Convertible tour to Tuscany
Is there anything better than cruising through Bella Italia topless? In this case through Tuscany and the insider tip of Maremma, with a little culture in the city, thermal spa wellness in the countryside and gourmet golf with wine and culinary delights. On the route: Siena, La Bagnaia with golf, Terme di Saturnia with golf & spa and finally the Argentario Golf Resort & Spa in Maremma.
Siena - a city of art and culture with 1000 faces
Onto the roof and off we go towards Siena - one of the most powerful cities in central Italy in the Middle Ages. Even today, the city is still a jewel of the Tuscan Renaissance and a tourist magnet thanks to the famous annual Palio di Siena horse race. It has been held twice a year since 1644: on July 2 and August 16 in the main square, Piazza del Campo. The main tourist and folkloristic attraction is the parade with magnificent historical costumes before the spectacle. The fact that the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town between the Chianti vineyards is also synonymous with a cheerful way of life, excellent wines and paradisiacal golf with tradition can be experienced at first hand on a stroll through the bustling crowds of tourists, in the evening in the old town over a typical Tuscan meal in the Osteria da Divo and the best golf in La Bagnaia.
Royal Golf La Bagnaia
Just 12 kilometers from Siena, a somewhat bumpy road leads to "La Bagnaia Golf & Spa Resort". A small paradise for flora and fauna, where deer, pheasants, hares and horses can roam freely. In the middle of it all are the 18 holes of the Royal Golf La Bagnaia, nestled in the rolling Tuscan hills. None other than Robert Trent Jun. has designed an almost perfect layout in his unmistakable style, which provided us with an enjoyable game. Especially because we didn't meet a soul here. The resort of the same name, a fine Curio hotel belonging to the Hilton Group, could also be described as an authentic hideaway: 99 rooms and suites in Tuscan style are hidden away in medieval buildings that are perfectly integrated into the two 12th century villages of Borgo Bagnaia and Borgo Filetta. As the name "Bagnaia" suggests, you can also take a thermal bath here in the "Buddha Spa" with several pools and an Asian-inspired wellness area. For wine tasting, it is then only a stone's throw to the wine strongholds of Chianti, Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano.
Next stop: Terme di Saturnia
With our 230 horsepower, we then landed relatively quickly in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma, a gently undulating landscape that glows golden in the mild afternoon light. Even the long drive to the resort between flowering bushes on the edge of the golf course promises discreet luxury mixed with a homely atmosphere. This continues in the typical Tuscan stone buildings of the hotel, which is one of the "Leading Hotels of the World", with 140 rooms and suites, styled after a "Habitat" with parquet flooring, marble and travertine. By contrast, the ambience in the Aqualuce and All'Acquacotta restaurants, which has just been awarded its first Michelin star, is stylishly modern, as is the spa, an octagonal building that you can smell from the fragrances. A fantastic range of services, from a sophisticated anti-aging program to innovative beauty therapies, awaits guests here and those who enjoy it are happy to confirm that it is one of the most award-winning in the country. Nevertheless, things are pleasantly "casual" here, as the heart of the resort is the thermal spa, whose 37 degree hot healing water has been bubbling and feeding the pools here for 3,000 years. The proven positive effects on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, the muscles, the skeleton and the respiratory tract attract guests from all over the world all year round, who are not bothered by the somewhat strong smell of sulphur. We particularly enjoyed bathing at dawn, when the morning glow is reflected in the rising sea mist and can also be a wonderful way to relax before a round of golf. The 18-hole course of the same name nestles right next to the resort on slightly undulating to hilly terrain. At first glance, it looks like a beautiful vacation course, but it also has a few pitfalls: among other things, the terrain is criss-crossed by three streams, while large water hazards challenge golfers on five holes. This also makes it an ideal winter training base for the PGA of Germany team. And there was something else we liked: There are no tee times here, which adds to the vacation feeling, and anyone who also wants to practice can do so in peace and quiet on the adjacent practice course. On the way south, we pass a few Etruscan towns nestled high up on tufa spur rocks, which are definitely worth a stop - like Pitigliano, where we treat ourselves to a glass of Morellino and a wonderful view of the valley.
Secret tip Monte Argentario
The "Monte" here is both a mountain and an island and is connected to the mainland of southern Tuscany via dams - we learn this as we head for the island. We start with an aperitivo in Porto San Stefano, a picturesque village right by the sea, before setting off in search of the 5-star Argentario Golf Resort. This really isn't easy, as the resort is hidden behind meters-high trees on a narrow driveway. This makes the first glimpse of the futuristic-looking hotel building on the hillside all the more astonishing: stylish white lobby with art objects, spiral staircase down to the restaurant all in black with plenty of space to marvel at. A fascinating hideaway in a class of its own, which is why it also attracts celebrities of all genres. Especially because of the 3000 square meter medical spa with oxygen therapy, skin tightening and all kinds of regeneration treatments. The "DAMA DAMA" restaurant serves Michelin-starred cuisine and wine tasting, which everyone can afford after intensive personal training. In contrast to the previous hotels, the 73 rooms and suites here have a minimalist design, some with vintage touches and planted terraces. The five differently designed villas on a hill above the golf course are particularly popular. They guarantee peace and privacy but with all the bells and whistles of service.
We are particularly interested in the 18-hole golf course of the same name, the layout of which was designed by the American Brain Jorgensen. The result is surprisingly varied between olive trees, technically challenging and undoubtedly spectacular in terms of the view. Almost all the greens are relatively small and partly undulating, which makes putting a real experience. It's nice that there is almost always a breeze here, which helps even in the hottest summer heat. We were also impressed by the layout, which runs between cork and hundred-year-old olive trees. In this almost untouched nature, you can still come across rabbits, squirrels and deer and also enjoy a breathtaking panorama. The resort also offers tennis, football, fitness and various pools - perfect for a vacation with the whole family.
Further information at:
www.visittuscany.com/de/ www.hiltonhotels.de/Curio/Siena
www.termedisaturnia.it/de www.argentariogolfresortspa.it/de/
