enjoy the luxury
of privacy
a new concept in
holiday accommodation
- a private hotel -
Tuscany, Italy
between Montepulciano and Pienza
The ease, services and infrastructure of a hotel...
....but you just happen to know all the guests
a Private Hotel in Tuscany
six bedrooms
accommodating twelve people
minimum stay of four rooms for four nights
Renting a private villa can be wonderful, just you and your friends and family
but how does the coffee machine work and why does the wifi keep cutting out?
A hotel can be sheer luxury
but there's a large group checking in at reception and a corporate event in the lounge
i Castagni offers you the ease and services of a hotel combined with the privacy of a villa
a private hotel
which functions as a hotel
but feels like a home
come on in
What is a private hotel?
A private hotel is exactly that; a hotel which is for your private use. When you book, the entire hotel becomes yours for the duration of your stay: we never accept more than one booking/group at a time.
Our minimum booking is four rooms for four nights. This gives you exclusive use of the hotel, all its facilities and all its staff. There won't be any other guests staying at the same time.
Just you and your group.
Your Tuscan Village
Your Tuscan Room
Your Tuscan Pool and View
ABOUT
a hotel solely for you...and yours
you arrive
there's no wait at check-in because you are the only guests, you can go straight to your room and start relaxing
the entire hotel is yours; all the bedrooms, the eating areas, the gardens, the terraces, the pool, the staff
all yours
you are in a stunning medieval village in southern Tuscany, between Montepulciano and Pienza
in your own, private hotel
what a great decision
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the village has
a welcoming community living here all year round, not just in the warmer months for tourists: this is
the real Italy
great amenities: restaurants within walking distance, a small grocery shop, a coffee shop and bar, a chemist/pharmacy,
a bank machine/ATM, and amazing far-reaching views.
your bedroom has
a big comfortable bed, ensuite bathroom with a powerful shower and organic toiletries
crisp quality bedding, thick fluffy white towels, air-conditioning, mosquito nets at windows, high-speed hairdryers with long cables, and USB plug-in points for re-charging and using your IT.
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YOUR ROOMS
All rooms showcase the beauty and character of an old Tuscan building but they are totally up to date in all other areas. Muted colours and a careful blend of antique and modern furnishings create elegant rooms which are luxuriously comfortable and perfect for unwinding in. Beds are big and comfortable, bathrooms have powerful showers (some have tubs too). All toiletries are organic. The property is fully air-conditioned and there are also mosquito nets at windows if you prefer the cooling valley breeze. There is heating and a roaring log fire in winter.
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We have things to make your stay easier; USB plug-in points for your IT, powerful hairdryers with long cables, and universal plugs so that you don't have to pack
your adapters.
We have a small team of staff whose sole focus will be you and your group.
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please see below for more photographs of our interior spaces and gardens
i castagni translates as the chestnut trees
HOW DO I BOOK?
there are three booking options
The Roots
This price includes your exclusive use of I Castagni, supported by the basic infrastructure you would expect in any good hotel; a staffed breakfast, daily maid service for your room, a daily
tidy-up of the grounds and pool so that everything is in good order for you each morning.
The Roots and Trunk
This price is for everything in our Level One package, plus some stronger supporting help: a served aperitivo (all drinks and nibbles included) each evening; organising and booking your transport from your airport of arrival and to your airport of departure in Italy; assisting you with restaurant bookings and excursion/tourism tickets. We are also on hand to offer guidance and advice on the local area.
The Roots, Trunk and Branches
This level includes all parts of Levels One and Two but extends further to provide the personal service and assistance you need to help your holiday reach an added level of relaxation and enjoyment. We will work with you in advance of your arrival to structure a programme for your stay and we will make all the necessary travel, excursion and restaurant bookings for that programme; we will also organise and book private transfers from/to your point of arrival/departure in Italy; action any requests you might have for a private chef to come in and make and serve lunch or dinner; arrange private in-house or vineyard wine tastings, guided tours, shopping outings etc. If you want it, and it's available, we can do it.
Your booking comprises the entire hotel, its facilities, and its staff.
We cannot therefore rent individual rooms, or rent for less than four nights. Our minimum booking is four rooms for four nights.
We are open whenever you need us to be. Please refer to our
contact form below
to discuss your dates.
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This page is updated regularly to reflect bookings
2023
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
WINE WEEK
September
October
November
December
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14-31 May BOOKED
1-24 June BOOKED
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27-31 August BOOKED
27 Aug-2 Sept BOOKED
1-30 Sept BOOKED
1-28 Oct BOOKED
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27-30 on HOLD
2024
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
WINE WEEK
September
October
November
December
7-20 & 26-30 BOOKED
1-2, 12-17, 19-24, 26-31 May BOOKED
1-7,9-14, 16-21, 26-30 BOOKED
1-2 July BOOKED
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25-31 August
8-13, 15-20, 22-27, 29-30 Sept BOOKED
1-4, 6-11, 13-18,20-25 Oct BOOKED
Our breakfast goods are healthy and use organic ingredients only.
