Castello di Spaltenna is a fortified former monastery with a Romanesque parish church, set on a hillside just below the walled hamlet of Vertine, a few minutes above Gaiole in Chianti. It is one of the few Chianti hotels that combines a Michelin-starred restaurant, a proper spa with a heated indoor pool and an infinity pool over the vineyards, all within a building that has been standing for close to a thousand years. My one-line verdict: arguably the most romantic castle stay in the Gaiole corner of Chianti Classico, as long as you accept old-building quirks and a seasonal calendar.
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Quick facts: Castello di Spaltenna
- Location: on the slope below Vertine, just outside Gaiole in Chianti, province of Siena, in the heart of Chianti Classico.
- Rooms and suites: 37 rooms and suites in the castle and its outbuildings, plus spa apartments a short walk away and La Canonica, a private villa in Vertine.
- Price level: high, in line with other small luxury castle hotels in Tuscany. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
- Season: seasonal. The hotel says it closes from November to March, so it is closed as we publish. Ask the hotel for the 2027 reopening date.
- Nearest airport: Florence Peretola, about 80 km, roughly 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30 minutes by car. Pisa is about 120 km, around two hours.
- Best for: couples, food lovers and wine travellers who want a starred dinner, a spa and Chianti estates within a short drive.
Check prices and availability
With only 37 rooms, the suites and the best deluxe rooms go early for May, June, September and harvest weekends. Compare dates before you commit.
Location and getting there
Spaltenna sits in the eastern part of Chianti Classico, the Gaiole side, which is wilder and more wooded than the Greve and Panzano valleys further west. The castle complex grew around a parish church, the Pieve di Santa Maria, and a fortified monastery that later became a feudal village. Today the hotel spreads across several of those historic buildings: the castle itself, the old stables, a farmhouse and the buildings around the garden and spa.
The walled hamlet of Vertine is a short uphill walk away, and the hotel runs a small wine bar there, the Vineria di Vertine, which reopened for the 2026 season on 15 May. Badia a Coltibuono is a short drive away, and Castello di Ama and the Brolio estate are both close.
Florence Peretola is the nearest airport at about 80 km. Allow roughly 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30 minutes by car. Pisa is about 120 km, around two hours, and Rome Fiumicino is roughly three hours. Siena is the closest city, at around 40 minutes. You realistically need a car or a private driver here: our Italy travel planner covers transfers and car hire, and I would book a driver for any day that involves serious tastings.
Rooms and suites
The hotel has 37 rooms and suites. A detailed breakdown published by a spa magazine in 2023 lists 5 Classic rooms, 11 Superior, 12 Deluxe, 3 Junior Suites, 2 Terrace Suites, 2 Exclusive Suites, 1 Jacuzzi Garden Suite and 1 Family Suite. Some 2026 press coverage rounds this to “about forty” rooms, so if the exact mix matters to you, ask the hotel. No two rooms are alike: expect beamed ceilings, terracotta floors, antiques, original fireplaces in some rooms and four-poster beds in others.
- Classic and Superior rooms: the entry categories, in the main building or near the gardens. Characterful, but some are compact and views vary.
- Deluxe rooms: the largest group, more spacious, and the sensible sweet spot for most couples.
- Junior Suites: more room to spread out, with country views.
- Terrace, Exclusive and Jacuzzi Garden Suites: the special-occasion categories. The Terrace Suites add outdoor space, and the Jacuzzi Garden Suite has its own garden with a hot tub. These sleep up to three.
- Family Suite: the only category that sleeps four.
- Spa Apartments: self-contained units about 300 metres from the castle, useful for longer stays.
- La Canonica: a private residence in the village of Vertine with its own garden and pool, sold as a villa. Bedroom count and current terms: ask the hotel.
Some rooms have a shower over the bath, and a medieval layout means stairs, uneven floors and thick walls. Mention any mobility needs before arrival.
Dining
There are three restaurants, plus a bar.
Il Pievano
The fine dining room, set in the historic hall of the castle, holds one Michelin star in the 2026 Michelin Guide Italia. Since April 2025 the kitchen has been led by Antonio Iacoviello, a chef from Benevento who previously ran the kitchen at Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura in Tokyo and has worked with Alain Ducasse and at Don Alfonso 1890. His cooking pairs Tuscan produce with Japanese technique, especially charcoal cooking on a robata grill. In 2026 there are two tasting menus, Brace Ardente and Transverberazione, and the Michelin Guide notes a wine list of more than 800 bottles.
Il Pievano serves dinner only, from Wednesday to Sunday, and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so plan your starred evening around that. If the name rings a bell from our other reviews: the previous head chef, Stelios Sakalis, now runs the starred Poggio Rosso at Borgo San Felice, which we cover in our Borgo San Felice review.
La Terrazza, L’Osteria and the bar
- La Terrazza: lunch and lighter dishes outdoors, looking over the vineyards.
- L’Osteria: traditional Tuscan cooking for summer evenings, run as a seasonal restaurant for part of the year. Check which evenings it is open during your stay.
- L’Archivio Bar: cocktails, local wines and light bites.
- Breakfast: served in the Sala del Camino or on the terrace in good weather.
On the hotel’s own wine, our research turned up contradictory information. Some reports describe the house Chianti Classico and Riserva as coming from the estate’s own vineyards, while others say they are made with grapes from nearby vineyards in partnership with the Capannelle estate in Gaiole. It was not clear to us which applies today, so if estate-grown wine matters to you, ask the hotel. Either way, Spaltenna is best understood as a hotel among great wineries rather than a winery hotel.
