Design Hotels : Ferragamo's Il Borro

Salvatore Ferragamo left no stone unturned when restoring Il Borro, a Tuscan estate tucked in the  foothills of the Pratomagno mountains in the Valdarno region of Italy. Il Borro's deep medieval roots are evident, from the private countryside farmhouses to the Italian villas amid the vineyards. If you tire of your designer digs and infinity pool head over to the hotel's winery or the estate's medieval Italian village. And true to the Ferragamo design aesthetic, stylish simplicity and elegance blend seamlessly into this utterly gorgeous historical manor... Wouldn't you love to spend at least a weekend here?

Day-Tripping in Pisa

Though best known for its Leaning Tower of Pisa, this medieval town has tons more to see and do and has managed to retain that enchanting old appearance. The famous tower was built as a bell tower for the 1000 year old Duomo right "next door" which is full of amazing artwork and sculptures. The buildings (including the round Baptistery) combine Moorish, Gothic and Romanesque architectural design and just outside of the Piazza dei Miracoli, a walk along the gorgeous Arno river and through the town are just as nice, if not more. And did I mention how delicious the food was? Yeah, go. LoL

When to Go: Avoid the crowds and go during off season, late Sept - Nov. and May- Jun.