Castello di Casole
If you are looking to enjoy the enduring pleasures of countryside living in the idyllic hills of Tuscany, a visit to Castello di Casole is an excellent choice.
Grade: 91/100
Service: 9/10
Location: 10/10
Rooms: 8/10
Amenities: 9/10
Aesthetic: 10/10
Vibe: 9.5/10
Food & Beverage: 8.5/10
Value: 9/10
At Castello di Casole, we found peace in Tuscany. On thousands of acres of ancient Etruscan land, you will sleep in a restored castle surrounded by hills, forest, olive groves and vineyards. The property and grounds are stunning. Sunsets look like a painting. Imagine sitting in a field of grass with a bottle of red wine, looking at the sun through the trees above as you hear forest leaves in the distance sway in the wind. Here the simple pleasures of life become magical.
For as long as I can remember, it has been a dream of mine to visit Tuscany. The vistas, Dante Alighieri, and let’s not forget the wine. An hour or so from Florence, as we approached the entrance of the hotel on a road lined with Italian cypress, my excitement grew. Our arrival experience was like coming home for the holidays. We were welcomed by a team of friendly faces and warm greetings. Everyone knew our names and introduced themselves. They took a polaroid picture of us, and we were offered a tour of the grounds as we made our way to our room. Our first stay at a Belmond property was off to a great start.
We stayed in unit 41, a two story Limonaia Suite for roughly $1,600/night. A bottle of Moet and fruit were offered as a welcome amenity. The master bedroom and bathroom could be found on the lower level. While we appreciated the rustic aesthetic of the hotel interiors, we were underwhelmed by the décor. The open bathroom concept wasn’t to our taste, and the shower’s water pressure was mediocre at best. For those with an aversion or allergy to bees, we note that you will encounter bees on property. They especially liked to visit our private garden terrace. Given the location and the hotel’s embrace of nature, a degree of this was to be expected.
On our first night, we enjoyed the “Under the Tuscan Stars” dinner and movie night. For a flat fee, you got to try out all sorts of delicious Italian dishes buffet style. Afterwards, we picked up a complimentary bucket of popcorn and two mini-bottles of Moet, found a comfy seat, and watched a movie on a big projector screen under the stars. What a cool experience! We found the food and cocktails at Tosca, Bar Visconti and the pool to be good but not great. If you can, we highly recommend booking a reservation at Two Michelin Star Arnolfo. It is one of the best restaurants in all of Italy and only a 20-minute drive from the hotel. We also recommend that you take advantage of the hotel’s onsite wine tasting. The top package included a phenomenal tasting of a 2017 Brunello di Montalcino, a 2018 Brunello di Montalcino and a 2018 Rosso di Montalcino. We did hit a slight snag with one experience during the trip where I had to remind the staff we booked something that they had seemingly overlooked.
There is an infinity pool with sweeping views of the Tuscan hills and oak trees. While wandering around the hotel grounds you will see everything from olive groves, wildlife, the remains of an ancient Etruscan Amphitheater, a luscious rose garden, a historical chapel and more. We stayed for four nights, and I would’ve been happy to stay for four more. I felt relaxed and without a care in the world.
As we left the hotel, the staff who welcomed us said their goodbyes. We were given a lovely bottle of red wine and the polaroid we took on our first day. There are many great hotels in Tuscany, and I want to visit them all. Despite some minor notes, we had a wonderful experience. Blending nature, history, and unbelievable beauty, Castello di Casole provided an exceptional summer holiday under the Tuscan sun.
Thank you to everyone at Castello di Casole and the wonderful team at Belmond!
