Castello di Gargonza

Nestled among the trees of the forested mountains west of the Valdichiana, Gargonza is a 13th-century walled hamlet complete with a fairy-tale, crenellated castle tower. Count Riccardo Guicciardini, whose family has owned the property for 300 years, decided to save the abandoned village from decay in the 1960s by converting it in its entirety into a guest "residence." It's not a hotel, so don't come expecting hotel amenities, just a wonderfully evocative and isolated retreat. Now the former peasant houses contain self-catering apartments, complete with kitchenettes and working fireplaces, and the foresteria has basic doubles with tile and wood beamed ceilings and lazy-springed beds. The old olive-press building has been converted into a common space, with sitting/TV rooms, a bar/breakfast room, and access to the gardens. There's also a pool surrounded by wild rosemary and plenty of wooded park. The Tuscan restaurant is so good you needn't venture out for your meals.

Facilities:
Restaurant; bar; babysitting; bike rental; concierge; outdoor pool

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.