Great Hotels of the World Announces New Hotel Opening in Italy

London, United Kingdom, April 01, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Great Hotels of the World (http://www.ghotw.com) is pleased to announce the opening of a brand new hotel. Villa Armena, Relais & Beauty Farm opens on 15 April 2012 following a two year development at a cost of approximately €4.5 million.

Villa Armena (http://www.ghotw.com/villa-armena-relais-beauty-farm) is a member of Great Hotels of the World’s Luxury Collection. This exclusive establishment is situated in the heart of Tuscany and only 20 minutes away from Sienna. The original villa was built in the first half of the sixteenth century and was the residence of the noble Malavolti family. The property was designed by one of the best known architects of the Italian Renaissance, Baldassare Peruzzi and has now been fully restored. It will function as a small boutique resort, built of red brick, with original oak beams and roof, terracotta floors and stunning gardens.

The luxury residence boasts just 10 exclusive and spacious guestrooms. Fine attention to detail is paid in each of the unique bedrooms, complete with classic furniture in the sleeping areas and modern bathrooms, which in some cases are almost as large as the rooms. All guestrooms have breathtaking views of the villa's grounds or the Crete Senesi and offer the perfect combination of modern amenities while still preserving the history of the villa.

Villa Armena will also feature an onsite restaurant, ‘Il Sorbo Allegro’, serving sumptuous Italian and regional dishes prepared exclusively with local seasonal products. All ingredients are grown on the estate’s garden and bear no carbon footprint. The restaurant possesses a thoroughly researched selection of wines, produced by small, independent Italian wineries.

Villa Armena has a wealth of luxury travel offerings at its establishment, including an outdoor swimming pool with a pool bar and a stylish living room, an ideal setting for unwinding after a tiring day of exploring Tuscany. There are also a wide range of activities that can be arranged, such as organised cooking lessons, wine tasting classes, hot air balloon rides and horse riding trips, where guests can acquire the total Tuscan experience.

The property will offer guests special discounts at the four beautiful golf courses located in the surrounding areas of the hotel. In addition, Villa Armena will open an extensive spa in 2013, which will include several treatment rooms and facilities.

Edoardo Giacone, owner of Villa Armena comments: ''My fiancé - who is the architect behind the project - and I have completely dedicated our lives to Villa Armena over the past four years. There are hundreds of hotels in Tuscany but Villa Armena does not aim to be a ‘hotel’ as such. Instead, Villa Armena’s intention is to become the Tuscan countryside residence of its guests. What is so special about Villa Armena is its amazing surroundings; you will see deer crossing your path almost every day, as well as breathtaking sunsets like nowhere else in the world. We have also chosen everything that you will find inside the hotel by ourselves, paying the utmost attention to detail and providing a luxurious atmosphere throughout the property. We cannot wait to welcome our first guests and to share our home with them. It is really a dream come true.''

For more information on Villa Armena, Relais & Beauty Farm or to book, please visit http://www.ghotw.com/villa-armena-relais-beauty-farm or call +44 (0) 20 7380 3658.