TUSCANY | ITALY

Spending the night in a medieval Tuscan castle is something that most people only dream about doing. However, it is easier than you think. Throughout Italy, there are castles that have been converted into accommodations for tourists. Some of them plush and luxurious while some of them still retain their minimalistic 12th century charm. We got the opportunity to rent out an entire castle and its associated farmhouses for our wedding.

CASTELLO DI SAN FABIANO

About 3 hours north of Rome and only 20 minutes south of Siena lies the quaint town of Monteroni D'Arbia. Mentioned in the X Canto of Dante's Divine Comedy, it is also the setting for Castello di San Fabiano. The San Fabiano castle was built in the 13th century by King Charles of Anjou and served as a fortified defense for the surrounding area. It has since been converted into a beautiful bed and breakfast by the Fiorentini family, who still reside on the property. There is also a family chapel on the property that dates back to 867 A.D.

Inside the main castle are three suites and three additional guest rooms which sleep sixteen, each with their own bathroom. The decor of the castle is rustic but maintains enough of the creature comforts that you will feel right at home. Breakfast is served each morning on a beautiful terrace overlooking the tuscan hills with some of the family's homemade jams.

There are several areas around the property to host an event, from a small 35-person wedding to a full-blown 300-person dinner. If you have an event, such as a wedding like we did, you can rent the entire castle. If you are just traveling through on holiday, you can rent just a room. There is also a swimming pool with in-water lounge chairs for those hot summer afternoons and plenty of gardens to take a stroll through. The Fiorentini family are amazing hosts and will surely make your stay in Tuscany a memorable one.

MONTERONI D'ARBIA

Whether you get the chance to stay in this beautiful castle, or any other one, I highly suggest visiting this part of Tuscany. From visiting the hilltop town of Siena, the ruins of San Galgano or just taking a drive through the hills, there is so much to do and see while you are there. If you want to follow along with our 25-day wedding / honeymoon trip, you can see more of our adventures in Malta, Italy, the Vatican, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro.