10/10 Excellent
Joyce F.
30 Oct 2019
Liked: Cleanliness
Castellare - a magical experience!
When I originally booked a month-long stay at Castellare, it was definitely a leap of faith, never having been there before. It's very difficult to get a sense of the property from descriptions and photographs. The main building is on top of a hill, therefore all the pictures are taken from below and always partial. It's almost as though you have to physically experience the space rather than view it in order to grasp its truly magical essence.
But once you're there you understand. The lovely drive through picture-perfect Tuscany, the arrival at a wooden gate with "Castellare" hand painted in white, the gut wrenching climb through several hair-pin turns in the gravel road up to the house, and the warm, Italian welcome from Catina and Giacomo once you arrive all lead to an absolute feeling of pleasurable expectation.
The four of us stayed in "Stalla", one of four available units on the property. Three of the units are adjacent to Catina and Giacomo's home and one sits slightly off to itself. All are wonderful for different reasons, so the decision of which one to choose is very hard to get wrong. It's truly amazing to stay in a building that has been part of the Italian landscape for centuries and to be hosted by those who have enjoyed and lovingly cared for it for decades. The longer you stay, the more you can feel the presence of Catania and Giacomo in the rooms themselves - in the handmade touches and eclectic furnishings. And then - when their lovely cakes and tiramisu appear on your table - you feel truly feel enveloped in a place that is special.
I could continue, but suffice it to say that we will return as often as possible, knowing that it will only get better each time.
Joyce F.
Stayed 28 nights in Sep 2019