Castello di Vicarello

The location provides stunning views and access to hiking trails. Guests appreciate the exceptional breakfast and service with friendly, attentive staff. Rooms are exquisitely decorated and spacious with unique character.

To be clear, we have never stayed at a Castle before, and I was not specifically looking for such an experience when booking. However, my husband had already made a reservation at a nice spa hotel in Tuscany, and asked me to find a place halfway between that place and Rome. I can not accentuate enough how beautiful the grounds, outside Castle views and mountain vistas are here. The owners have put a great deal of time and money to give the place charm in every corner, and made it clear what a long and painstaking process it is to turn ruins into a five star hotel, and they are trying really hard to make it happen! But it pains me to say that they are not quite there yet, despite the attentiveness of all the staff. Given the expensive price and the 5 star ratings and pictures online, I neglected to notice that there is no gym, not even a small one with a few pieces of equipment. Also despite google descriptions and listings clearly stating there is a spa, hot tub, sauna and stream room, these amenities are not available to guests but are in a private suite. At first I thought my disappointment was due to my misinterpretation, but upon returning home and looking at the listings I realize that management is being blatantly deceptive in my opinion. Moreover, of the two pools during our visit, one was not heated, and the other completely empty of water (though plans are to have one heated and to add a gym but we saw no such work going on). As a lap swimmer, I kept looking at the gorgeous pool longingly as it was open and filled with water but was ice cold. On the one rainy day we had, there really was not much to do except romance but that does not take us all day lol. We booked one of the least expensive rooms, and although it was quite large, it was not as hospitable as we would like and not a suite in what is described as an “all suite” hotel. Our room was dark with small windows too low to have views through the trees. And there was no fireplace as described in the list of amenities. The mattress and linens were super comfortable, and the room had a wonderful private deck built out over the mountain ledge as well as a modern Balinese glassed in shower. However, an old wooden window (from Bali?) was used instead of door to our toilet & bidet area, with a threshold on the floor over 6” high to step over, and the top of which one has to bend over to not hit head, even if you are only 5’4” like me! It is quite dangerous, especially after some wine. Our particular room, was the basement of an out structure not part of the castle, with an amazing suite on the upper floors (not ours), making our room feel like it was for staff. There were steep stone steps to reach our room, again a bit dangerous. The headboard on the gorgeous four poster bed, was so low, that one could not really read in bed without using every single pillow in the room, and every time I did that, the housekeepers would put the pillows back on the chairs as if what I was doing

Slow mornings and cooking classes at the best spot in Italy. We absolutely loved the golden light, the endless view and the set up of a private dinner for two. Castello di Vicarello is an oasis in the heart of wild Tuscany.