Discover Tuscany’s foodie hotel that’s renovated, rebuilt and reopened

I’d heard rumours of the pici cacio e pepe of its motherland being a dish to die for, but after one mouthful of the pasta at Villa La Massa’s poolside bistro L’Oliveto, I was prepared to die, come back to life, and die again. A day later, this Italian bolthole’s main restaurant Il Verrocchio served up a traditionally Tuscan bistecca alla Fiorentina that’s made its way to the top of my “best steaks of all time” list.

Big claims? I know, even I’m surprised. The sommelier’s recommendations of Tuscan wines paired perfectly with my chosen dishes and left me in an even happier holiday haze than I had been in previously.