Travellers Reviews
Submitted by April Waldron, Laguna Beach, CA, United States
Loved the location and view. Food in the
restaurant was good as was the wine.
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This place was incredible. The silence, the
views, and the access to southern Tuscany
sites were great. I cannot find the words
to describe how it felt to spend the first
night in a room in one of the apartments in
this castle. We had incredible views over
forests, vineyards, and river. Late at
night there were brief fireworks. Too
perfect!
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Contact April now!
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Submitted by Trish Charlton, London, United Kingdom
We had a wonderful welcome by one of family members.
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The entire visit was absolutely magical with a spacious warmly decorated room and wonderful views. The setting was absolutely sublime and very peaceful. Definitely recommended for a quiet weekend escape.
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Submitted by James Best, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
Upon arrival the owner offered to go down to our car and help carry the luggage to our room.
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The room was fabulous. We have never stayed in a room that large and with so much character. The view of the D'Orcia valley was awesome.
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The breakfasts were great and varied each day. The dinners where the best of our 5 week trip.
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Quiet, tranquil, enchanting, peaceful magical the best unique travel experience .
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Submitted by Robyn McNally, Lane Cove, Sydney, Australia
This property exceeded our expectations in all respects.
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The new magnifecently located swimming pool.
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We would emphasise the beautiful location, the peacefulness and the excellent quality of food and wine available,
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Submitted by Jody Hagler, Dallas, United States
The dinners provided by hotel's
restaurant are excellent and quite
reasonably priced.
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We stayed in a selfcatering apartment and
had a wonderful time. It was everything
we hoped for and more, a real
castle on the top of a high hill with
views that went on forever. To sit on our
terrace and watch the beautiful Tuscan
sun turn the tower above us first gold
and then rose was a perfect study of the
fabled Tuscan light. All I can say is go
and enjoy.
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Submitted by Lisa Rude, Hayden, Idaho, United States
Fabulous wine and olive oil.
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Our stay, at the castle, was absolutely wonderful. The castle was so peaceful and beautiful. One morning we were awakened by a real live cuckoo bird. At first I thought it was a clock because I had never heard the call of the cuckoo bird before. The dinners were fabulous and our waitress was extremely attentive. We actually preferred the Castello di Ripa D'Orcia's wine, to all the other highly praised 'DOC' and 'DOCG' wines. After dinner we would take a glass of wine and sit out in the garden area, just off of the restuarant. One evening when we stayed past dark, we looked over the castle wall, and there were fire flies all down the mountain. The castle stay was our most relaxing and our favorite part of travels in Tuscany. I am a little concerned about Andrea & Philipo finding wives and having bambinos to pass on the wonderful castle, that has been in their family for so many years.
Lisa Rude, Coeur d'Alene Idaho
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Submitted by Stuart Harris, Palo Alto, CA, United States
Let us choose whichever rooms we wanted, each having different features. Arrival deadline is 7:00, because dinner begins at 7:30.
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Highlight of our trip to Italy. Nobody could believe our luck.
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We bought some of their Grappo at checkout.
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It is a real castle, built around 1250 to defend the southern realm of Sienna, isolated from town. On one side, a cliff drops 800 feet down to the Orcia River, and the other three sides are very steep, with vineyards on lower slopes. The center of the castle has a high battlement tower, built from stone quarried nearby. All buildings are within the castle walls. Because the hill is so steep, the land behind the castle walls has been filled in, nearly flush with the top of the wall, so that most walls do not obscure the view. A large banquet room beneath the tower, dug into the rock, is used for weddings and wine storage. Cars park outside the castle. The quality of restoration is astounding, a work of art. The nearby walled town of Quirica D'Orcia, equally restored, allows no cars within and has everything but a gelateria. Our laundry, two great bundles, cost only 20 euros. The fastest access route is the main road from Siena - the side roads are extremely twisty and slow as they cross mountain ranges. We took this same road all the way to Rome.
Their wine, made from their own grapes, has room for improvement; of three parties, none finished their bottles. Still, a treat.
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Large, modern rooms for our party of seven were in the top two stories of one of the converted farmhouses, which are very big. A table-sized radiator kept our top-story room toasty warm. Thick wooden ceiling beams that rose to 14 feet appeared original. The underlayment of our tiled floor was large rectangular pieces of tile, not wood, visible from the room below. The roof tiles on two buildings, shaped on a man's thigh, appeared ancient, perhaps original. Windows looked out over the castle walls toward forested rippling hills 30 miles away. Like the Grand Canyon, the view kept changing, it was mesmerizing. I saw deer tracks and heard pheasants calling - a wide variety of birds and animals live in these forests. On the tops of two nearby peaks are other castles that lit up at night, like a scene from Lord of the Rings, beacons glowing atop a sea of dark hills. A typical room is 23 feet square, plus a 9x15 foot bath. Both dining room and breakfast room windows have panoramic views. It was raining slightly (late March), so we did not use the outdoor patios, nor a large community room with fireplaces. 50 miles to the south, white ski slopes cut into the forest of a 6000 foot peak. It was so quiet - we tiptoed around, listening for bird calls from the valley below, or the sound of the river, or the wind through the trees.
