Castello delle serre

My husband and I visited Castello 19 years ago for lunch on a bus tour, and I always dreamed of going back "someday." Well, "someday" occurred in April, my dream came true, and it was everything I had hoped it would be and more. From the moment we arrived, Kaci and Antonio made us feel like family. They and their staff did everything they could to make our 8-night stay an immersion into Tuscan culture and history by planning each day for and with us including must-see sights and off the beaten path places of beauty in the Tuscan countryside. For those not comfortable venturing out on their own, Kaci and Antonio have a network of drivers and guides who will help you navigate at a privately negotiated price. They programmed our phones and auto navigation systems and made dining reservations for us--even ordered our pizza one night when we were too tired to go out. One of their staff got us into a restaurant that was "full" by talking to the owner while at church on a Sunday morning. She had overheard we wanted to go there. Castello is a beautiful property centrally located to visit many of the most popular medieval Tuscan towns. The grounds are beautiful with a tasteful pool surrounded by pergolas draped with wisteria and lounge chairs, all surrounded by a medieval fortress with vestiges of 15th century cannonball fire! Our rooms were sparkling clean and appointed with all of the modern amenities to make us very comfortable--plenty of hot and cold running water with great water pressure, very comfortable heating and air conditioning, and a very comfortable bed. The view from our suite was breathtaking. Our morning breakfast was a pleasant surprise with many delicious items to choose from. Kaci and Antonio offer a 4-course meal with wine a few times during the week. Do not miss that as it is about as authentic a home cooked Italian meal as it gets. The staff is above and beyond friendly and attentive. There are 4 delightful restaurants within a very short distance of Castello. Before you go be sure to watch the video of the "digging out" and restoration of Castello by Salvatore who along with his son, Antonio and Antonio's wife Kaci, made it into the charming medieval castle/hotel it is today. I can't think of one negative comment about Castello. One must have a car to take advantage of Tuscan sightseeing. Also, one must be respectful of the local customs of Italy with respect to their dining and shopping hours.

We loved our stay at the Castello delle Serre. The room was comfortable and spacious. The owners, Antonio and Kaci, are warm and friendly. They made arrangements for us to do wine tastings at nearby wineries and recommended nearby restaurants for dinners. We dined at the Castello several nights. The food was excellent. Antonio has a great wine cellar and let us peruse his collection. All in all, we had a great time. I would highly recommend staying at this Castello.