being positioned on a hill.