Check rates at Castello di Spaltenna
Spa and pools
La Pieve Spa is compact, at around 300 m², but well equipped for a hotel of this size. Its standout feature is a heated indoor pool kept at about 29°C, with large windows onto the countryside. Indoor pools are rare in Chianti hotels, which makes Spaltenna a sensible choice for spring and autumn stays when the weather turns.
- Wet area: Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, tepidarium, a Jacuzzi, an ice fountain and experience showers.
- Treatments: massages including hot stone, body scrubs, facials and a signature “Relax in Toscana” ritual with lavender and olive oil. The spa uses the Swiss brand La Colline.
- Infinity pool: an outdoor pool of about 25 by 7 metres, opened in 2022, among the vineyards, with loungers, umbrellas and a bar service in summer.
- Garden pool: older descriptions also mention an outdoor pool with a waterfall in the gardens below the castle. Ask the hotel which pools are open on your dates.
Guest reviews describe sauna, steam room, pool and gym access as complimentary, with treatments charged.
Sport and activities
Tennis
There is one outdoor tennis court on the property. The surface, lighting and whether racquets or coaching are available are not published, so ask the hotel. If tennis is a priority, our guide to tennis hotels in Tuscany lists estates with more courts and coaching on site.
Fitness, cycling and walking
A small gym with valley views, with personal training on request, covers rainy days. Gaiole is the home of L’Eroica, the vintage bike ride on the white gravel roads of Chianti, and the hotel can arrange bikes. Walking trails start at the door.
Wine
This is the real activity here. Within a short drive you have Badia a Coltibuono, Castello di Ama, the Ricasoli estate at Brolio and dozens of smaller Gaiole and Radda producers. The hotel offers tastings in its historic cellar and runs the wine bar in Vertine. For how the subzones differ, read our guide to Chianti Classico.
What’s nearby
- Vertine: a tiny walled hamlet with views across the valley, a short walk uphill.
- Gaiole in Chianti: the local village, with a few restaurants and the start of many cycling routes.
- Siena: about 40 minutes for the Campo, the cathedral and an evening passeggiata.
- Florence: a long day trip by car or with a driver. Our guide to the best day trips from Florence works just as well in reverse.
Spaltenna also features in our guide to wine hotels in Chianti, which compares it with the estates that make their own wine.
Castello di Spaltenna vs other Chianti luxury hotels
| Hotel | Location | Standout | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castello di Spaltenna | Gaiole in Chianti | 37 rooms, starred Il Pievano, heated indoor pool | Romantic castle stay, food lovers |
| Borgo San Felice | Castelnuovo Berardenga | 63 rooms in a hamlet, own winery, starred Poggio Rosso, tennis | All-round wine resort |
| COMO Castello del Nero | Barberino Tavarnelle | 50 rooms, starred La Torre, COMO Shambhala spa | Spa, service, Florence access |
| Castello di Casole | Casole d’Elsa, west of Siena | 41 suites and villas on a large private estate | Space, privacy, active stays |
In short: Borgo San Felice is the choice if you want the winery on site, Castello del Nero wins on spa and polish (see our COMO Castello del Nero review), and Spaltenna is the more intimate, older-feeling castle with a kitchen that easily holds its own.
Who it suits, and who it does not
It suits:
- Couples looking for a romantic, genuinely historic castle rather than a polished resort.
- Food lovers who want a Michelin-starred dinner without driving afterwards.
- Wine travellers who want Gaiole, Radda and Castelnuovo Berardenga estates within easy reach.
- Spring and autumn travellers, thanks to the heated indoor pool.
It does not suit:
- Anyone who wants a big resort with kids’ clubs and lots of facilities.
- Keen tennis players: there is a single court and no published coaching.
- Guests with limited mobility, given stairs and uneven medieval floors.
- Winter travellers, since the hotel closes from November to March.
Charlotte’s tip: book the star first, then the room
Il Pievano is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so build the stay around it: arrive on a Wednesday or Thursday, reserve the tasting menu when you book the room, and keep the other evenings for L’Osteria and a glass of Chianti Classico at the Vineria in Vertine. Pick late April, May or late September, when the infinity pool is pleasant and the indoor pool is a treat after a day of tastings.
Practical tips
- Booking: reserve Il Pievano, spa treatments and any villa at the same time as the room. With 37 rooms, the hotel can be full on harvest weekends.
- Best rooms to request: a Deluxe room with a view for value, a Terrace Suite or the Jacuzzi Garden Suite for an occasion, the Family Suite if you travel with two children.
- Season: closed from November to March. In 2025 Il Pievano reopened in mid-April; confirm 2027 dates with the hotel before booking flights.
- Dress: relaxed by day, smart casual at Il Pievano.
- Kids: children are welcome, and the Family Suite sleeps four, but there is no kids’ club. Ask about age rules at Il Pievano. Pets are not allowed.
Check prices and availability
Compare room categories, from Classic rooms to the Jacuzzi Garden Suite, and check opening dates for the new season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Castello di Spaltenna have a Michelin star?
Yes. Il Pievano holds one Michelin star in the 2026 Michelin Guide Italia. Chef Antonio Iacoviello has led the kitchen since April 2025. It serves dinner from Wednesday to Sunday.
Is Castello di Spaltenna open all year?
No. The hotel says it closes for the season from November to March. Ask the hotel for exact 2027 opening dates.
Does Castello di Spaltenna have a pool?
Yes. There is a heated indoor pool in La Pieve Spa and an outdoor infinity pool of about 25 by 7 metres overlooking the vineyards. The outdoor pool is seasonal.
How far is Castello di Spaltenna from Florence airport?
About 80 km, roughly 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30 minutes by car depending on traffic. Pisa airport is around two hours away.
