Castello di Casole d'Elsa (Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany) Tosca…read more We visited Castello di Casole d'Elsa for dinner. It is an extraordinary retreat where history, landscape, and luxury come together in a way that feels almost cinematic. Castello is atop a hill in the Tuscan countryside, the property occupies a restored 10th‑century castle within a large 4,200‑acre estate of vineyards, olive groves, forests, and fields. From the moment you arrive via a winding, cypress-lined road, it feels as though you've stepped into another era (as if driving through a forest). The setting alone is breathtaking, with sweeping views of rolling hills that stretch as far as the eye can see. The atmosphere is one of timeless, laid-back elegance. Despite its large scale, the estate feels peaceful and secluded, offering a true escape from daily life. The historic architecture such as stone walls, vaulted ceilings, and rustic details has been meticulously preserved, while contemporary design elements ensure comfort never feels compromised. One of the hotel's strongest aspects is how seamlessly it integrates with its surroundings. The estate is actively lived in, with agriculture, local production, and outdoor experiences shaping the guest experience. Dining at Tosca ristorante at Castello di Casole was a highpoint. The restaurant highlights traditional Tuscan cuisine, using ingredients grown directly on the estate...olive oil, wine, and seasonal produce. The food was exceptional, with a focus on authenticity and quality. We sampled items like baby squid, bread and oil, tortelli, and seabed amberjack. Service was one of the defining features of the hotel. Our servers were attentive, professional, and personable Memorable meal... Castello di Casole d'Elsa is a nice anniversary splurge that captures the essence of Tuscany in both style and substance. With its extraordinary setting, refined design, and outstanding service, it offers a deeply memorable visit that feels authentic. An immersive Tuscan escape...ideal for travelers seeking tranquility and a truly elevated countryside experience.

We had the most amazing stay!!! Every single staff member was wonderful. We ate most of our meals…read moreon the premises, and our meals were excellent! Even our driver Marian, our driver for two days, was unbelievable. All of the places he suggested to us were perfect for our group. He was on time and went above and beyond in every way. I would highly recommend Castello Di Casole. You will not be disappointed!!!!

Superb hotel in Siena. Staff was superb. Location is right at the edge of the walled city, so close…read moreto the sites but quiet. Our room overlooked to courtyard in the back, with long range Tuscan views over the wall. Breakfast was wonderful. Rooms are spacious and the beds are great. Happy to stay again when we return to Siena.

This hotel is great! The room was spacious and overlooked their beautiful garden. It was very clean…read moreand well kept. My wife and I stayed for three nights while in Siena. They had a lovely continental breakfast every morning, which we ate in the garden overlooking the incredible view and hillside of the Tuscan landscape. I highly recommend this hotel over something that lacks the views.

Ristorante Bel Soggiorno feels like a natural stop in San Gimignano. It is located along the town's…read morenarrow stone streets, the restaurant opens into a warm, elegant space with terracotta floors, wooden beams, and a relaxed atmosphere that reflects its long history. What truly sets it apart is the view. From the terrace and dining room windows, the Tuscan countryside stretches across rolling hills, vineyards, and olive groves, turning the meal into something memorable. The menu focuses on classic Tuscan dishes...handmade pastas, rich ragùs, roasted meats, and seasonal ingredients...prepared with simplicity and care. The atmosphere is refined yet informal, with attentive service and an unhurried pace that encourages you to linger. Bel Soggiorno focuses on good food, spectacular scenery, and the kind of dining experience that makes Tuscany feel exactly the way you imagined it would.

Ambiance is great, food and service mediocre. Very salty and heavy on sauce. We did not have…read morereservations. Not sure if that had any influenced?

Beautiful place, great food and very nice rooms. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The location was…read morevery convenient and the people at the hotel were very accommodating.

Just okay. The grounds are absolutely stunning but the rooms are rustic and the food is definitely…read morenot farm to table fresh as you'd expect in Tuscany.

