Castello di Vicarello

Style

Mediaeval castello in the clouds

Setting

Hidden hilltop olive groves

Refined Tuscan estate Castello di Vicarello has had 900 years to cultivate its air of rustic majesty, so it’s little wonder that the honey-coloured buildings and perfumed gardens look like they’ve sprung from the canvas of an Italian master. Despite the romantic atmosphere, the hotel is still very much rooted to the rolling and fertile land on which it sits. Delectable home-style cuisine is prepared in the castle’s historic kitchen, which draws much of its produce from the organic garden, vineyards and olive groves, all of which sit within the enchanting grounds. There are two valley-facing infinity pools to choose from, a Balinese hut for massages, yoga and personal training in the summer months and several tiers of cyprus-studded gardens and manicured lawns on which to bask under the Tuscan sun.

Facilities

Rooms

Ten suites and one villa.

Checkout

Noon, but flexible, subject to availability. Earliest check-in; 3pm.

More Details

Rates include a home-made breakfast of jams, cakes, breads and eggs.

Also

Unfortunately, the hotel's remote terrain and uneven ground mean it's not suited to wheelchair users.

Hotel Closed

The hotel is closed from early December to mid March.

Free Internet Access

Laundry

Pet Friendly

Pool

Room Service

Spa

At the Hotel

Outdoor lounges, terraced gardens, outdoor spa, library, e-bikes, tracking shoes, tote bag, charged laundry service and free WiFi. In rooms: a minibar, Dyson hairdryer, coffee- and tea-making kit, air-conditioning and Grown Alchemist bath products. Some suites have open fireplaces.

Our Favourite Rooms

If you’re really looking to indulge, book the secluded Spa Suite, which is a short walk from the main castle. This modern, chalet-style suite has teak-clad interiors and floor-to-ceiling windows that look out across the Ombrone valley and river at the bottom of the hill. There’s an indoor hammam and sauna, and a wooden ‘barile’ hot tub on the sun deck, which has been positioned to perfectly catch the Tuscan sunset.

Poolside

There are two infinity pools with sweeping views across the tree-clad hills and valleys. Each sits on a secluded terrace – one by the main castle, the other a little further down the garden. Both are set into clipped lawns and surrounded by the hotel’s fragrant ornamental gardens, which give off a heady perfume after they’ve been warmed by the day’s sun. Open from 8am to 8pm.

Spa

Unwind with a wood therapy massage, aimed to rectify energy imbalances and relax tense muscles, at the hotel’s secluded Al Fresco Spa. The Spa Suite has exclusive access to a sauna, steam room and an outdoor Jacuzzi fashioned from an original barrique (oak barrel) – the perfect spot to revel in the Tuscan sunset. Yoga and pilates sessions can also be arranged on request, alongside in-room massages.

Packing Tips

Ditch the stilettos – bumpy stone paths and root-riven forest floors are no friend to wayward heels. A solid pair of flat-soled shoes will stand you in sturdier stead.

Also

There’s no shortage of activities should you tire of relaxing: cooking classes and wine-tasting can be arranged in the hotel’s kitchen, and horse riding, e-bike tours and hunting can all be enjoyed in the nearby area.

Children

All ages are welcome. The hotel can arrange activities for kids and babysitting is available on request for an additional cost. Over-15s are charged as adults. One of the pools is child-friendly.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

The round table in the corner by reception overlooks the whole dining area and the gardens – perfect for a romantic tête-à-tête. The owners will also arrange a secret spot in the gardens to dine in if you request.

Dress Code

Rustic and relaxed: skirts for sprawling in and shirts all a-billow. 'Smart casual' is requested for dinner and aperitifs.

Hotel Restaurant

The focus is on authentic cuisine using local, organic ingredients and recipes from owner Aurora Baccheschi Berti's cookbook, 'My Tuscan Kitchen'. Ingredients come from the property's organic fruit and vegetable gardens, and both meats and cheeses are sourced from local farmers and the family's estate.

Hotel Bar

There are two – you'll find the first, open year-round, in the lounge and the second, open during the summer months, is on the top terrace, replete with stunning views over the courtyard, vineyards and surrounding forest. Ask Simoh to mix you something mysterious or opt for a glass of the hotel's own vintage red.

Last Orders

The kitchen closes at 10.30pm.

Room Service

Fruit and snacks are always available in the kitchen, and you can have food brought to your room from 08h to 22.30h.

Planes

If you’re lucky enough to arrive on a private flight, Grosseto airport is 45 minutes away; if not, both Florence and Pisa are a convenient hour and a half away, and Rome Fiumicino is two and a half.

Trains

The nearest Trenitalia (www.trenitalia.it) train station is at Paganico, a 15-minute drive from the hotel. There's also a station in Grosseto station, 40km away. Florence and Pisa can be reached in two to three hours; Siena is a direct train away, taking less than two hours.

Automobiles

Castello di Vicarello is 15 minutes from the E78 (Grosseto–Siena–Arezzo–Sansepolcro–Fano). To find it, first get to Paganico, and then proceed toward Monte Amiata; after three kilometres, follow signs to Sasso d’Ombrone, then Poggi del Sasso, where you should take Via Vicarello on your right. Montepulciano and Siena are both between an hour and an hour and a half away; the sights of Pisa, Florence and Perugia are roughly two hours. There's free parking at the hotel, and from February 2018 there'll be two Tesla charging points.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Don’t leave Tuscany without vineyard-hopping: Poggio Antico in Montalcino runs tasting sessions in English and also boasts a great formal restaurant – book a sampling session in the morning and follow it with a lingering lunch.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .