Luna Ridens

The location works well if you’re visiting Alberese beach, but I didn’t think the stay offered good value for the money. The rooms were average, and breakfast was mostly low-quality, prepackaged food. From the time I booked, the woman running Luna Ridens didn’t seem very welcoming. At the end of our two nights, she said she wanted to sell the farm, which may explain why she seemed to have given up.

The bathroom was much better than I expected for this kind of property, with a huge comfortable shower and an excellent rainfall showerhead. The man who runs this part of the B&B was friendly and easy to talk to, with the air of a former '70s rebel who still has that spirit. The place itself is charming and very quiet, set in a lovely, well-kept garden with a surprising number of different plants for a private garden. Inside, it’s a classic Maremma farmhouse, full of little objects that suggest farmers who loved rock music and '70s things. The rooms are arranged in a way that makes the living room and the walk between rooms especially charming. Having breakfast outside in a former farm outbuilding turned into a tavern is a great idea. If you know ancient architecture, it feels like staying in an ancient Roman bar.

Staying in the middle of Uccellina Park felt like a real immersion in the wild. It’s a shame the virus meant breakfast had to be cut short. Otherwise, I’m sure we would have had a truly unforgettable few days.

A beautiful setting and good food, with breakfast that was good too. A lovely choice for couples hoping to relax.