I stayed at four different hotels while traveling in Italy, and it's safe to say that Locanda Le…read morePiazze was the best hotel out of the bunch. There's a lot to say, so I'll try to break it up. Loction: Tuscany is overwhelming, but the hotel's location in Chianti is prime. You are only a 10-15 minute ride from Catellina which is a beautiful village with lots of restaurants and shops. You are also the same distance from several wineries. None are walkable, but because everything is so spread out that's probably tough to find anywhere. The hotel does have bikes, but just a warning that it's very tough to bike because of all the hills. Food & Drink: What you don't need to walk very far for is excellent food and drink. Breakfast is included in your stay and the spread is delicious. Lots of hot and cold options including eggs and bacon, meats and cheeses, fruits, pastries and oatmeal. There is also an incredible restaurant on the property (more on that in another review). It was so good that we ended up eating dinner there two out of three nights. Oh, and let's not forget the honors bar. The hotel has a few honors style bars set up throughout the property. Drawers and fridges full of every kind of wine, beer and liquor. Plus fixings to make cocktails and spritzes. All you'll need to do is write down how many you have and your room will be charged. The Grounds / Interiors: This is the best part about Locanda. The grounds are gorgeous. The rooms are impeccable. Every single inch of the space is thoughtfully designed, modern and perfect. Outside you'll find fresh plants and herbs, rolling hills and vineyards and the most gorgeous pool smack dab in the middle of it all. If we didn't have plans to hit wineries I honestly could have sat at that pool all day. Each day we got back to the hotel in the afternoon and spent hours relaxing and taking in the views. The rooms and all other interior space have the most whimsical decor -- I was a big fan of the dream catchers and artwork. Service: The service was on point the entire time. They really do their best to make you feel comfortable and like you are staying with family. At one point one of the groundskeepers was picking fresh figs and she even brought a bundle over to us straight from the tree. I can only dream about returning to this hotel again one day. If I ever find myself in Tuscany you can bet that this is where I'll stay.

Nikki P's review below is spot on. We left Locanda's remote, quiet spot today and were sad to do…read moreso. The location, facility, and staff are so warm and welcoming. The chef and restaurant provides 5 star meals, with flavors that were appreciated and enjoyed, immensely. We stayed in the "honeymoon" tower....it's work with the stairs, but worth every step. All in all, a beautiful and one of our favorite experiences. We will definitely be back! Thank you to all at Locanda!

We decided to stay in a hotel in Livorno vs an airBNB, bc we wanted a change of pace. Apts in…read moreItaly tend to be small, and the showers are tiny. The Palazzo is the nicest hotel in Livorno, and has been in biz for over 100 yrs. It has great views of the water fr the rooftop bar & restaurant. Single rooms were about €150,00 including taxes & fees. The rooms were spacious, and the bathrooms were good sized and inc a tub. We indulged in the bar & apps, bfast buffet and dinner during our stay. The service was excellent, but the pricing is high. For an example, an Americano cocktail was €18,00 vs elsewhere the drink would have been €8,00. Secondarily, the buffet is €22,00, but did not have made to order items. The scrambled eggs were runny, and the sausage were like hot dogs. I stuck to the charcuterie, boiled eggs, fresh fruit and croissants. I also grabbed take away for mija & ITC, that dropped the actual cost closer to €7,00/person. Lastly, dinner was +€100,00 for two entrees, a salad, a dessert and one glass of wine. All in all, a positive stay bc of the rooms, the location and excellent service. Apparently the Palazzo is popular for weddings and bachelorette parties too. I'm glad the Italian version of the latter are more tame vs the crap you see in Vegas - LOL!

I know I'm rating hotel, but I have to start with the food. I'll try to take a picture tomorrow…read moremorning of the breakfast buffet. It was beautiful - inside and out. Yes, inside of my belly. They have these small pizza bites (for breakfast - it's like college, I know) that were so amazing. The hotel is clean, the prices reasonable, the Internet fast and free and the parking is absolutely easy and free as well. If you pay for a small upgrade, you get a beach view. There's also a fitness studio with technogym equipment and a spa (spa I haven't tried). The TV has a few international channels. Everything fancy shmancy, you could say. My boyfriend wants me to add: the toilet paper roll isn't properly attached to the wall and there is some mold along the bathtub.

