I tried a Tuscan wine and wellness retreat in Medieval town - I’ve never felt better
Get some well needed winter sun and the chance to properly unwind at this wellness hotel in Italy, says Rosalind Erskine.
As we head into the New Year, we’re bound to be bombarded with ways to make us look and feel better. From the longstanding - dry January - to newer trends such as cold water therapy and Hyrox, wellness has never been bigger business. But instead of pushing your body to uncomfortable limits, what if you could get some much needed rest while enjoying wine in the beautiful Tuscan countryside?
That’s exactly what’s on offer at La Posta (formerly Albergo Posta Marcucci), the hotel reopened in March 2025. Owned by the Costa family, who used to holiday at the hotel, it has an olde world vibe that you just don’t find in many places these days. Located in the charming hamlet of Bagno Vignoni (which is a Unesco heritage site), the area has been known for its mineral rich water for hundreds since Roman times, and was a stop on the ancient pilgrimage from Canterbury to Rome.
Budget or boutique?
There are over 30 rooms at La Posta, making this a boutique offering which is reflected in the price. Classic rooms are from 345 euros, including breakfast which is approx £300 per night. We stayed on the Wine and Wellness experience, which is €1,875 per person (based on double occupancy). This includes two nights in a Junior Panorama Suite, food and drink and excursions.
Room service
While La Posta is a five star luxury hotel, it feels very much like staying in a convivial home. From the emerald bar, with its communal record player and records that belong to the owners, to the lounge with chess sets and baize covered card tables. There are sofas and armchairs dotted about, as well as a welcoming open fire.
There are six different room types at La Posta, each furnished with antique pieces and bright colours. My junior suite had vibrant teal walls, a huge king bed, daybed/sofa, desk and huge bathroom with a large walk-in shower and bathtub.
Wining and dining
The hotel has one restaurant where we enjoyed sun-soaked breakfasts (the floor to ceiling windows offer the best views) - a well-considered buffet of meats, cheese, pastry, cakes, fruits and bread as well as a la carte options - and seasonal dinners from the daily changing menu. Expect traditional Italian fare, with a good mix of meat and seafood and excellent pasta. The sommelier is on hand to recommend a good paired wine (the La Posta Orcia Sangiovese is superb) and the staff are excellent. After dinner, head to the emerald bar for a digestif (our drink of the trip was Jefferson, an amaro with just enough sweetness), negroni or more wine.
Worth getting out of bed for
The huge draw of this hotel are its mineral rich pools, which are naturally warm - water comes from a spring at 49 degrees, the first pool is a toasty 35 and 38 degrees while another is between 28 and 32 degrees. A soak in these pools is not just relaxing due to the heat (needed when we visited in early November), the minerals, such as magnesium, are said to be absorbed into the skin and can help relax muscles and joints. The traditional charm even extends to here, thanks to the vintage swimming caps all swimmers must wear. Day visitors can book to use the facilities but it’s the bathing under the stars that’s a must-book for hotel guests and one we thoroughly enjoyed. After a herbal tea or glass of fizz, we spent an hour or so floating about the warmest pool, chatting and admiring the stars. Inside the thermal suite there’s a jacuzzi, Turkish bath, salt room, sauna and steam room as well as showers.
A range of spa treatments are available, and the La Posta signature massage is something a bit different with red wine in the oils, and long, sweeping movements that are said to promote deep relaxation and regeneration. A percentage of each treatment at the spa is donated to the Casa Costa Foundation, which was set up to protect and promote the rights of women and children worldwide.
If you can tear yourself away from the pools or spa, Val D’Orcia is worth a wander. It may be small but it’s home to some charming shops, restaurants, cafes and bars as well as a 16th century pool, which is the centre of the square and was once somewhere people could bathe. A local tour guide is a great way to find out more about the rich history.
Siena is about an hour’s drive away and well worth a visit, but closer to La Posta is the Via Francigena pilgrimage route which, although steep in places, is a wonderful walk that takes in the Poggio Grande winery. We walked it in about two hours, and stopped for a tasting and panoramic view of the undulating hills dotted with the famous Cyprus trees. Another noteworthy winery that’s worth a visit is the Patrizia Cencioni estate in Montalcino.
Little extras
The turndown service included a short bed time story left on the bed, which was a nice touch as were the hotel’s thermal-water inspired full sized toiletries. A waffle bathroom and slippers in a branded tote bag in the room, for use at the spa along with the green and red bows, for use instead of do not disturb and service required door signs were just one of the many little additions that make La Posta very memorable.
Guestbook comments
Offering an alternative to the increasingly popular idea that some sort of discomfort is necessary (seen in Wim Hof retreats, Hyrox holidays and others), La Posta offers its guests a beautiful and pleasurable way to reset, relax and rejuvenate. Guests can wallow in mineral-rich thermal waters while gazing out over almost comically perfect rolling Tuscan hills, take gentle hikes along the Via Francigena, eat delicious food made from local producers and delight in the wine from the region which includes the famous Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulcianoetc. As Lord Byron said, “Wine cheers the sad, revives the old, inspires the young, makes weariness forget his toil.” No need for freezing cold water or heart rates over 250 bpm
Hotel info
La Posta
Via Ara Urcea, 43, 53027 Bagno Vignoni SI, Italy
+39 0577 887112
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