The hotel comprises 10 bedrooms and suites, each named after the particular vineyard, Chianti peak or castle it looks towards. All are furnished with flair and originality, and above all else with great attention to detail, by the Florentine interior designer Riccardo Barthel. Decorating with irony and extravagance are the hallmarks of Barthel, mixing rich, luxurious materials with humble, peasant objects. The designer’s genius unveils itself in his many daring reinventions, for instance where an upside down rusted iron basket becomes a noble lamp shade; the door of a chicken coop is transformed into an ironic, monumental ornament; or in the case of a wisteria plant that covers the entrance courtyard meandering its way in the form of a fresco around the walls of a suite, thus connecting the outdoors to the interiors of the villa.

The colours of every room were inspired by the unique tones in the hand-painted Vietri tiles from each individual bathroom floor: beige and cobalt blue for the Mezzuola room, where a flamboyant hooded armchair reigns supreme; green and yellow for San Cresci, with its Empire furniture; rope and crimson for Montefili, crowned with an intricately carved noble Venetian boiserie. The walls are all hand-painted using water-based lime washes, one of the earliest known forms of decorative paint finish. Set against these charming backdrops are swathes of heavy, hand-dyed linens cascading from elaborate bedheads or, as in the Honeymoon Room, framing the timeless views of the surrounding vineyards, olive groves and the Italian garden.

In many rooms, high-tech mirror LCD TVs are encased in antique mirror frames in a courageous but ultimately successful ruse to introduce the convenience and comfort of modern living without upsetting the integrity of the Villa’s rooms. With the same delicacy, DVD players, minibars, safes, air-conditioning and internet connections have been unobtrusively installed in unusual pieces of antique furniture, each one the fruit of an exhaustive search. All this design would mean nothing, of course, if the bedrooms were not comfortable. To this end we have ensured that wherever possible, the beds are kingsize and in all cases, are fitted with mattresses of indescribable comfort. All the pillows and comforters are filled with goose feathers and are dressed in delicate, pure Italian, linen sheets. The end result is, we hope, the ultimate haven for rest, relaxation and peace.