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Open March 6th - November 30th, 2025

There is no formality at Follonico, no carefully curated aesthetic meant to impress, no experiences designed just to be “sold” to guests. Instead, this six-room retreat in the Tuscan countryside—four suites, two standard rooms—is simply an extension of real life for the Firli family. “Be genuine, be true,” Fabio Firli tells us when we ask about their hospitality philosophy. “Nothing is preset or chosen to please guests. What we do is part of our real life, as family and farmers.” It’s a philosophy that permeates everything at this boutique farmhouse stay, from the way they welcome visitors to the way they source their food. Every ingredient is either local (90%) or regional (10%), bought directly from farmers. Everything is organic. The goal is not to follow trends, but to live in harmony with the land, and to invite guests to do the same.

The idea for Follonico was born in 2004, driven by Fabio and Suzanne Firli’s desire for a different life—one closer to nature, a better place to raise children, a healthier way to live. By 2006, the family had settled into the rhythm of the countryside, discovering hidden corners of Tuscany that remain untouched by mass tourism. This is the Tuscany they share with visitors. “We are strongly convinced that there are tons of places worth exploring beyond the most famous and crowded ones,” Fabio explains. It’s an ethos that we at Italy Segreta can get behind; though Follonico is in southern Tuscany, close to top hits like Montepulciano (10-minute drive) and Val D’Orcia (15-minute drive), Fabio and Suzanne will send you off the beaten track to wonderful little villages like Monticchiello, Chiusure, or Lucignano. 

Or they might suggest that you do nothing at all. “Take it easy. Don’t plan too many things,” recommends Fabio. “Spend a few hours walking around Follonico and our valley: touch, smell, listen, breathe, and observe the fantastic show of nature.” This is a place designed for slow living, where mornings stretch long and unhurried, where the best itinerary is no itinerary at all. Guests wake to fresh air and soft light filtering through the countryside, sip coffee on the terrace, wander through olive groves. Some rooms have private balconies for quiet moments overlooking the rolling hills, while all feature Raindance showers. Outside, the saltwater infinity pool looks straight toward Montepulciano, its medieval tower rising in the distance—a seriously magical view.

The interiors of the farmhouse reflect this organic approach: simple, rustic, and chic, with a focus on natural materials. Cozy, lived-in spaces that feel warm and unpretentious. The largest suite, Blu Notte, was once the farmer’s original kitchen and still has a fireplace, which guests can have lit for cool evenings spent with a glass of wine in hand.

Three nights a week—Monday, Thursday, and Saturday—dinner is served. It’s simple, homemade, mostly vegetarian, always dictated by what’s in season. Each morning, guests wake to a three-course breakfast, starting with freshly baked homemade sourdough bread. At sunrise, the ingredients are gathered from Follonico’s organic gardens and orchards and paired with the finest produce from small, local organic farms. Jams, honeys, fruits, and vegetables come from the estate’s garden, while organic eggs are laid by the free-range chickens and ducks that roam the property and often cross guests’ paths. (By the way, your pets are welcome too.) 

Guests looking to travel without a car are encouraged to do so—Follonico offers the possibility to arrive by train and explore the surroundings by bicycle, with both regular and e-bike options available. And for those wanting to extend their stay beyond Tuscany, they also offer a special package combining three nights at Follonico with three nights at Ottmanngut in Merano, another Italy Segreta Selection property. 

At Follonico, everything is personal. There is no attempt to fit into a mold, no effort to craft an experience that feels like hospitality as it’s typically defined. It is, instead, an extension of life as it is actually lived here in Tuscany, with all its imperfections, all its beauty. 

A few segreti (secrets) from Fabio and Suzanne:

Podere Il Casale – In the hills near Pienza, this farm-to-table restaurant and organic farm offers breathtaking views alongside a menu crafted entirely from ingredients grown on-site or sourced from nearby organic producers. Their homemade pasta, made with flour from their own grains, is a highlight, as are their artisanal cheeses, produced with milk from their free-roaming sheep and goats.

13 Gobbi – At this beloved trattoria in Montefollonico, classic Tuscan comfort food takes center stage, served in a warm, convivial atmosphere. Their signature cacio e pepe, mixed tableside in a hollowed cheese wheel, is a must-try.

Osmosi – The menu changes too often at this Michelin-starred restaurant for Fabio and Suzanne to pick a favorite dish. Regardless, with a focus on locally sourced ingredients and a thoughtful selection of wines, every meal here focuses on Tuscany’s gastronomic heritage, reimagined with a contemporary touch.

Wine Tasting – For those who want to explore Tuscany’s wine culture, Follonico recommends small, family-run places where wine is made by people who live for it. Capitoni Marco, Uccelliera, and San Polino are among the favorites, with San Polino standing out as “one of the few real-life producers of famous Brunello. Not fancy, not ‘new economy’ investment. Simply dreamers and farmers.”