This hotel has an amazing view of Montalcino. Book a room with a view out the back side. The front…read morejust faces the streets. Breakfast is included and the man who was the barista was very nice and friendly. He makes tasty coffees with pretty foams. The breakfast room has a beautiful view too. Check in and check out was a breeze. They do have good WiFi here. It's a short walk up a steep hill to restaurants and shops. Parking is included with the hotel but spaces are pretty tight. We had a van and it unfortunately got dented in the process of trying to fit into the parking spot we were given. We were in a triple room which was a twin sofa bed and a king size bed upstairs in a loft. It was a big room. The restroom was a little dated and there was some mold in the shower. You need to return your key to the front desk every time you leave the hotel. You pick it up when you come back.

A good three night stay here. The facility is beautiful. It sits on a steep hill side overlooking a…read morebeautiful valley. The room was very nice if on the small side. the view more than made up for the size. Everything worked reasonably well except the AC did not work one evening. The staff were efficient and reasonably friendly. The breakfast was very good quality and well served. Housekeeping was excellent.

We found this place through an English website and after much discussion decided to book it for our…read morestay in Tuacany. The house is located at the edge of the medieval village of Monteguidi located in the Municipality of Casole d'Elsa. It's half way between Florence and Sienna and close to Chianti, San Giminagno, Volterra and the coast is 40mins away. A good location to explore the Tuscan region from a location that is non touristy and very rural. It's a quite village with only 175 residents and you are surrounded by fruit farms, vineyards and so on. There is no cafes or shops in the village itself. There is a bar that is open sometimes and not others :-) There is a restaurant called Il Piattaforte about 600m from the house and, the closet markets are in Casole d'Elsa, some 10k away (I would recommend you visit this village as it is beautiful). There are trucks that come to the village periodically to sell groceries, bread, fish and so on. Listen for the music when the trucks come about ;-) The house itself is fully equipped with two bedrooms, a nice kitchen that has almost everything you need for cooking up a storm and tons of outdoor space and a pool. Daniela and Francesco the hosts, are wonderful people and live in the village. They brought us fresh produce from their gardens and gave us loads of tips on places to visit locally. Few things to bear in mind with this place: 1) no dishwasher 2) no bathtub 3) slightly dated (it was their parents home) 4) it's rural and there are lots of bugs (not unique in Tuscany) 5) no WiFi...for now. There is free wifi at the restaurant down the road. That aside we loved the place and would happily return here again. It's super quiet and peaceful and almost no traffic noise. If you speak Italian you would have a good time here. A great rural Tuscan experience.

We were supposed to spend 2 weeks in "La Casa dei Nonni"... the place is just like in the photos: a…read morenice swimming pool, a decent house, but all is just somehow, more "decadent" than it seems to be in the pictures. When we arrived, the fridge was off, there was no hot water and the flush was not working. Near the pool, it was full of wasps in the morning and mosquitos in the evening. A wasp while swimming stung our 4 years-old-child.... Well, we took some initiatives to improve this, using some fragrant-citrus-oil candles and some additional products to overcome the situation. Then one evening....also cockroaches arrived!!!....we killed 20 of them in the night. The owners, very kind at the beginning, just minimized the problem of the insects saying that it is normal to have them in the county-side and that cockroaches don't sting. Moreover, as people who care about an organic style of life, they couldn't do anything to help us. Sure, cockroaches do not sting! Still they are disgusting and can passively transport pathogenic microbes on their body surfaces causing allergic reactions or other diseases in humans. Moreover, there is plenty of organic products, which can be used in those cases without damaging the environment. Nevertheless, to use them would have been up to the owners, not to the guests! Funny enough, they are hunters, but since insects could not be killed, we had no other choice but to leave... In conclusion, the house has a strong potential, yet should be far more cared after and well kept. Avremmo dovuto soggiornare due settimane ne "La casa dei Nonni"..... il posto si presenta abbastanza in linea con le foto, la piscina è comoda e gli spazi anche, ma è tutto molto più "degradato" di come appare. All'arrivo il frigo era spento, mancava l'acqua calda e lo sciacquone del bagno non funzionava. Ad impedirci di rimanere lì per tutto il periodo previsto sono stati poi altri fattori: l'invasione delle vespe la mattina e quella delle zanzare la sera, soprattutto nella zona della piscina (la nostra bimba di 4 anni è stata punta da una vespa proprio mentre stava facendo il bagno) abbiamo cercato di contrastarla con degli zampironi e dei prodotti specifici. E la situazione è migliorata. Ma poi una sera......sono arrivati anche gli scarafaggi! Ne abbiamo uccisi circa 20 in una notte. I proprietari inizialmente affabili e disponibili, quando abbiamo iniziato a far presente il problema degli insetti prima e degli scarafaggi poi...hanno minimizzato dicendo che eravamo in campagna, che gli insetti ci sono, che gli scarafaggi non pungono e che essendo attenti al biologico, non potevano far nulla. Gli scarafaggi non pungono, ma sono disgustosi e portano malattie. Inoltre esistono prodotti biologici per contrastare gli insetti senza danneggiare l'ambiente! Ma sanificare gli ambienti anche dagli insetti, dovrebbero essere un compito dei proprietari, non degli ospiti... Allora, quando abbiamo capito che per loro in famiglia andare a caccia era un hobby e quindi gli animali si potevano uccidere, ma gli insetti dovevamo tenerceli, siamo fuggiti. Insomma, la casa avrebbe un buon potenziale, ma andrebbe decisamente curata di più.

