Relais il Chiostro di Pienza - 4 Stars, Pienza, Tuscany

This hotel is situated in the centre of Pienza, a Renaissance city planned by Rossellini on the instruction of Pope Pius II who was born in Pienza in 1405.  The hotel was once a 15th century monastry and has an extremely interesting history. The building remained a monastry until 1788.  After that it became a boarding school for young clerics.  It was converted into a hotel in the 1950s.   It is now a very comfortable 4 star hotel with lovely seating areas within the hotel, a quiet garden and a swimming pool with beautiful views over the surrounding Tuscan countryside.  The terrace garden of this old convent is a great open terrace overlooking the stunning Val d'Orcia valley and hills. In season, sitting under the fragrant Lime trees, immersed in the scents in the garden, enjoying the views accompanied by a cool drink, is a sublime experience and one never to forget.