Country Comforts

Perched in the Fiesole hills, Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel has a history worthy of its Renaissance surroundings. The 15th-century monastery’s elegant facade is attributed to the School of Michelangelo, while the hills beyond are said to have provided Leonardo da Vinci with a testing ground for his flying machines. Following an 18-month renovation, the historic property has entered a new chapter, with terraced gardens, ancient olive trees and cypress-lined paths leading to views of Florence. Inside, painted walls, antique furnishings and timeworn stone give the villa the character of a cherished country home. Add a long lunch, a glass of Chianti and a sun-dappled terrace, and you may forget the city is just below.

Follow the winding drive through ancient trees and you’ll arrive at something straight from an English storybook: Lucknam Park, a grand Palladian mansion tucked within 500 acres of Wiltshire parkland. At the southern edge of the Cotswolds, the estate feels a world away from the everyday, with rolling lawns, woodland paths and centuries-old oaks stretching in every direction. Step indoors and sash windows, wood floors and period details give the rooms the feel of an elegant country house, while cozy cottages offer their own countryside hideaways. Days might bring horseback rides through the estate, afternoon tea by the fire or a Michelin-starred dinner, followed by a return to your room as the park falls into evening.

Beyond Napa Valley’s famous rows of grapevines, Meadowood Napa Valley stretches across 250 acres of wooded hills, winding trails and sunlit gardens. Mornings begin with a soft vineyard glow, while afternoons might lead to The Wine Center or Meadowood Spa, an open-air wellness oasis surrounded by nature. There’s hiking, tennis and plenty of space to enjoy the outdoors, with seasonal Napa ingredients finding their way to the table. As evening arrives, the estate takes on a different kind of magic, with glasses raised beneath a canopy of stars. It’s a country escape that makes the most of Napa’s natural beauty, from first light to the final sip.

In the 17th century, Discalced Augustinian monks made their home on the slopes of Mount Etna, shaping the volcanic terrain into a living landscape of lava-stone terraces, vineyards, olive groves and gardens. Today, Monaci delle Terre Nere Etna Wine Resort carries that legacy forward, with the former historic villa, rural farmhouses and ancient agricultural landscape lovingly brought back to life. Wander among fruit trees and fragrant herbs, sip wines born from Etna’s rich volcanic soils, or retreat to rooms where timeworn stone meets contemporary design. Surrounded by Sicily’s wild beauty, it’s a place where centuries of history remain beautifully close at hand.

There’s something delightfully old-fashioned about arriving at Grand Hotel Son Net, a 17th-century Mallorcan estate perched above the village of Puigpunyent. Surrounded by the green foothills of the Tramuntana, the vine-covered manor is wrapped in gardens, organic orchards and its own private Malvasia vineyard, creating the feeling of a country home that happens to be on a Mediterranean island. Original beams and flagstone floors lend the interiors plenty of character, while days are spent outdoors among the gardens and fields. Pick vegetables from the estate, taste Mallorcan dishes made with the harvest, or simply find a shady corner to watch the hills change color as afternoon gives way to evening.

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The article’s cover photo features Grand Hotel Son Net.

If Harry Potter had a French countryside chapter, it might look something like Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay. Hidden among the forests of the Chevreuse Valley just 45 minutes outside of Paris, this 12th-century Cistercian abbey has been transformed into an enchanting country retreat, where vaulted ceilings, weathered stone arches and flickering candles create a fairytale-meets-Hogwarts setting. Outside, woodland paths and gardens stretch across the tranquil estate, while former stables, cottages and abbey rooms have become richly decorated guest quarters. Come evening, settle beside the fire for French cuisine in the original dining hall, or dine beneath candlelit arches in the monks’ former refectory.

Somewhere between the countryside and the sea, Praia do Canal offers a quiet escape from the world. Hidden within 220 hectares of protected landscape on Portugal’s Vicentine Coast, the secluded hideaway is surrounded by rugged cliffs, fragrant gardens, winding trails and the distant blue of the Atlantic. Spend the morning wandering through the reserve, return for a dip in the infinity pool, then settle in for local flavors as the last light fades across the hills. Inside, creamy tones, natural woods and soft furnishings bring a cozy warmth to the minimalist spaces. Here, wild nature and country comfort live wonderfully side by side.

Choosin’ Texas means choosing wide-open skies, ancient oaks and the rolling hills of the Hill Country. High above Lake Travis, Miraval Austin occupies 220 acres of protected countryside just beyond the city, where winding trails lead through the landscape and hillside lodges open onto nature. The farm-to-table philosophy runs right through the stay, with produce from Cypress Creek Farm shaping seasonal meals and hands-on experiences ranging from steak-making to farm tours. At Life in Balance Spa, the countryside becomes part of the wellness ritual, with an outdoor pool overlooking the lake and treatments designed for deep exhalations. Add equine experiences, yoga and a sunset over the hills, and Texas starts to feel like a pretty good place to pause.

Despite its mischievous name, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers has little interest in causing trouble. Its real talent is stealing you away to 6,000 acres of windswept pasture, rolling hills and Pacific coastline in New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay—a Great Wine Capital of the World. Sheep and cattle roam the working farm, native birds call from the surrounding sanctuary, and trails lead through ancient gullies to dramatic clifftops. Join the farm team for a sheep-shepherding experience, tee off on Tom Doak’s celebrated clifftop course, or retreat to your suite’s private balcony for endless sea views. Back at the table, ingredients from the estate’s own kitchen garden bring the flavours of the countryside straight to your plate.

Whitewashed walls, green pastures and a riot of garden colour make Babylonstoren feel like a storybook farm beneath the Simonsberg mountains. One of the Cape’s oldest Cape Dutch farms, the 200-hectare estate invites you to slip into the rhythm of country life: wander through the greenhouse and gardens, row across the dam, or roll up your sleeves in the working bakery to knead bread with master baker Peachy Jacobs. Beneath a copse of trees, the Farmhouse pairs authentic architecture with moody modern design, while the green-hued Butterfly Room houses a rare collection of butterflies. By evening, the rewards of the day are wonderfully simple: something freshly baked, something locally grown and a glass of wine from the valley.