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Submitted by Penn Shade, Jensen Beach, FL, United States
Castello di Ripa D'Orcia is a wonderful, restful and romantic experience. The clean, well-kept rooms, along with a courteous staff and breath-taking views makes this a place to which we will return.
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Submitted by Wayne Churchman, Irving, Texas 75062, United States
We arrived about an hour before checkin time and the castle gates were locked. By intercom, the staff told us to return an hour later, so we had to drive back about 8km to town and wait until they opened. It was a nuisance not to be able to at least drop off our luggage.
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Once we checked in, the staff was friendly and helpful.
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A great place for a quiet getaway. The castle ambience was great. Food at the restaurant was simple but well prepared and a great bargain for dinner. The castle's wine, produced from their own vineyards, was good and the olive oil excellent!
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Submitted by Wendy
We described that we stayed in a castle, and how often do you get to do that!
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Submitted by Michael
Absolutely magical and a must go and see.
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Submitted by Sandra
Ripa di Orcia was difficult to find and needs additional directional signage.
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unique
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Submitted by John
You must travel about 5 kilometers on a dirt road to get to the castle.
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The most beautiful views of Tuscany anywhere. Excellent facility!
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Submitted by Ben
Very beautiful spot, and very nice hosts.
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The only problem we had (and this is really very minor) is that we could not chill our drinks - the rooms did not have refrigerators, and the nearest town did not seem to sell ice.
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Submitted by MaryLou
The property was beautiful but I'm sure looks even better as the weather warms up. The season was just starting. Things needed to be freshened up! I expected the furnishings to be nicer. They were only adequate. If there was a little investment of money in the facility it would be more lovely.
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Alot of the walking involved (ie. to rooms and dinner) hilly terrain. My friend with a bad hip found it tiring!
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Pituresque with great views of the countryside, and idyllic! Hey...it was a castle!!
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Submitted by Scott
Scott has left no specific comment, however has rated the overall satisfaction rate with a 66% score, his arival experience with a 72% value and his check-out with a 91% rate. |
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Submitted by Tricia
The furnishings were very basic with no comfortable armchairs and the kitchen in particular fairly lacking (it would have been virtually impossible to prepare a meal with only two electric rings and not much in the way of cutlery, glasses etc. Having said that the situation of the castle and its grounds is stunning and had the furnishings etc been luxurious we probably wouldn't have afforded to stay there! We ate in the bistro restaurant on site which provided a four course meal for 25 euros per person. Menu changed each night with not huge portions but for 4 courses probably value for money, especially as any alternative meant a return journey down and back the 6km dirt track. The waiter was a gem!
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A nice little touch was that we were presented with a little bottle of their own 'vin santo' on our departure
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Access to the property is 6km up a 'dirt track' which is unfortunate as I shouldn't think there is anything that they can do about it.
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A stunning castle and grounds with amazing views. No distractions such as radios or televisions so take plenty of good books. A real away from it all location but it could do with a bit more in the way of luxury furnishings!Good value for money on the whole though
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Submitted by Anonymous
The guest has left no specific comment, however has rated the overall satisfaction rate with a 91% score, his arival experience with a 91% value and his check-out with a 89% rate. |
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Submitted by Anonymous
The signs to get there from the little town were extremely confusing.
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We thought we could go up in the tower, but we couldn't. We didn't know about no lunch being available until we got there.
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It was extremely relaxing.
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Submitted by Anonymous
When we arrived we met the woman that I believe owns the facility. She spoke no English and unfortunately we speak no Italian. She came across as very gruff and unwelcoming. We met (her sons I think) two gentleman - they were very accommodating and friendly.
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I wasn't sure from the website about their restaurant hours. But it's very limited. Breakfast is pastry and coffee and or a beverage. Not what we had experienced at other hotels during our travels. Should be listed as Continental breakfast.
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Submitted by Anonymous
From the website, it sounded like you could tour the whole castle, but we could only see a small part of it because most of it is a private residence, and we could only go in 2 buildings and the garden. that was disappointing.
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You cannot visit the turret or most of the 'village houses' around the castle - that is private residence or been converted to apartments.
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Good accomodation, outstanding views, good food. People seemed nice but not very forthcoming with information or history about the castle. Far from everything on a gravel road. Minimal English spoken. You couldn't go inside most of the castle itself.
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