Words by Rosie Davis
Renowned worldwide for its unique natural beauty, breath-taking art, historical architecture and mouth-watering traditional cuisine, Tuscany has long cemented itself as one of the most popular regions to visit in Italy. Few places can truly compare to the untouched blend of diverse landscapes found within the region, from preserved hamlets dating back to the Middle Ages to grand art cities whose heritage remains unrivalled.
Nestled on the country’s Northern coast, the region is packed full of artistically pioneering and architecturally outstanding destinations, including the Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore and Piazza Duomo in Tuscany’s capital, Florence, the world-famous leaning tower of Pisa, and the Torre del Mangia in charming Siena.
As the birthplace of the Renaissance movement, Tuscany was an incredibly important cultural epicentre for Europe and the rest of the world, and has remained so for centuries. Considered one of the jewels of Italian culture, for those seeking a historically significant trip with unparalleled natural beauty at their fingertips, there are few places in the world that can compare to the riches Tuscany has to offer.
Hotel
Tucked away in the heart of rural Tuscany, just a 40-minute drive from Pisa airport, lies the beautiful Castelfalfi Estate in Montaione. Set within 2,700 acres of stunning surrounds, guests can truly immerse themselves in one of Italy’s most visited and revered regions with a stay here.
Once owned by the Medici, the estate dates back 2,000 years, but luckily the historic charm of the 800-year-old medieval Borgo still shines through thanks to a number of delicate renovations. The village is now home to a range of luxury accommodation options, the ancient castle and church of San Floriano, the largest golf course in Tuscany, a state-of-the-art spa, and an organic agricultural estate.
Since Toscana Resort Castelfalfi was purchased by Indonesian entrepreneur, Sri Prakash Lohia in 2021, the hotel has undergone a wave of extensive improvements, with designers Henry Chebaane, Affine Design, and Caberlon Caroppi tasked with transforming the property into a luxury resort whilst keeping the Tuscan heritage and culture at its heart.
The hotel’s unwavering commitment to luxury extends to sustainability and preserving the natural beauty that surrounds it, too. Recycled grey water is used on the vineyards, olive groves and the golf course, agricultural production is organic and pesticide free, whilst the estate has eliminated single-use plastic and heating comes from a biomass power plant. It is this modern approach to sustainability that truly sets the hotel apart from other luxury resorts within the region.
Room
Castelfalfi delivers real choice when it comes to accommodation, from luxurious suites to traditional farmhouses guaranteed to meet the needs of all who stay here. Guests have the option to choose between 115 elegant rooms and suites located in the hotel’s main building, which offer unique contemporary designs blended with warm earthy tones inspired by the Tuscan landscape.
For those wanting a more traditional Tuscan style, there are 31 rooms located in La Tabaccaia, the nearby historic tobacco warehouse, that have been carefully renovated to reflect the region’s medieval history.
With 146 rooms in total, there are 20 suites and four brand-new signature suites, which complete the final stage of the hotel’s extensive renovation. Conceptualised with the renowned Affine Design, each signature suite features spacious layouts and breath-taking panoramic views over the rolling hills and vineyards, for guests to enjoy at their leisure within their private outdoor patio and garden.
As well as the hotel accommodation, there are five individual Tuscan style villas and farmhouses dotted throughout the estate and available for rent all year-round. Surrounded by rows of cypresses and golden wheat fields, guests can reconnect with nature and enjoy their own custom-designed retreat in privacy. While the villas may be tucked away from the main buzz of the hotel, they still come complete with private pools and a selection of five-star services.
Food and drink
With six restaurants overseen by executive chef Davide de Simone, guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to fine dining. Each restaurant offers a completely different and unique experience, but it is the estate’s commitment to sustainability that comes to life throughout, with all ingredients sourced from the village farm, organic gardens, and a select network of Tuscan producers, all located within 15 kilometres. Comprising 25 hectares of scenic vineyards and more than 40 hectares of centuries-old olive groves, where an organic production comes from, the estate enables guests to enjoy an expansive taste of Tuscan food and wine to delight the senses.
