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!!!!

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?

This is where we had our wedding reception 9 years ago. Unfortunately, that was back in the dark…read moreages before Yelp so I couldn't write a review at the time. However I do recall the many, many courses of molto delicioso cibo. Irma, the proprietor, is such a wonderful hostess and chef. Every time we come back to visit, we stop here for a meal. Our last trip to Italy in July was 2 and a half weeks long and without question, our meal here was the best of the trip. I had a plate of spinach ravioli drenched in ricotta sauce with tartufo shavings that was absolutely rapturous. It was...glorious. How glorious was it you ask? It was SO glorious that as I'm writing this and trying to pay homage to its gloriousness, I'm starting to drool--I am NOT kidding. I mean...imagine you're eating a plate of the sexiest pasta you've ever had. As the olfactory/gustatory pleasure mounts, you can almost hear the cherubim and seraphim moaning at the pleasure of your pleasure in the background. Yeah. THAT glorious. The Huzby had some cinghiale pappardelle that also knocked it out of the park. He didn't mention anything about angels, but not a noodle was left behind. The tiramisu was divine in its own right. Thankfully, the grounds are equipped with a recovery bed and canopy to allow you to digest in full repose. Ahh.... Mille grazie and we'll see you again in a year or three, Irma.

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 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.

Just amazing! Our room looked out over the garden and the hills beyond Siena and it was as if we…read morewere looking out at a painting. The room itself was just beautiful with a lovely bathroom. The staff were super friendly and the whole experience just first rate. The hotel is convenient to all the attractions, great restaurants and also a nice little supermarket. They have an electric kettle and instant coffee in the room as well as a fridge. It was so nice to be able to enjoy a coffee before heading out for the day. They do offer parking for 10 Euros a day, and clear instructions on how to get in and out of the City without getting fined! Remember, the City center is a no drive area for non residents. Just do as the hotel indicates and you will be fine. The other recommendation is to book directly, they assured me they charge less than going through Booking or Expedia and will also discount if you pay in cash.

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.

Don't recommend. Stayed here for a few days as base of travel to other sights. Staff is polite…read more Walk uphill to Volterra is steep but worth it to see the town enjoy the sights. Quickly learned what nessun signale (no signal) means. T.V. and WIFI lack constant service. Why do I need T.V. and WIFI, well I want to check recommendations from the staff with WIFI and background noise from the T.V. while doing research is nice. The room was just alright. The staff allowed us to change rooms from the tower to a ground level with patio. The view of the valley was great. Room had two sets of doors to the outside, being able to open for circulation was nice. Heat throughout was turned up to 50c, why don't know but turned that down though the room was still warm and humid. Can't open the windows cause there isn't any, only the doors. Could have left the door open at night for air, but what about safety? The bathroom shows signs of mold and smells like bleach, would help if there was circulation. They charge for the water that is replenished daily, though was not informed until check out. Breakfast is limited in choices. The staff has different understandings of what a coffee means, to some its an espresso and to some its a cup of coffee. Parking is plentiful.

Temporarily closed for renovations!!!!!! Call first…read more Scheduled to reopen sometime in 2024. It was beautiful before, so I'm sure it will be again. Tasting room available in Piazza of Greve.

One of the oldest (and most beautiful) vineyards in Italy. We did not stay in the Villa, but we did…read morecome here for lunch, as well as took a wine tour with a tasting. We had heard great reviews about the restaurant- and we were able to get in the same day for lunch, despite no reservations. I ordered the homemade tagliatelle with beef ragu- the noodles were fresh and cooked to perfection, the beef ragu sauce had a good amount of meat, and was very flavorful. The best part about the restaurant is how FRESH everything is- you sit next to a garden and will actually see the chef go down and pick out fresh basil, kale, etc. for dishes on the menu. The tour itself was well organized, but seemed a little less personal than others I've been on (somewhat expected from larger wineries). I also found the 3 wines (Chianti) in the tasting to be "good", but not great. Eat beforehand because you get VERY few snacks that will not fill you up. The winery was HUGE and easy to see why they host weddings here- it was absolutely gorgeous and the landscaping was breath-taking. The views are outstanding and you won't be able to take enough pictures. You get a tour around the buildings, the room with the wine-making equipment, the wine barrels, and the garden- but you will not enter the vineyard. They gave a great little description of the history of the vineyard and the Villa (they have the official records to actually date the establishment), and I found it very interesting.

Perfect location near the leaning tower and the university. Staff was so kinda and helpful…read more Allowed me to lock my bike in their garage overnight. Complimentary bar and breakfast, and what a delicious meal to start the day of exploring Tuscany.

The pros: Service in EVERY AREA of the hotel was 5 stars. Our Maitre D' said it best "we want the…read morespirit of our service to match the manner of our service." The room was matchless, expect the normal wear and tear of a older hotel, we opted for the suite, good decision. I would visit here any time of year. Not just the summer, as I write this a thunderstorm rages in the ocean across the street. I am a steam room, (Turkish bath), aficionado, theirs is the best so far, (compare to Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara). The staff was matchless throughout the hotel. The breakfast was more than expected, They quickly learned how I liked my coffee and would bring it to me as I arrived, much to my delight. The food was more $ than I expected, however - it was less $ than it should have been, our best meal in Italy. The con: The spa needed some mild training, (I think if my Italian was better or their English was a piccolo better it would have been easier, but the facility was impressive. Expect function over form.

We stay for a week until July 20,2018 We had a one bedroom…read moresuite. Rooms are okay, service is not. I think the management have to do some changes before they have other unhappy customers. For examples , the tv on the bedroom doesn't work properly, the entrance door handle was loose for a long time until broke done completely. We went to the pool and order coffee and the biggest surprise ( never in other 5 starts hotel uraound the world) after we give the bar tender the room number we had to sign first before the coffe was serve. Just doesn't make any sense. For the car parking we were told $29 per day. On the bill was $39 per day, the explanation was that the car was inside in the parking, not outside. That's okay if we were told up front and we can deside if he have choice.