Il Castelluccio Country Resort Restaurant & SPA

Hotel Description

You know what? I wasn’t expecting much when I first pulled up that winding road to Il Castelluccio – honestly, the address just says “Via Ariano snc” which basically means “somewhere on Via Ariano” in Italian bureaucratic speak. But then you crest this hill in Barberino di Mugello, about 45 minutes north of Florence, and suddenly there’s this gorgeous stone building perched on the hillside like it’s been waiting there forever. The whole Mugello valley spreads out below you, and I mean, no photo really captures how green and rolling it all is. This isn’t your typical Tuscan tourist trap either – you’re in proper local territory here, where the only other cars you’ll see are probably heading to the nearby outlets or belong to Florentines escaping the city for the weekend.

The place itself feels like someone’s elegant country uncle decided to open his estate to guests. The rooms have that refined rustic thing going on – exposed beams, natural stone, but with seriously comfortable beds and modern bathrooms that actually work (you’d be surprised how often that’s not the case in renovated Italian properties). What really got me though was the restaurant. They’re doing this modern take on Tuscan cuisine that doesn’t feel forced or pretentious. I had this wild boar ragu that was… well, let’s just say I understood why locals drive up here for dinner. The spa is smaller than what you’d find at some massive resort, but honestly? That’s a good thing. It’s tucked into what feels like a natural grotto, and after a day of hiking around the Mugello hills – or let’s be real, after dealing with Florence crowds – those thermal pools hit different.

The staff actually knows the area, which sounds obvious but isn’t always the case. They sent me to this tiny village called Scarperia (maybe 15 minutes away) where they’ve been making knives since medieval times, and to a viewpoint near Firenzuola that’s not in any guidebook I’ve seen. Parking’s never an issue here, thank god, and the whole place has this quiet that you just don’t get closer to the cities. I mean, you’ll hear church bells from the valley and maybe some birds, but that’s about it. The only downside? Well, you definitely need a car – there’s no popping out for a quick grocery run or nightlife. But honestly, that’s kind of the point. This is where you go when you want to actually decompress and eat really well while still being close enough to hit Florence or Siena for day trips. It’s not cheap, but for what you get – and that location – it actually feels worth it.

Rooms

• Classic Double Room with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults
• Superior Double Room with 1 large double bed for 2 adults
• Romantic Junior Suite with 1 large double bed for 2 adults
• Suite with Spa Bath with 1 single bed, 1 extra-large double bed and 1 sofa bed for 4 adults
• Suite with 1 extra-large double bed and 1 sofa bed for 4 adults
• Suite with Private Pool with 1 extra-large double bed for 2 adults
• Suite with Spa Access with 1 large double bed for 2 adults

Reviews

• Antonin from Czech Republic (9/10)

  Amazing place to escape the rush of the city! Not far from Florence. We enjoyed the spa, local food and especially the aperol. Great view and nice pools. The staff was very attentive as well.

• Katharina from Germany (9/10)

  Very secluded place. It was calm, nice and comfortable rooms. Very flexible with check-in hours, good explanations. Fabulous breakfast and dinner. Friendly staff.

• Mary from United States (9/10)

  The inn and restaurant are a magical destination with exceptional meals, service, comfort.

• Marcus from Australia (9/10)

  Pretty much everything
  
  Great location
  
  Beautiful place thank you

• Niya from Bulgaria (9/10)

  Perfect place to relax and enjoy great Italian cuisine. Amazing view from the room. The staff was very helpful and understanding when we had requests. Breakfast was excellent. It is close to Firenze and just next to Barberino Designer Outlet.

• Francisco from United Arab Emirates (9/10)

  Where to start?We loved everything.The rooms were spacious and very clean,smelled wonderful.The location is beautiful,the hotel is surrounded by forest,olive groves and a little water fall.The view from the room is stunning.Breakfast is delicious,fresh pastries and home made cakes(every day different types),eggs in any form.We dined in the restaurant for dinner several times,and really enjoyed trying different díshes and they all were delicious,I would say one of the best we tried in Tuscany.The staff were all very friendly and kind,patient with our kids.Thank you Silvia,Claudia,Marina,Giovanni and Sasha for being wonderful hosts.We hope to return one day and highly recommend the resort.

• Wolfgang from Germany (9/10)

  wonderful ambience , very friendly staff , very clean and cosy

• Sisse from Denmark (8/10)

  Location, surroundings, room, pool, staff

• Christine from United Kingdom (9/10)

  Although the hotel was in beautiful countryside it was not far to main routes into Florence and other cities. It’s set in a beautiful landscape and a real escape. The pool and spa were perfect, not busy when we stayed . We loved our time there and the staff were exceptional.

• Martijn from Netherlands (9/10)

  Nice and quiet location. Spacious room. Friendly staff. Great food.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities