Castelfalfi, Tuscany.

The borgo, the castle and the park

The village of Castelfalfi was founded by the Lombard king Faolfo and first documented in 754 AD; its custodians changed across the centuries, the Caetani, the chivalrous Order of Santo Stefano, the Biondi family, while the architecture and the land endured. The restored hamlet is the centrepiece, with the medieval castle (La Rocca) and its three panoramic terraces, the Romanesque church of San Floriano, and the Medici Park, home to an extraordinary collection of plants from around the world and a magnificent stone cloister.

The houses we hold here

We represent four restored farmhouses and a penthouse on the estate. Casa Medici sits in the ancient heart of the borgo, its windows onto the Medici Park; Casale La Pergola, also in the village, has a private plunge pool; Il Fienile and the five-bedroom Casale I Bianchi, the largest at 550 square metres with its own heated pool, stand a few minutes out in open countryside. The Stefano Ricci La Rocca penthouse occupies the castle itself: two suites over 307 square metres, with a rooftop terrace, a private jacuzzi, butler and private-chef service, and bespoke experiences including a fitting with the Stefano Ricci tailor and a visit to the Antico Setificio Fiorentino. Every house comes with five-star service on request and access to an exclusive beach club at Forte dei Marmi.

Forty experiences, and then some

The estate runs more than forty curated experiences. In the vineyards and cellars: tastings of the organic wines in the Barricaia, olive-oil tastings at the historic Frantoio mill, and, in season, the grape harvest and the olive picking. At the table: cooking classes and wood-fired pizza workshops, and picnics laid out on the hills. In nature: truffle hunts in the Carfalo woods, falconry, beekeeping and honey tasting, fishing on Casiscala Lake, e-bike rides and night jeep safaris, and four marked trekking trails across the 2,700 acres.

For the energetic there is the Castelfalfi Adventure Park, with ten treetop courses, a climbing wall and archery, alongside guided tours of the borgo, grand city tours and even supercar drives through the hills. It adds up to a place where children, grandparents and everyone between can each have the holiday they came for.

Spa, dining and the family

Wellness is handled by the RAKxa Wellness Spa, an extension of the celebrated RAKxa integrative retreat in Bangkok that brings Thai practices to a Tuscan setting: a heated indoor and outdoor pool, two saunas, a Turkish bath, sensory showers, a vitality pool and seven treatment rooms, with yoga and pilates held outdoors. Five kitchens cover the rest, Olivina for refined, seasonal cooking from the estate's own garden; Il Rosmarino, a Tuscan trattoria with a wood-fired pizzeria; Ecrù for coffee, aperitivo and an Asian-accented menu on the panoramic terrace; the poolside Giglio Blu; and UMMI, a Lebanese pop-up. The Montessori-inspired Falfy Kids Club looks after ages three to twelve, with a mini-farm and aromatic herb garden of its own.

Weddings, events and an organic estate

For celebrations, the castle's three panoramic terraces, the Medicean Park and the borgo itself stage weddings and receptions, while the Aria pavilion seats up to 450 guests beside a cloister and gardens; four meeting rooms handle corporate functions, all with dedicated event planners. Underpinning it is a working farm: twenty-five hectares of vineyards and more than forty of olive groves, organic since 2016, whose wine, extra-virgin olive oil and even gin, vermouth, amaro and grappa are sold in the estate wine shop. A biomass plant heats and cools the buildings, and rainwater lakes irrigate the land.

When to come

May, June, September and into October are the finest windows: warm enough for the pools, with the vineyards in leaf or the harvest under way, and well below the heat and prices of high summer. July and August stay comfortable thanks to the estate pools and the Forte dei Marmi beach club, while winter is quiet, when the spa and fireside dining come into their own.

Towns worth knowing

San Gimignano

The famous towered skyline, about thirty minutes north.

Volterra

Etruscan and Roman, with alabaster workshops and fewer crowds, forty minutes away.

Florence

The art capital, a comfortable hour from the gates and an easy day trip.

Siena

Gothic Tuscany, the Campo and the Palio, about seventy minutes.

Forte dei Marmi

The chic Versilia beach town, an hour west; villa guests have access to an exclusive beach club here.

Best for

• Multi-generational family holidays
• Weddings and milestone celebrations
• Food, wine and olive-oil lovers
• Wellness and spa stays
• Families with young children
• A first Tuscan trip, for the variety in one place

Practicalities

Pisa airport is about forty minutes away and Florence about an hour, both with direct flights across Europe. A car is useful for exploring the wider region, but the estate itself is walkable and most experiences happen on site. The villas come with five-star hotel service available on request.

Frequently asked

What exactly is Castelfalfi?

A 2,700-acre private estate in the hills near Montaione, between Florence and Pisa, built around a medieval village. It holds a five-star hotel and spa, five restaurants, an organic wine and olive estate, and the four farmhouse villas and Stefano Ricci penthouse we represent.

What do guests get when they rent a villa here?

Five-star estate service on request, access to the restaurants, the RAKxa spa and more than forty experiences, and entry to an exclusive beach club at Forte dei Marmi. Exactly what is included with each house is set out on its own villa page.

Is Castelfalfi good for families?

Very. There is a Montessori-inspired kids' club for ages three to twelve, an adventure park with treetop courses, pools and room to roam, alongside grown-up pursuits like wine tastings and the spa.

Can you hold a wedding at Castelfalfi?

Yes. The medieval castle's panoramic terraces, the Medicean Park, the borgo and the Aria pavilion (up to 450 guests) host weddings and celebrations, with dedicated event planners on hand.