Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany

Character and identity

Set on a vast estate near Casole d'Elsa, between Siena and the Tuscan coast, Castello di Casole occupies a restored castle anchored by a tower from 998, once owned by filmmaker Luchino Visconti. The mood is slow, pastoral and deeply rooted: oak forests, an ancient amphitheatre, Etruscan artefacts uncovered on the grounds, and a Bisazza-tiled infinity pool looking out over the hills. Two restaurants and a marble bar handle the dining; the Essere Spa sits in the centuries-old former wine cellar, all stone walls and low light. Service runs warm and village-like rather than starchy.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What you're paying for here is the estate itself: the oak forests, the millennium-old tower, the amphitheatre and pool, and a concierge plugged into every truffle hunter and cheesemaker in the area. Book it for a multi-night countryside immersion rather than a one-night stopover, aim for late spring or early autumn when the amphitheatre hosts concerts, and request a room with a view over the Querceto woodland.