Castello Santa Cristina

My eight day stay at the Castello di Santa Cristina was excellent in every respect. Nothing was too much trouble for our warm and welcoming hosts who made us feel part of the family. The immaculately presented pool and beautiful grounds around the castle were reached from hidden steps or by a sloping track, bordered by roses and perfumed orange blossom. The stables and fields spread out beyond the gardens, where the well kept horses grazed. The highlight of the trip, I enjoyed four morning rides of two hours or more, taking me through breathtaking scenery, along different paths and terrains, on woodland tracks that were part of the historic Brigands Trail. The horses were well mannered, comfortable to ride and sensible. A mixture of cross bred warm bloods, friesians, Irish sport horses and native Italian breeds, they were well suited to the terrain and were responsive to ride. The grooms were thoroughly professional and their attention to the needs of the riders and the horses was excellent All the meals were very tasty with generous portions, and the staff were helpful and smiling, nothing was too much trouble. The rooms were clean and had extremely comfortable beds. Nearby are fascinating small towns to visit, including Orvieto. The duomo here is striking in appearance and dominates the high plaza from which you can wend your way along narrow streets with shops, cafes and restaurants. All together, this was a perfect holiday in every respect and i hope to return.

What can I say. Italy is my favourite place and this place is heaven for me. The hosts Antonio and Christina were very welcoming and so friendly. All the staff were wonderful. The horses very well trained and well mannered. The rides and countryside was spectacular. The food was superb and being a vegan, especially challenging to cook for but the meals were so delicious. The accomodation was very comfortable, lovely views from each room, very good mattresses and facilities. I felt so relaxed like a home from home. I will definitely be back if they'll have me. Thank you all so much for a wonderful holiday.

Overall I give Castello di Santa Cristina the best possible score of "extraordinary"! I hope you will enjoy this little piece of paradise as I have now indulged in 3 times. It felt like I had the true Italian experience, with beautiful accommodations, fantastic food, warm and caring staff and a fabulous riding adventure through gorgeous hills, fields and forests. The horses are absolutely lovely - well cared for, good mannered, happy to do their job and take care of you as you feel like you're riding through scenary from a film or postcard. The accommodations are so pretty and decorative, with deliberate attention to detail. And the staff are extremely kind and thoughtful. I even had a "welcome back" sign in my room on my recent visit. I must say they all went above and beyond to make me feel so welcome and well taken care of every day. The food is absolutely authentic, plentiful and truly wonderful. You get the feeling they really take pride in making sure you're enjoying every aspect of your stay at the Castello. I simply couldn't close this review without a huge shout out to the people who consistently made my stays so perfect. Cristina and Antonello are the ultimate hosts who genuinely care about every detail and want you to have an experience of a lifetime. I feel like I have made dear, forever friends not only with them, but with Viorel, Giulia, Kate and the others too. I can't wait to return again and again. Just a perfect equestrian vacation in every way!!

We have just returned from yet another visit to Castello Di Santa Cristina. My mother and I have been visiting the castle most years since 2016 initially as horse riding holidays. This year I brought along my husband and two children. We all had an amazing time and my family wish to come again. The accommodation and surrounding grounds are simply beautiful. The hosts are so welcoming, along with all of the staff. I can’t rate them any higher. There is so much to do… horse riding, swimming, walking, the area has so much to offer. Also I have to mention the food…. Wow! We can’t wait to book again.

I have just returned from a fantastic week at Castello di Santa Cristina. Antonio & Cristina (and Karin!) made me feel very welcome as a solo traveller and they were very kind & hospitable. I feel very privileged to have stayed at their wonderful ancestral home. My two bedroom apartment was very comfortable, the 'Castle' is beautiful with such an interesting history. The grounds are beautiful and well cared for and the staff so friendly and accommodating. I was visiting primarily for a week long riding holiday but also to relax and to see some of the area. The horses are all of good temperaments, well cared for, fit, sure footed for the trails and are matched well to their riders ability. The countryside around the Castle is vast and beautiful. The riding guides, Kate and Zuzka were lovely and we had some fun on the trails . They ensured you went home with lots of photo's & video's of your rides which make for some great memories. I ventured out one morning to visit Civita di Bagnoregio - 'The Dying City' which is a fascinating place only 35 mins away (in a car) and well worth a visit. I did not hire a car during my stay but transfers were arranged by Francesca and the driver was happy to offer slight detours to show some of the highlights of Lake Bolsena along the way. There are numerous other equally interesting places to visit locally and Rome is only a couple of hours away so I will definitely plan to return one day soon when there is more time to explore and enjoy them fully. Overall, a really lovely week away. I would highly recommend a stay here and not just for horse riders. It's a beautiful place for a wedding or even just a few nights to enjoy the area. Thanks again for a lovely holiday x

We approached the manager or owner seeking assistance for our 900km horseback journey along the pilgrim route of Via Francigena, hoping to find accommodation for our horses for just one night. Unfortunately, this was the only place throughout our entire trip where we were rudely turned away. The condition imposed was a minimum two-night stay in the hotel to accommodate the horses. We were prepared to cover the cost of both the horse accommodation and our camper. It's disheartening and disappointing to encounter such lack of understanding from a place that prides itself on promoting equestrian activities and Italian hospitality. This incident speaks volumes about their overall attitude towards guests. I cannot recommend it based on this experience.