Hotel Villa San Paolo, a 4 star luxury hotel in Tuscany is offering a unique St. Valentine’s day proposition for you traveling to or visiting Tuscany.

• Saint Valentine’s Day “Delizia a due” February 14^th
  • 5 course Dinner for 2 at Ristorante Lampolla we featured back in November (a romantic dinner for 2 in San Gimignano Tuscany).
  • You’ll receive a free entry for 2 at the irisspa benessere fitness and wellness center, 2 free passes you can use the day after your Saint Valentine’s day dinner until April 7^th – advance booking is required.

Cost per couple: € 150,00

• Saint Valentine’s day “Piccante Cioccolato” (Spicy Chocolate) February 14^th
  • irispa benessere fitness and wellness center entry (10:00 AM to 10:00 PM) with free access to:
    • indoor and outdoor swinning pools both with warm water and hydro massage
    • sauna
    • turkish bath
    • tuscan aromarium
    • rugiade
    • cascades
    • kneipp iteneraries
    • summer storms
    • ice fountain
    • fitness room
  • 2 course lunch for 2 in front of the fireplace at the loliva bar (St. Valentine’s day menu, drinks are not included)
  • 25 minute chocolate massage for 2

Cost per couple: € 140,00

• Saint Valentines Day Piccante Cioccolato evening February 14^th
  • irispa benessere fitness and wellness center entry (6:00 PM to 10:00 PM) with free access to:
    • indoor and outdoor swimming pools both with warm water and hydro massage
    • sauna
    • turkish bath
    • tuscan aromarium
    • rugiade
    • cascades
    • kneipp itineraries
      
    • summer storms
    • ice fountain
    • fitness room
• romantic snack near the fireplace (St. Valentine’s day menu, drinks are not included) at the loliva bar (open until 01:00 AM)

Cost per couple: € 100,00

Another great restaurant in San Gimignano, Tuscany, you’ll certainly wish to visit during your holiday is the Lampolla Restaurant at Hotel Villa San Paolo …

A special place with a unique atmosphere ideal to celebrate a special event or just to be with your loved one and rediscover the pleasure of an intimate evening together: this is a restaurant you’ll definitely wish to visit.

Flavors of foods and wines combine with carefully designed interior decorations and lighting play a significant role in the entire experience and make the Lampolla Restaurant in San Gimignano Tuscany a unique experience that will exceed your expectations …

You’ll enjoy the perfect balance between tradition and contemporary taste. The wonderful views on the Tuscan hills from the terrace will complete your experience and make your dinner unforgettable.

Villa San Paolo
Strada Provinciale per Certaldo
53037 San Gimignano – SIENA, Tuscany
Tel. +39 0577 955100 Fax +39 0577 955113
info@villasanpaolo.com

Of the many luxury hotels in Tuscany taking part in the Hotel Relais Consortium today I’d like to tell you about Hotel Certosa di Maggiano and the famous Il Canto Restaurant one of the most famous restaurants in Tuscany and a must for those seeking refined cuisine at the highest levels.

Il Canto Restaurant was recently reviewed by 2 of the most prestigious guides on Italy: the Guida dell’Espresso awarded an 18/20 score and the Gambero Rosso a flattering 93 points confirming once again “three forks”.

Il Canto Restaurant gets its name from an old farm belonging to the Carthusian monastery still producing olive oil, fruit, and vegetables, the basic ingredients of the many dishes featured on the menu.

One of the peculiarities of this fine restaurant in Tuscany, is the number of places where lunch or dinner is served, depending on the season.

The rustic kitchen decorated with age-old branches and the patio are the ideal place for simple, informal lunches.

Depending on the season, dinner can be served in the dining room which offers a plethora of unique, beautiful furnishings, or beneath the ogival arches of the main cloister.

Cooking is based on Simplicity and authenticity fostering the creation of unique gastronomical delights based on healthy fresh products: olive oil, fruit and vegetables are grown in a garden cultivated by the restaurant

La Certosa di Maggiano was built in 1314 with a long and interesting historical background, involved in the 16^th century war between France and Spain, is now a 4 star hotel and maintains the prestige and historical atmosphere that makes this hotel such an interesting stay in Tuscany.

For more information:

Relais & Chateaux
Hotel Certosa di Maggiano
Ristorante Il Canto
Strada di Certosa, 82/86
53100 – Siena – Tuscany – Italy
Phone +39 0577 288 180 Email: info@certosadimaggiano.it

see also the post about best tuscan restaurants

Over the past few days two of the most prestigious Italian guides edited by l’Espresso have been presented in their 2009 editions: I Ristoranti d’Italia and Vini d’Italia (the latter will be translated into Japanese for the first time this year).

