Tuscany doesn't need another generic luxury farmhouse. You know the type. Perfectly bleached linens, pristine white plaster walls, and minimalist iron furniture that looks sleek but feels completely soulless. It's a formula that has been repeated until it's entirely exhausting. That's precisely why Le Lappe is an essential correction to modern travel. Tucked away in the dense, wooded hills of Chianti near Cavriglia, this former watchtower and convent has avoided the clean-swept traps of modern minimalism. Instead, it embraces an identity that feels deeply layered, historical, and unselfconscious.
The credit for this specific atmosphere goes to Remy Renzullo. The young American interior decorator and antique expert, known for his work at Castle Howard and a heavily followed Instagram account, has taken on Le Lappe as his premier hotel project. Renzullo doesn't do clean slates. Raised by an interior designer mother in a house packed with Renaissance art and folk curiosities, he builds spaces that look like they've evolved over hundreds of years. At Le Lappe, he brings that exact sensibility to a historic structure that dates back to 1000 AD.
If you are traveling through Italy looking for a resort that feels like a polished corporate retreat, don't book a room here. You will be disappointed. But if you want a space that feels like staying at the private estate of an eccentric, highly cultured friend, this is your spot.
The Anti Minimalist Aesthetic of Remy Renzullo
Most modern hospitality spaces focus on perfection. Renzullo treats perfection as a major design flaw. He has openly stated that there is nothing more banal than a space that is too proper. At Le Lappe, the focus is entirely on the bones of the architecture, working with how natural light hits the old stone rather than forcing a predetermined aesthetic onto the rooms.
The property consists of eleven unique suites. Each one is a deliberate rejection of contemporary luxury trends. Instead of mass-produced chic, the interiors feature antique pieces, terracotta tile flooring, and exposed wooden beams. Renzullo worked with local artisans and Florentine artist Francesca Guicciardini to implement hand-decorated details that give the rooms a genuine Florentine narrative.
- Stone Fireplaces: Every single suite includes a working stone fireplace. They aren't decorative. They crackle, they smoke slightly, and they fill the rooms with an unmistakable woodsy warmth.
- Hydromassage Tubs: Ten out of the eleven suites feature private indoor jacuzzi tubs, balancing the historical grit of the stone walls with absolute physical comfort.
- Varying Textures: The I Pini suite features bold geometric wall patterns that contrast sharply with the sweeping, silent views of pine forests right outside the window.
The rooms don't look newly decorated. They look lived-in. That is a notoriously difficult trick to pull off in a commercial property, yet Renzullo makes it feel entirely unstudied.
What to Expect on the Ground
Getting to Le Lappe is an experience in itself. Located at an altitude of 620 meters in the province of Arezzo, the approach involves winding through unpaved roads surrounded by chestnut trees and ancient olive groves. It's isolated. The nearest heavy tourist traffic is miles away, making the property feel exceptionally secluded.
The heart of the estate's culinary experience is the Giardino d’Inverno, or Winter Garden. It's an intimate restaurant housed inside a greenhouse with a glass ceiling and walls. Dining here means looking out at cherry trees during the day and sitting under a completely clear, unpolluted starry sky at night.
The food leans hard into classic Tuscan tradition, using ingredients sourced right from the estate. Le Lappe produces its own PGI-certified organic extra virgin olive oil from more than 3,000 local olive trees. The oil is intense, bright green, and slightly bitter with clear notes of artichoke. It finds its way onto almost every plate, from handmade pasta to simple grilled meats.
Practical Realities of Staying in Chianti
Let's talk about the logistics because a lot of people romanticize country stays without understanding the friction involved. Le Lappe isn't a mega-resort with a 24-hour concierge desk that can fulfill bizarre midnight requests. It's a boutique farm stay.
If you plan on driving yourself, pay attention to the directions provided by the property rather than relying blindly on standard GPS apps. Digital mapping tools frequently direct drivers onto dangerous, rutted dirt paths that are entirely unsuitable for a standard rental car. Demand the preferred route when you confirm your reservation.
The restaurant operates with strict hours and generally requires advance notice for dinner bookings. Don't roll in at 3 PM expecting a full three-course lunch without having coordinated it beforehand. This is a place that operates on a slower, more deliberate rhythm. If you can't adapt to that pace, the service might feel slow to you. If you lean into it, it's incredibly restorative.
How to Spend Your Days
You don't come to this part of Chianti to cross tourist boxes off a list. You come to disappear for a few days. The outdoor infinity pool uses natural salt instead of harsh chlorine, sitting on a ridge that overlooks the valley. It's arguably the best spot on the property to watch the sunset over the hills.
For those who get restless sitting by a pool, the property coordinates specific, localized experiences. You can head out with a local guide for truffle hunting in the surrounding woods, take a targeted cooking class focused on handmade pasta and regional Italian cookies, or arrange an e-bike excursion through the scenic routes toward Meleto Castle and Castello di Albola.
When you book, aim for the suites named after local flora—like I Pini or Gli Olivi. Bring a couple of thick books, a willingness to disconnect from high-speed digital noise, and an appreciation for old things that show their age. Stop looking for sterile perfection and enjoy a space that understands the deep value of history.