We purposely don't have an in-house restaurant. They are noisy and who wants to stay in the room above the kitchen?
Tuscany has an abundance of fantastic places to eat. We have three within walking distance, so you don't even have to get in a car. We can arrange private dining at the hotel for guests booking our Level Three package.
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Our gardens are the perfect place to wander and relax. We have sunny spots, shady corners and stunning views across the Val di Chiana valley.
Come back to a plumped up bed and a pristinely clean room every day.
A turquoise square in the middle of a medieval village? No.
Our elegant shallow pool is based on a design used in Tuscan country villas and is therefore completely in harmony with its surroundings. The perfect place to sit, refresh, and enjoy a glass of something chilled.
Free wifi? Of course.
A GUIDE TO COSTS
Prices depend on the season and your booking level (see 'How Do I Book' above).
The price is not affected by the number of people in your group. If you wish, you may book the hotel for two people.
The maximum number of guests, including children, is usually capped at twelve (please ask if your group is larger).
Our minimum booking period is four rooms for four nights.
Our basic (Level One) cost is in line with renting a luxury private holiday property. Levels Two and Three are obviously more expensive, but less expensive than booking a luxury boutique hotel. As a guide, and to help you plan, the cost per room (not per person) per night starts at Euros 275 per night at Level One.
Our satisfaction comes from your contentment, providing you with a first-class experience, and welcoming you back the following year, not from looking at our end-of-year spreadsheets.
Check in: from 1500 hours
Check out: the hotel is yours until 1100 hours on the morning of your departure
We know that every moment of your holiday counts and we always offer flexibility on timings when possible
GALLERY
a flavour of what to expect at the hotel and beyond
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restaurants are all around; from traditional humble recipes to Michelin stars
get to know the wines produced in this beautiful landscape;
we can arrange private tastings at the hotel or at a local vineyard
Rome - the eternal city
we can arrange private transfers to and from the city and/or its airports for you
start your day 'the Italian way' with a proper cup of coffee
ground floor bedrooms have private access
to the gardens and terraces
All our bathrooms have powerful showers and quality modern fittings. We don't photograph a good one for our website and expect you to be happy with a bad one when you arrive.
We have a variety of terraces; this one is perfect for an evening aperitivo
stunning Siena (45 minutes by car)
bursting with culture, world-famous art, great places to eat, elegant shopping, and myriad opportunities to sit and watch (Italian) life go by
perfect Pienza (10 minutes by car)
art, history, views and shopping
our village/your village
beautiful in wintertime too
hire a vintage vespa or car
and enjoy exploring
Italian-style
THINGS TO DO
AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Wines
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Tuscany produces some of the world's best wines. Some you will know, and some you won't. Widen your knowledge, or learn the basics from the very beginning. We have a qualified in-house expert and a list of contacts we've drawn up over years of tasting, twirling, swirling, and talking over glasses of white, red, and rosé.
Culture and Places to Visit
Tuscany offers you a culture shock in a good way. It's packed full of things to see and places to visit. We are between majestic Montepulciano (above)
and the Renaissance jewel of Pienza (both 10 minutes by car). Siena, with its world-famous piazza, is 45 minutes by car; so is amazing Arezzo. The splendour of Florence and its world-class museums, such as the Uffizi, is 90 minutes by car. Rome is 120 minutes by car. We can arrange private drivers for you.
Food
There's lots of it, ranging from simple recipes handed down through generations to fine dining and Michelin stars. Our visitors are amazed when they don't gain weight but, you can't argue with the facts, Italians are officially the slimmest Europeans and the food here is full of seasonal goodness, not sugar and additives.
Peace and Quiet
We have an abundance of this
and, when you are with us, you can truly relax and recharge.
Our Concierge Service
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We love doing that little bit extra to make your stay with us special and can arrange airport transfers, restaurant bookings, private wine tastings, private tour guides, massage, yoga lessons, accompanied walks, bicycle hire, your favourite novel to be placed by your bedside. Please refer to our booking levels above for more information.
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Social Media
We are a private hotel in both senses of the word, so we don't do any social media and we never send out the dreaded feedback form or ask you to write a review. Holidays are for switching-off, not feeling obliged to go online and write about somebody else's business.
We rely on word-of-mouth recommendations; if you've enjoyed your time with us and have told your friends, that's the best feedback we could ask for.
we are delighted to continue to develop our partnership with Tuscan Women Cook, one of the
original 'full-immersion cooking holiday' travel companies, and warmly look forward to
welcoming and hosting their guests each year.
please visit www.tuscanwomencook.com for more information about their holidays and programmes.
GUEST REVIEW
We have been to Tuscany before but this place is special. No crowds and no tourist restaurants, at least not in the village. We arrived stressed and departed refreshed and renewed after a wonderful week. A beautiful village and a beautiful place to stay. Ideally located for Tuscany's delights although, once we had arrived, we stayed where we were and switched off. Completely.
we look forward to meeting you
and welcoming you to Tuscany
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please contact us with any and all questions
using the form below or email us at:
