Beyond the Beautiful: What makes COMO Castello Del Nero extraordinary

Tuscany has never had to work particularly hard to impress. Its landscapes have inspired artists for centuries, its medieval towns remain beautifully preserved, and its vineyards produce some of Italy’s most celebrated wines. Even the countryside seems to have an instinctive understanding of beauty, with cypress-lined roads winding through hills that look almost too perfect to be real. It is a destination where expectations are naturally high. And for a luxury hotel to stand out here, beautiful surroundings are hardly enough. COMO Castello Del Nero understands this.

Set within a 740-acre estate in the Chianti wine region, between Florence and Siena, the 12th-century castle brings together historic architecture, contemporary design, Michelin-starred dining and the kind of countryside that makes Tuscany one of the world’s most loved destinations. Named Italy’s top hotel in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards, the property continues to receive international recognition, including One Michelin Key distinctions and a place among Italy’s leading hotels in the 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. But what makes Castello Del Nero special is not simply what it offers. It is how everything comes together, often through details so subtle they might otherwise go unnoticed. Here, luxury doesn’t always announce itself.

The approach to Castello Del Nero is everything one imagines Tuscany to be. Vineyards follow the contours of the hills, olive groves stretch across the countryside, and cypress trees punctuate the landscape. Eventually, the castle comes into view, its centuries-old stone walls rising above the surrounding estate. Dating back to the 12th century, the property retains much of its original character, including Renaissance frescoes, vaulted ceilings, terracotta floors and historic stonework. Yet what distinguishes Castello Del Nero from many historic hotels is that it doesn’t feel like a museum.

Milanese designer Paola Navone has approached the interiors with restraint, pairing original architectural details with contemporary furnishings, whitewashed walls and soft neutral tones. The contrast works beautifully. Centuries-old frescoes share space with clean-lined furniture, while large windows bring in natural light and views of the countryside. There is nothing overly elaborate about the design. The castle has enough character of its own, and the interiors allow that to come through.

Within the castle are just 50 rooms and suites, each shaped by the building’s original architecture. Some retain historic frescoes and fireplaces, while others have vaulted ceilings, generous proportions or windows overlooking the estate. There is something quite special about waking up inside a centuries-old castle and discovering that the most beautiful part of the room may actually be the view outside.

Beyond the windows, the Chianti countryside unfolds in layers of vineyards, olive groves, woodland and distant hills. The landscape changes throughout the day, from the soft colors of early morning to the warmer tones of late afternoon. For guests seeking greater privacy, Villa San Luigi offers a five-bedroom residence surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, complete with an infinity pool, private wellness facilities, cinema and personalized services. The estate also includes Podere San Filippo, a restored farmhouse with 12 contemporary apartments, offering a more independent way to experience Tuscany.

One of Castello Del Nero’s greatest strengths is its ability to make leaving the estate seem entirely optional. Across its 740 acres, vineyards, olive groves and walking paths create a landscape that is as much a part of the experience as the castle itself. Guests can explore the region’s agricultural traditions through wine and olive oil tastings, cooking classes and truffle-hunting excursions. Cycling routes and hot-air balloon experiences offer different ways to discover the surrounding countryside.

Yet there is something equally appealing about choosing none of these activities. An unhurried breakfast. A walk through the olive groves. An afternoon beside the pool, followed by a long lunch overlooking the countryside. In a region where there is always another village to visit or another vineyard to discover, Castello Del Nero makes a good case for staying exactly where you are.

Wellness has long been central to COMO Hotels and Resorts, and at Castello Del Nero, the group’s signature COMO Shambhala philosophy finds a particularly beautiful setting. The retreat offers individual and couples’ treatments, thermal facilities including a sauna, steam room and heated vitality pool, as well as dedicated yoga and Pilates studios. Guests can also enjoy tennis, countryside walks and the estate’s 25-meter outdoor swimming pool.

What makes the wellness experience particularly appealing is its connection to the surroundings. Views of vineyards and olive groves extend from the relaxation areas, while the quiet of the countryside makes it easy to slow down. Here, wellness doesn’t always have to involve a treatment or a scheduled activity. Sometimes, simply being in Tuscany is enough.

In Tuscany, food is inseparable from the land. Olive oil, wine, seasonal vegetables, meats and grains form the foundation of a cuisine that places considerable value on the quality of its ingredients. At Castello Del Nero, the estate produces its own olive oil, wine and flour for use within the property, while its kitchen garden supplies seasonal produce.

The culinary centerpiece is La Torre, the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, led by Executive Chef Giovanni Luca Di Pirro. Having maintained its Michelin star for 12 consecutive years, La Torre presents a contemporary interpretation of Italian cuisine, with tasting menus that highlight vegetables from the estate’s organic garden alongside carefully prepared meat and seafood dishes.

The Pavilion, meanwhile, offers a more relaxed dining experience, with Mediterranean-inspired dishes served against a backdrop of olive groves and Tuscan hills. Private dining can also be arranged within the gardens and olive groves, while seasonal outdoor barbecues bring guests closer to the estate’s agricultural traditions. It is an approach to dining that celebrates not only the food but also the pleasure of where it is enjoyed.

Not every memorable dining experience requires a tasting menu or an elaborate presentation. Sometimes, it comes down to a familiar dessert prepared exceptionally well. During our stay at Castello Del Nero, my husband Berg and I found ourselves returning repeatedly to the hotel’s tiramisu. It was, we agreed, the best we had ever tasted.

The balance was just right: delicate layers, a light and creamy texture, enough coffee flavor and a sweetness that never overwhelmed the dessert. We ordered it at least three times during our stay, and each serving was every bit as good as the first. That consistency was as impressive as the dessert itself. In a hotel where considerable attention is given to fine dining, it was a reminder that culinary excellence can also be measured through the simplest preparations.

Luxury hotels have become increasingly good at creating memorable first impressions. Beautiful suites, elaborate welcome amenities and personalized experiences are now familiar features of high-end hospitality. But the most meaningful expressions of service are not always the most visible. At Castello Del Nero, one particularly interesting example came during breakfast. 

As a left-handed guest, I noticed that my coffee was consistently placed on the left side of my setting, while the cups of my companions were placed on their right. It might have passed unnoticed had it happened only once. But the same arrangement continued throughout our stay, even when different staff members were serving the table. The distinction was clearly intentional. Someone had observed a small personal preference and, more remarkably, that observation appeared to have been communicated across the team. There was no explanation or announcement. No attempt to draw attention to the gesture. The coffee simply arrived on the left, every time.

What made this particularly impressive was not merely that one staff member had been attentive. It was that the same level of care extended across the service team. The consistency suggested a culture where observation, communication and anticipation were part of the guest experience. Beautiful interiors can be designed. Elaborate amenities can be arranged. Service procedures can be taught. But creating an environment where staff members notice individual preferences and act on them naturally requires something more. At its best, service should feel intuitive rather than rehearsed. And sometimes, something as simple as where a cup of coffee is placed can tell you more about a hotel than any elaborate welcome amenity.

There is something about the sunlight in Tuscany. Perhaps this is why Under the Tuscan Sun resonated with so many people. Beyond the beautiful countryside and the romance of starting over in Italy, there is something about the way the sunlight falls on this part of the world that makes you understand its appeal. It really does hit differently here.

Early in the morning, the light slowly moves across the hills, catching the tops of the cypress trees and turning the vineyards and olive groves into different shades of gold. The landscape looks almost unreal, except that you are standing right there, watching it happen.

At COMO Castello Del Nero, surrounded by 740 acres of Tuscan countryside, the sunrise is something worth waking up early for. And when the sun finally comes up over the hills, you begin to understand why people fall so completely in love with Tuscany. It is one of those moments when you don’t really need to be doing anything. Just being there is enough.

There is certainly no shortage of reasons to stay at COMO Castello Del Nero. A 12th-century castle, beautiful contemporary interiors, Michelin-starred dining, an exceptional wellness retreat and the Tuscan countryside right outside your window. But what makes this property special goes beyond all of that. It is the consistency of the experience, the people who make it happen and the attention given to details that most guests might not even think to ask for.

I still remember that tiramisu my husband and I kept ordering. The coffee that was always placed on my left. And those early mornings when the sunlight slowly made its way across the hills. These are the things that stay with you long after a trip. And perhaps that is what makes COMO Castello Del Nero extraordinary. It gives you everything you could want from a beautiful Tuscan escape, but it is the little things, often the ones you least expect, that make you want to return.