Set within the hotel is the brand-new restaurant, Olivina, which offers guests a fully immersive Tuscan experience with a dedicated wine room, salumeria, bakery, bar and show kitchen taking centre-stage. Created by international artist and designer Henry Chebaane, the restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner, and provides guests with a theatrical space to taste the authentic flavours and aromas of the region.
Like all their restaurants, the menu focuses on locally sourced and organic ingredients from the Castelfalfi estate and province, with standout dishes including traditional Tagliolini egg pasta and Tuscan Ribollita from their own vegetable garden.
Located just off the hotel’s main lobby, Ecru Lounge Bar is the perfect place to spend an evening on the panoramic terrace, soaking in the incredible views of the estate’s valley against a backdrop of live music. Open all day, guests can enjoy a selection of salads, pastries, and light dishes, but it’s the Tuscan-inspired cocktails and extensive selection of wines that makes this bar truly stand out.
A short walk from the main hotel, Il Rosmarino is an authentic pizzeria and steakhouse, offering a wide selection of dishes typical from the region. Specials included perfectly cooked Tomahawk steak to share and their signature gourmet pizzas which pride themselves on simplicity that is elevated to perfection.
There’s also Il Giglio Blu, the bar and restaurant, which sits next to the hotel’s outdoor swimming pools and the Country Clubhouse located in one of Castelfalfi’s oldest farmhouses, Poggionero, that overlooks the splendid 27-hole golf course. Inside the medieval castle on the estate is La Rocca, a fine dining restaurant, that is specially designed for private events such as romantic dinners, birthdays, or wedding proposals. It’s the perfect setting to enjoy a memorable evening in complete privacy, savouring the views over the Tuscan hills.
To do
The award-winning Toscana Resort Castelfalfi delivers the luxury of choice for its guests, with more than 40 different experiences on offer through the hotel’s dedicated concierge service. For those looking to experience a taste of traditional Tuscan food and wine, there’s olive oil tasting from the estate’s olive groves, a wine tour and tasting experience in Castelfalfi’s winery and Barriccaia wine cellar, and a pizza making course with one of the hotel’s talented Pizzaiolos.
One of the hotel’s biggest draws is Castelfalfi Golf Club, the largest golf course in Tuscany with over 9,400 metres of fairways, making it the perfect setting for golf lovers. After enjoying the challenges of their 18-hole mountain course or nine-hole lake course, guests can relax at the Clubhouse restaurant overlooking the fairways.
Castelfalfi Golf Club continues to innovate and showcase its commitment to sustainability with its eco-friendly maintenance techniques and its ability to recover rainwater for irrigation, just some of the outstanding features that have led to the coveted GEO Certified eco-label.
If golf isn’t your thing, there are also tennis and padel tennis courts on site, as well as archery, cycling, and personal trainers for those wanting to embrace a healthy lifestyle. There are also countless hiking options amongst the 2,700 acres of unspoiled nature, offering beginners and advanced hikers panoramic views over the vineyards, olive groves, rolling hills and Carfalo woods. Adventure seekers are covered with Vespa, supercar and quad bike rental options, whilst there’s luxury shopping a stone’s throw away within the village boutiques.
The hotel’s brand-new spa is set to open in September after undergoing an impressive renovation and will include a heated indoor and outdoor infinity pool, as well as seven treatment rooms. In the meantime, guests can still enjoy personalised treatments in the Tabaccaia building from a range of knowledgeable therapists.
In a nutshell
Life moves at a slower pace at Toscana Resort Castelfalfi, offering guests the perfect escape from the pressures and stresses of modern life. Hotel staff cannot do enough for you, anticipating your needs and personalising your stay to ensure you have a truly unforgettable experience. Five-star service within a magnificent setting guarantee that a few days here will leave you instantly recharged and refreshed.
Factbox
Address: Località Castelfalfi, 50050 Montaione, Firenze, Italy
Phone: +39 0571 892000
Email: info@castelfalfi.com
Website: castelfalfi.com
Photography courtesy of Toscana Resort Castelfalfi.
