Tenuta Il Cicalino

Jog along the running tracks; bask by the pools; saunter up to the restaurant and find a table facing the valley. Dinner here is a treat.

The apartment-filled farmhouses of this vast estate, surrounded by olive groves and vines, are linked by sloping paths lit up at night, and furnished in impeccable style. If you decide to self-cater, you get your own dining terraces, and shops in Massa Marittima (3km). Come for a short stay and you can do B&B – with wonderful Tuscan breakfasts. (Light lunches are available too.) What with yoga and saunas, massages and mountain bikes, a fitness centre, a play park and pools, you need never leave.

On a clear day you can see the beaches at Follonica (18km), loved for their fine sands and crystal waters. You can also see Scarlino on its hill – puff your way up to the castle for amazing sunsets and views.