Castello di Gargonza

Rooms

The rooms and apartments are dotted around various buildings in the borgo and just outside its walls. They all have plenty of rustic charm, with wood-beamed ceilings and terracotta-tiled floors; many also have working fireplaces (great in winter, when there’s often snow). Beds are large and comfortable, and there are simple wooden dressers, tables and wardrobes. Most of the tiled bathrooms have bathtubs with overhead showers; you get hairdryers and toiletries but no robes.

Starting at the most basic level, the Classic Rooms are surprisingly spacious. The Quadruple Classic Room (Forestia 4) has a lounge and 2 bathrooms (useful if you have an additional guest).

The bigger Comfort Rooms have living areas with sofabeds. Of these, Fattore 23 has wonderful views over woodland, and Cave is located in the old village quarry.

Superior Apartments come with one or two bedrooms and kitchenettes; most have spectacular views, and some have sofabeds. Worthy of special mention are Palle, which has a terrace, and Canapino, whose door is opened by a huge medieval key. Pietrino is accessed via a steep 800-year-old staircase, and inside, a steep wooden ladder links the bedroom and living room.

Features include:

• Fan
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Iron
• Minibar
• WiFi

Eating

Castello di Gargonza’s restaurant is open to guests and non-residents for lunch and dinner. Located just outside the borgo walls, its regal dining room sits in a converted tractor shed, with high ceilings and large windows overlooking the woods. You can also dine outside in the gravel garden, underneath white sunshades.

Most of the food is locally sourced or grown on site in the kitchen garden. Tuscan meat is famous all over Italy, and Chef Susi Brogi makes the most of it by cooking delicious Chianina beef over embers. Other options include wild boar, excellent homemade pasta dishes (some gluten-free), traditional ribollita (Tuscan vegetable soup) and fruit-laden desserts. Being on the edge of the Chianti region, the wine list is as inviting as you would expect: over 60 labels, including Chianti Classico and Colli Senesi.

There’s a poolside snack bar for light lunches and drinks, plus a pretty garden bar in the village centre.

If you’ve booked B&B, you’ll find a morning breakfast buffet of homemade cakes, pastries, fruit, yoghurt, juices, cereals and more in the former olive press.

Want to self-cater? Stay in a Superior Apartment to have your own kitchenette: oven or microwave, fridge, kettle, toaster, crockery and cutlery. A few basics are provided (oil, vinegar, salt and pepper). There’s also a little village shop selling pasta, meat, cheese, biscuits, preserves, wine and Castello di Gargonza’s own olive oil. For other supplies, it’s a 6km-drive to Monte San Savino.

There are plenty of local restaurants if you fancy a change - you’ll need to drive or take a taxi.

Features include:

• Bar
• Kids' meals
• Organic produce
• Restaurant
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Relax next to the unheated swimming pool, with its fantastic views over the surrounding woodland
  
• Rent a mountain bike or head off on foot to explore the rolling hills and forests of this beautiful corner of Tuscany
  
• Discover the treasure-trove city of Arezzo, with its breathtaking medieval piazzas, antiques markets and Romanesque churches (35 minutes away)
  
• Meander around Chianti, stopping at vineyards to taste the very best local wines. The region’s heartland is around the town of Greve (60 minutes away)
  
• Get to know Siena, with its exquisite medieval townscape, glorious Gothic architecture and distinctive monochrome cathedral (40 minutes away)
  
• Visit Florence, cradle of the Renaissance and home to the famous Uffizi gallery, the Ponte Vecchio, the beautiful red-roofed Duomo and excellent eateries (70 minutes away)
  
• Stroll around gorgeous hilltop towns and enjoy long, lazy lunches in the sunshine. We like Montepulciano, Montalcino and San Gimignano
  
• Back at Castello di Gargonza, take a cookery class and make the local pici pasta, as well as ragout and traditional sauces, before eating it all for lunch

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cooking classes
• Cycling
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Mountain biking
• Museums / galleries
• Private guided tours
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Well being
• Wine tasting

Best Time to go

Our Top Tips

Location

Castello di Gargonza is set on a hilltop, 6km from Monte San Savino and 28km from Arezzo, in Tuscany, Italy. It’s just over an hour’s drive from Florence and 40 minutes from Siena.

By Air:
The nearest airports are Perugia (93km) and Florence Peretola (111km), but you’ll find more flights to Pisa Galileo (195km).

From the Airport
Transfers can be arranged, but you a car is almost essential here, as you’ll need to drive out to sights, shops and restaurants. See our car rental recommendations. On-site parking is available.

By Train:
The nearest train station is Arezzo, 30km away. Transfers can be arranged from there, but it’s best to hire a car.

Detailed directions will be provided when you book through i-escape.com.

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