Former convent in Tuscan Pienza with contemporary interior
La Bandita Countryhouse / Pienza / Tuscany / Italy
If you are in Tuscany you can’t throw a stone without hitting a cute, picturesque little village set on a hilltop with views of the rolling countryside. This is a known fact. And another known fact is that some of these villages happen to be just slightly cuter and more picturesque than the rest. Pienza is one of those villages.
This boutique hotel is located right in the centre of Pienza. It used to be a nuns convent that was transformed into a hotel by American former music industry exec, John Voigtmann (who is also the man behind the sister property, La Bandita Countryhouse).
When the transformation of this 500-year-old convent started in 2013, it were architects Bartolini and Pieri from Firenze who took on the challenge with some very strict rules due to local legislation. As a consequence they couldn’t add any extra square meters, enlarge any windows or doors.
And the result? A 12 room maze-like hotel where heritage and contemporary comes together in a seamless way. In our room there was ancient stone walls, exposed wooden beams and a massive marble altar that brought the historic aspect and some modern, colorful furniture that clashed in all the right ways.
Of course there is an on-site restaurant serving a modern take on local cuisine and if you’ve had your fair share of pasta (is that even possible…?) you can get yourself a really great burger in the beautiful courtyard, surrounded by ancient buildings. Doesn’t sound too shabby, does it?
Welcome to La Bandita Countryhouse. You don’t need much imagination to see how this used to look when it was a monastery. How beautiful is this corridor?!
Just outside our room was a large living room with honesty bar, a library and and comfy lounge seating. This is a good example of the combo of traditional and modern design that you’ll find throughout the hotel.
Our room was very light and bright. Even the bed felt light, suspended on a small podium. Made you feel like floating in the air.
The old features, like the solid stone wall and ancient wood beams were combined with contemporary furniture that also added a much needed splash of color.
Old and new, classic and contemporary is always the way to go.
In our room there was a massive marble altar that had been carefully restored and incorporated into the design of our room.
In the living room there were plenty of space to hang out and get something to drink from the honesty bar. Love honesty bars! Such a great way to make us as guests feel at home.
When we were here the weather was unusually bad so it was great to just hang out inside with some great books until the rain had passed.
Once again, modern and traditional.
Love this little balcony next to our room where we sat, sheltered from the rain with a glass of wine before we went downstairs for dinner.
How cute is this old Piaggio that has been turned into an unusual flower pot that sits in the courtyard of the hotel, next to the restaurant.
Pienza, like most Tuscan villages, sits on a hill with stunning views of the surroundings. And one of the best things with bad weather is that dark clouds make photos look even more stunning. This photo is from the outskirts of the village early in the morning.
If I lived here, this would totally be my means of transport, a yellow Vespa.
I know, this almost looks surreal! The heavy fog sitting like a thick blanket at the base of the valley. Quintessential Tuscany.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…want to stay in a hotel that has a great combo of classic Tuscan and contemporary design. The frame is all you’ve ever wanted from a traditional hotel in this part of the world and the interior is a combo of heritage and modern with some splashes of color and some fun features.
My favorite thing about this place…
…is to stay in a hotel that is located in the centre of a Tuscan village. So many of the hotels in this area are located in the countryside, in magnificent villas so to get to experience a small Tuscan village from dusk to dawn is such a treat. When all the tourists leave Pienza you and the locals have the town all for yourself.
What not to miss when staying here is…
…to venture out of the village. Put on some sturdy shoes and go for a hike. There are plenty of country roads around the village where you can come close to old Tuscan villas and lush vineyards. Oh, and remember to bring a camera since the surroundings are ridiculously stunning.
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