The best hotel I've ever stayed in. Period. My wife and I stayed here on our honeymoon and hardly a…read moreday goes by when I don't think about it. The grounds are beautiful, our room was enormous and the staff paid attention to every detail during our stay. My wife and I just renovated our house and we put in a pool and landscaping that borrows from the aesthetic of Castello del Nero's pool area. We are already planning to return for my 40th birthday...3 Years from now. We spent 3 weeks in Italy at 6 different hotels and this is the only one I think about and have to return to. The restaurants are both amazing and the breakfast is the best we had on our trip. If I could give 10 stars I would, so if you're even considering a stay at Castello del Nero I'd say look no further...it's time to book a reservation.

My husband and I stayed here 4 nights of a two-week trip to Italy to celebrate our 10 year wedding…read moreanniversary. This hotel is a really high-end boutique hotel that really goes above and beyond to deliver an outstanding experience for all guests. The hotel is conveniently located in a small town about 30-40 minutes by car from Florence (between Florence and Siena). It is in the Chianti wine region of Tuscany. We stayed in a basic room, which was very nice. It was very large (one of the largest hotel rooms I have ever stayed in that wasn't a suite). There was a welcome bottle of champagne (already chilled for us) as well as a bottle of red wine and a huge basket of fresh fruit ready for us on our coffee table. There was a hand-written note to us that was a nice personal touch. The room had a beautiful view of the Tuscan countryside. The things that really stood out to me were: 1. Complimentary welcome champagne and wine 2. Abundant fruit basket that got replenished daily. 3. Complimentary bottled still and sparkling water replenished daily. 4. A pillow menu for guests! 5. Full breakfast every morning included with the room - there were 10 different kinds of milk out to suit everyone's preference (almond, soy, rice, goat, etc.) 5. The very nice spa 6. The setting of course! You literally couldn't ask for a more picturesque place! 7. Complimentary up to date movies on your TV 8. Great hiking trails right on the property My only (very small) complaints are that there was no dresser or shelves in the room - I had nowhere to unpack any of my folded clothes (there is only hanging space in the closet), and the mattress is very firm (this is just a personal issue though!). This hotel is very special and truly understands how to deliver a higher than 5-star experience to guests. I would highly recommend it for honeymooners, or anyone wanting a relaxing getaway in a beautiful place!

Literally can't say enough good things about this place. pure serenity from the moment you step out…read moreof the taxi. Every employee was so fantastic and went above and beyond the whole time we were there & even better they all had a big smile all the time!! The food is fantastic, the views are endless and the service was beyond incredible. Highly recommend a spa day & cooking class! We will be back & will be recommending to all our friends

Amazing! Truly paradise. This unique resort sits on top of a beautiful Tuscan hill looking over…read moresome of the most iconic Tuscan landscapes. Every corner you turn, every room you enter and every detail is like a fairytale. If you can make it here, you are one of the lucky ones.