Living Under the Tuscan Sun at Viesca Toscana

I have not found many hotels, especially luxury properties, as discreet and difficult to find as Viesca Toscana. Down a lane on the outskirts of a small village, we of course got lost. it is almost as if this was intentional. Despite being a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the Ferragamo family keep their former summer home, a quiet, exclusive story. I can understand why. They are a sophisticated bunch with deep roots in Tuscany and a quiet heritage they want to preserve.

My story with the Ferragamos goes back a few years when I met the dashingly handsome Salvatore Ferragamo, grandson of the legendary Hollywood shoemaker, over lunch at the family restaurant in Florence. I subsequently visited the estate which houses a medieval village and belongs to Salvatore’s father Ferruccio, Il Borro. In 2003, Massimo Ferragamo purchased Castiglion del Bosco—an 800-year-old, 5,000-acre estate in Montalcino—and spent five years transforming the property into an upscale resort where even Barrack Obama stopped for a game of golf while he was vacationing in Tuscany. And now, Viesca Toscana.

Viesca Toscana is an exclusive and unobtrusively restored, country estate. It was once the home of Salvatore the elder and his wife Wanda, who bought it in 1952 as a summer retreat for their family. With six children and many grandchildren, it was an ideal setting—featuring a 16th-century villa and several farmhouses, which they restored little by little to create a large estate.

Today, it comprises the main villa with nine enormous bedrooms, six private villas and 20 suites. Set in the heart of Tuscany, it offers easy access to the local designer outlet mall and is just 25 minutes away by car from Florence, with Chianti, Lucca, Sienna, Pisa and Arezzo all within reach. But what is most charming is the estate itself.

Viesca is the name given to both the estate and the finely restored grand manor house. Furnished with antiques and adorned with original frescoes, it evokes the charm of a bygone era in the countryside. The house is surrounded by a garden with an infinity pool and a romantic park dotted with monumental trees. The estate is truly unique, with roots dating back to the Renaissance, and even to Roman times before that.

When Salvatore Ferragamo died in 1960, Wanda played a pivotal role in managing the family business. She died a few years ago at the age of 96. The family decided to continue Wanda’s dream of turning it into a place dedicated to hospitality. Apart from enjoying the 70 hectares estate, we had some gorgeous simple Tuscan meals using produce from local suppliers as well as organic vegetables from their farm. Wanda Ferragamo created ‘the soul of Viesca’, and you can still feel the “family” atmosphere in many details.

The furnishings reflect the savoir-faire of the hostess, far from excess, elegant in its simplicity. Wanda’s memory echoes everywhere: from the suites named after Salvatore’s iconic to the doorbell with the sign “Ferragamo Family. Photos and portraits of the family are displayed on the walls of the halls and corridors, and in the suites, guests can page through the Ferragamo exhibition books and the biographies of Salvatore and Wanda, all enhancing the importance of heritage.

The Ferragamos’ touch feels refreshingly different from the often over-polished luxury found elsewhere in Italy. It’s that authentic Tuscan understatement—the terracotta tiles, slubby imperfect linens and super comfy beds, the rustic travertine stone, and the gentle textures of history. It’s a place that feels lived-in, layered with family stories—not just designed for glossy magazine spreads. Viesca Toscana is one of those rare places that seems to deliberately avoid screaming for attention, which is exactly what makes it so alluring.

 https://www.viescatoscana.com