Castello di Vicarello travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

Castello di Vicarello is a beautiful castle, which sits on a hill overlooking the Maremma countryside in southern Tuscany, and it offers absolutely everything that any of your senses would want of a Tuscan vacation. About 50 years ago, it was practically a ruin, completely abandoned, when the Baccheschi Berti family saw the potential. With much love and care, and quite a few lira, the family transformed the ruin into an exquisitely luxurious yet completely unpretentious Tuscan paradise that opened for guests in 2003.

Each room and villa (only 7 in total) is different, with hand-picked furnishings, fabrics and accents. The exposed stone, brick and wood of the structure provide a perfect framework for the harmonious mix of antiques, modern design and Indonesian touches. The beds are adorned with the highest-quality Italian linen sheets and yes, they do help you sleep better.

There are two outdoor fresh-water pools, the magnificent garden that changes with the seasons, the beautiful spa, the vineyards, the olive groves, not to even mention the amazing food Aurora and her staff prepare daily — there is absolutely no reason to leave this place.

This could be your best holiday in every detail from food to the fashion, from people-watching to design, from architecture to hotels, from wines to coffee.

If you feel like cooking, you can help Aurora in the kitchen (she runs an informal cooking school). Location: Tuscany, Italy.