Once upon a time, there was a castle…which today is one of the most alluring and top luxury destinations in Tuscany, Castello di Casole—a signature development of Timbers Resorts.
Five-star resort and luxury residences club Castello di Casole, a restored 10th-century castle-turned-41-suite boutique hotel, opened in July 2012 and has earned recognition from the readers of Travel + Leisure as the Best Resort in Europe and Best Hotel in Italy for five consecutive years.
The hotel is set at the highest point of the historic 4,200-acre private estate, and for those dreaming of a second home in Tuscany, the property also features luxury farmhouses and unique ownership opportunities.
Your to-do list for an unforgettable journey at Castello di Casole? It should be “nothing,” since this experience is a truly rejuvenating cultural escape within an untouched corner of paradise. But if you really want to entertain yourself, plenty of fun and immersive activities await you and your family.
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The property’s homes come standard with world-class amenities and furnishings
After a long trip flying through Florence to Tuscany, you certainly cannot miss an appointment to pamper your body and renew your soul at the wellness centre – Essere Spa, originally the estate’s wine cellar and now one of the most dramatic spaces on the property. Barrel-vaulted ceilings and restored stone walls create a theatrical setting with a full spa menu using only local and organic ingredients.
Be sure to make a reservation for a pizza class at the Trattoria Pazzia—which appropriately means madness—for a fun and tasty experience guided by the charming Italian Pizza Chef Alessandro, who will teach you all the secrets of kneading and flipping the pizza dough and sliding it into the ancient wood-fired oven with more than 200 years in history.
Chef Daniele Sera oversees Ristorante Tosca, Pazzia Pizzeria, and Bar Visconti
The Visconti Bar—dedicated to the filmmaker Luchino Visconti, who lived here—is the place for an Italian cocktail surrounded by the glamourous and sophisticated atmosphere of La Dolce Vita.
It is a must to spend a day enjoying the stunning infinity pool while drinking a glass of Tuscan vino, accompanied by some prosciutto. Italy is about lifestyle—and this is it!
The vastness of the estate offers the opportunity to take part in many outdoor activities around the property like a relaxing hiking or a more challenging biking tour. For real food lovers, get together with a professional Truffle Hunter and his dog and go find one of the most delicious treasures from the earth—black or, for luckiest, white truffle.
The fine dining restaurant TOSCA is where the creativity and passion of the very talented Executive Chef Daniele Sera will surprise and delight you, from the amuse bouche to the last final bite. His concept? “More substance than appearance,” even if any creation is a truly wonderful masterpiece, inviting you to devour it!
Castello di Casole’s culinary team has mastered the art of plating
Perfectly located in the heart of Tuscany, 20 minutes west of Siena and 45 minutes from Florence, Castello di Casole is surrounded by many fascinating historical towns like San Gimignano which you really cannot miss. The village, sometimes called the “Medieval Manhattan” because of its towering stone skyline, is worth a visit. You will probably want to explore the town, but you may just be on a mission to find Gelateria Dondoli and try the best gelato, located in the main square—Piazza della Cisterna—just look for the line out the door.
How to Buy Your Dream Tuscan Villa (Stress Free)
So, who didn’t dream at least once of escaping the busy daily routine and buying a dreamy Tuscan farmhouse upon a hill, surrounded only by the wild Mediterranean landscape—but with less cubism than the one imagined by Picasso in the mid-fifties—with breathtaking sunsets and colorful fields of sunflowers? If you really want your dream to come true, be very patient and aware that it will not be as easy and dreamy as you thought; many complications and surprises come up once you start dealing with the Italian bureaucracy.
Timbers Resorts has found the way to make your dream a reality in a smoother way without undue stress. A leader in luxury real estate, Timbers Resorts is definitely a step ahead, always providing updates on any kind of opportunities on the market. Joining the Castello di Casole community offers you different options, including Italian second-home ownership or the newest and ultimate opportunity, farms.
A farmhouse on the Castello property, a quintessentially European real estate opportunity
All around the property, 100- to 160-acre farms can be purchased, renovated, and customized completely to the owner’s exacting standards—with all the paperwork and contractor consulting handled by Timbers Resorts.
“Owning one of these farms can truly become a creative experience for owners,” says Director of Real Estate Bret Robins. “The entitlements are already in place, the permitting we handle—they can just be creative and make the farm what they want it to be.”
The farms include vineyards, olive groves, fruit orchards, and wheat fields, all situated around a luxury farmhouse that serves as a genuine escape from it all.
“If you look out over the landscape of Castello di Casole, it looks very much as it did 300 years ago,” Bret adds. The fields, vineyards, and forests are important to preserve for this reason, and many of the entitlements determine what these plots of land can be used for. Many of the owners delight in creating a vision for their land. “If we have an owner come to us, asking to increase the olive orchard on their land by 1 or 2 hectares, we have the flexibility to do that.
As Arlene Sommer, a Castello di Casole owner, attests, “When we made the decision to purchase, Bret told me owning at Castello would change my life. He was right. Our richest family memories have been created at Castello. We would never have known the richness of having a home where we could bring our family and friends every year and indulge in the joys of our experience. It has exceeded our expectations in every way.” | castellodicasole.com
And If You Want To Golf…
A new star is shining in the luxury hospitality sky in Italy. “Il Castelfalfi—TUI Blue Selection,” TUI Group’s new hotel brand, opened its first 5-star hotel in Tuscany. The hotel features 120 rooms and suites, designed in a very modern way using only traditional materials from the Tuscan region. The hotel has recently been accepted as a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts and is being added to the LVX Collection.
Overlooking a handful of the 27 holes on the Castelfalfi property
Exceptional services and experiences await at this new gem of a hotel nestled into a large Taste some excellent wines produced on property before dining at restaurant Il Rosmarino or in the Medieval castle that houses La Rocca di Castelfalfi, a gourmet restaurant surrounded by an Italian garden with a stunning terrace ideal for celebrating the sunset. Take an after-dinner stroll and enjoy the ancient atmosphere of the Medieval village.
To complete the experience, take advantage of a unique space to nourish the body and soul, the 10,000-square-foot wellness center with an indoor-outdoor pool, relaxation area, and treatment rooms surrounded by an outstanding landscape. The 2,700-acre estate in an 800-year-old Medieval village also include a 27-hole golf course, the largest course in Tuscany. | castelfalfi.com
