The good
* The location of this hotel is unparalleled. The historic town of Certaldo is beautiful.
* The room was big
* The hotel has character because of its history
* Free wifi

The bad
* The rooms are a bit dated. I think this hotel could really be made into a luxurious hotel, but it falls far short of that at the moment.

Overall:
This hotel is in a beautiful building in a beautiful town. The town is very quiet at night, so don't plan on doing anything too big. I thought the rooms could benefit from a bit of an overhaul, and could really be made into something special with the right furnishings.

Lovely hotel which is part of the ancient walls and in an old palace. Renovated and updated. Modern bathrooms. Very comfortable environment with an incredible terrace for breakfast, lunch or dinner. A beautiful view across the Tuscan countryside with San Gimignano in the distance. There is a lovely garden to sit and relax or have your meals. The town is enchanting and very central...easy to take the train to Florence or Siena and other destinations. There are mosquitos in Certaldo...it is lush, but there are mosquitos in Florence too. Alfred is a wonderful host who speaks English, German, Portuguese, French and Italian...and was extremely kind and helpful when I got pretty sick. He is a musician and has concerts downstairs if you are here on the right weekend. Will come again when in Tuscany. Restaurant is great..a separate review.

Il Castello is a charming hotel in a Tuscan medieval hill town. Alfred pays attention to all the details that go into making this a truly pleasuable experience. There are three settings for dining: the garden, the terrace overlooking Certaldo and surrounding hills, and a beautifully appointed dining room. Breakfast is delightful with warm, just baked bread and other selections as well. Our room was very comfortable with a modern bathroom, antique furnisings, and a view. This is a perfect setting for a wedding, a family reunion, a romantic getaway, or a stop on your trip through Italy.

We were married in Certaldo five years ago and held the reception in the beautiful courtyard of Il Castello, dancing round the fountain with our forty guests. We've just returned from a few days to celebrate our anniversary, staying in the hotel for the second year in a row.

Alfred has been gradually renovating what were very tired and old-fashioned rooms, and the result is first class; lovely accommodation in a beautiful setting, in the most magical village in Tuscany. Breakfast on the terrace is a particular delight. As well as being an extraordinarily informed and helpful host, Alfred is a jazz drummer and organises regular jazz nights and courses, often featuring the renowned tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton, who lives just up the main street.

Certaldo is more or less equidistant from Siena, Florence and Pisa, all of which can be reached readily by train; it's a gorgeous hilltop town without the horrible hordes of San Gimignano; and Il Castello is the place to stay.