We wanted to spoil ourselves for our honeymoon so booked in here for four nights.

Whilst the hotel was much more isolated than we thought, this didn't spoil our enjoyment as the grounds and pool are quite simply stunning.

The welcome was warm, but not overwhelming and much better from the staff than the owners. The homegrown tomatoes on arrival were welcome. Don't be fooled into thinking that the red wine on the side is a welcome gift - it's their own wine and will set you back 70 Euros, an expensive mistake to make.
Castello di Vicarello is not the sort of place you go if you have to ask how much anything is.

Dinner is very simple, good local produce well served. Don't necessarily expect a menu - or to know how much it is costing in advance. Prepare for a relaxed and long evening - nothing is done in a hurry - perfect if you want to chill out. If you hear you're having Steak Florentine, you're in for a treat! Its simply wonderful. We had the best food in Itally here.

Don't believe the bad reviews about breakfast. Yes you have cake, but its freshly made and you have a choice of 3 or four each morning. Yes the bread is harder than the UK - but stick to the UK if you want sticky white bread. Fruit, cereal, yogurts, fruit juice and coffee/tea are all included. If you want to spend more - order the cooked breakfast. Their pricing structure is not clear, it seems that you pay extra for cakes, but we didn't - best to check if you are unsure.

Do your research before you go there - we expected to find information on things to do, but it wasn't provided which did mean that we were working blind a little which was a slight shame and perhaps ment we didn't maximise our time to the full potential.

Our room (Suite Giardino) was off the courtyard. Breakfast and dinner are served in the courtyard, and you have little privacy when the windows are open - however, it was very spacious and comfortable and the view from the bathroom breathtaking. It's great if you want to be in the heart of things. The garden outside is not necessarily private so be warned. We had a couple dinning outside our sitting room window (which was open) on our last night - not what we had planned on. If you're after great views and access to the pool, I'd recommend Suite Grotta.


All in all - a wonderful place offering a complete haven from the everyday bustle of life. You definitely need a car, but you'll be tempted to stay put, enjoy the pool and the great views. You'll eat very well, just be prepared to pay for it. For the romantics of you reading this, don't think castle in the English sense, think more of a small French Chateau (but you only have access to the outbuildings, not the main house).

Yet another summer and a further wonderful experience at Vicarello .
Just cannot imagine how or why a bad review has been written on Vicarello .
The food is simply the best and also the most simple home cooking you can possibly find . All ingredients from the garden .
Few suites and most thoughtful management and kind staff .
Highly recommended .
Thank you Carlo and Aurora .
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A litany of disaster and disapointment.... we chose the Chiesina suite because it offered 2 bedrooms and this was made clear at the time of booking with a price quoted of e800+ per night. We get there to find that it isnt a 2 bedroom suite - rather a one bedroom suite with a second bedroom located in the basement -accessed through a different entrance (with no internal access to the suite) but we were only shown this after I queried the second bedroom - at which point the price went up by over e300+ per night bringing the total price per night to e1200. This was by far the most expensive of all of the hotels we had stayed in - except there was no view from the basement room, it was freezing cold (no heating available - it had been turned off for 'the summer') there was no hot water, the pipes clanked and groaned loudly when the tap was turned on and the mattresses bore a close resemblence to the horse hair mattresses I had to sleep on in bording school. Night one.
Breakfast consisted of cake, stale bread and luke warm coffee. We were going to stay for dinner but after a) the breakfast and b) seeing the menu we changed our minds. We never used the sitting area in the suite because it was too cold and spent any time there huddled up under the covers in bed.
Night two. We were having to get up pretty much in the middle of the night to catch a flight and asked if it would be possible to have some cake to take with us given we would miss out on breakfast (breakfast is meant to be included in the price) this was presented to us - at a charge of e46. Again, due to the early start we asked that the luggage be picked up at 8:30pm so that we could get some sleep. 9pm still no sign of any help. I go up to the main house and ask if someone was going to come (they had forgotten). 9:30 the bags finally get picked up (delayed because of trying to get the hot water to work AGAIN) and asked that the keys be dropped back to me.... 10pm (early night now not happening) still no keys, got dressed again to go in search.... after alot of searching he was located - luggage not in the boot of the car but on the back seat because after 1/2 an hour he still could not figure out how to open it. Finally get into my room around 10:30pm. It was a relief to leave and left a sour taste in our mouths which was a great shame after what was otherwise an incredible holiday.

So what was good - the 'castle' is beautiful. The views (ignoring the industrial power lines that sweep across the valley) are fabulous. They gave me a small present to say happy birthday. These things however meant nothing in the overall experience and I cannot recommend this hotel.

I have enjoyed 2 wonderful restful stays in 2005 and 2006.
This amazing, intimate and charming historic hotel is gorgeous, with amazing views, fragrant gardens ,elegant surroundings and super comfortable, spacious rooms.
The swimming pools are divine and very private.... perfect for soaking up the Tuscan sun and getting away from the over crowded, touristy parts of Tuscany.
Food is great-every meal inventive and served with great style. Most meals prepared by owners with utmost care,totally delicious with most of vegetables coming from their own gardens.Wine from their vineyards was excellent as well.
Service over all was superb and staff very kind - treated like a member of the family and was sad to leave!
Also most helpful that most of staff speaks English, a big plus for those who don't speak Italian .
Would recommend whole heartedly to anyone seeking to get away from it all and be thorougly immersed in the Tuscan lifestyle !