Here is the list of the Top 10 Restaurants in Tuscany listed in the 2009 guide:

Gambero Rosso
Piazza della Vittoria 13, San Vincenzo, tel. 0565.701021 Opening hours: all day; closed on Mondays, Tuesdays; Holidays: November – March; Credit Cards: all; Average Price: € 120,00

Enoteca Pinchiorri
Via Ghibellina 87, Firenze, tel. 055.242777
Website: www.enotecapinchiorri.com
Opening hours: all day; closed: Sundays, Mondays; Holidays: November to March; Credit Cards: AE, BM, CS, EC, MC, VISA; Average Price: € 200,00

Hotel Certosa di Maggiano – Il Canto
Strada di Certosa 82, Siena, tel. 0577.288180
Website: www.ilcanto.it
Opening hours: evenings only; closed: Tuesday; holidays: November to March; Credit Cards: AE, BM, CS, EC, MC, VISA. Average Price: € 90,00

Caino
Via Canonica 3, Montemerano, tel. 0564.602817
Website: www.dacaino.it
Opening hours: all day; closed: Wednesday; Thursday lunch time; holidays: 2 weeks in July; Christimas Holidays. Credit Cards: all. Average Price: € 130,00

Lorenzo
Via Carducci 63, Forte dei Marmi, tel. 0584.89671
Opening hours: all day; closed: evenings from mid June to mid September; closed: Monday; Tuesday lunch time; holidays: January; last week of December. Credit Cards: all. Average Price: € 90,00

Bracali
Via di Perolla 2 – Frazione Ghirlanda, Massa Marittima, tel. 0566.902318
Sito: www.bracaliristorante.it
Opening hours: always; closed: Monday; Tuesday; Wednesday and Thursday lunch time; holidays: from January 10th to February 10th. Credit Cards: all. Average Price: € 140,00

Romano
Via Mazzini 120, Viareggio, tel. 0584.31382
Website: www.romanoristorante.it
Opening hours: always; closed: Monday; holidays: in January; a week in July. Credit Cards: all; Average Price: € 80,00

Pineta
Via dei Cavalleggeri Nord 27 – Loc. Marina di Bibbona, Bibbona tel. 0586.600016
E-mail: lapineta@youritaly.com
Opening hours: always; closed: Monday Tuesday: lunch time; holidays: first 10 days in January; in October. Credit Cards: all. Average Price: € 60,00

Arnolfo
Via XX Settembre 50, Colle di Val d’Elsa, tel. 0577.920549
Website: www.arnolfo.com
Opening hours: always; closed: Tuesday; Wednesday; holidays: 2 weeks in January; 2 weeks July August. Credit Cards: all. Average Price: € 110,00

Il Pellicano
Località Sbarcatello, Porto Ercole, tel. 0564.858111
Website: www.pellicanohotel.com
Opening hours: evenings only; closed: never; holidays: November to March. Credit Cards: all. Average Price: € 120,00

The best wines in Tuscany, according to the 2009 Espresso Guide are:

• Bolgheri Sassicaia 2005 San Guido
• Brunello di Montalcino 2003 Biondi Santi
• Brunello di Montalcino 2003 Il Colle – Carli
• Brunello di Montalcino 2003 Poggio di Sotto
• Chianti Classico 2006 Le Cinciole
• Chianti Classico Bilaccio 2005 Il Borghetto
• Chianti Classico Riserva 2004 Capannelle
• Chianti Classico Riserva 2004 Castell’in Villa
• Chianti Classico Riserva 2004 Riecine
• Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio 2004 Castello di Monsanto
• Chianti Rufina Riserva Nipozzano 2005 Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi
• d’Alceo 2005 Castello dei Rampolla
• Il Pareto 2004 Tenuta di Nozzole
• Lupicaia 2005 Castello del Terriccio
• Orcia Rosso Petrucci 2005 Podere Forte
• Redigaffi 2006 Tua Rita
• Rosso di Montalcino 2005 Poggio di Sotto
• Rosso di Montalcino 2005 Stella di Campalto
• Rosso di Montalcino 2006 Tenimenti Angelini – Val di Suga
• Sammarco 2005 Castello dei Rampolla
• Sangioveto 2004 Badia a Coltibuono
• Santacroce 2003 Castell’in Villa
• Vernaccia di San Gimignano Montenidoli Carato 2004 Montenidoli
• Vernaccia di San Gimignano Montenidoli Fiore 2006 Montenidoli
• Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina 1999 Frascole