Castello di Spaltenna

This medieval stone castle and hamlet is set in extensive grounds on a wooded hillside in the heart of the Chianti Classico wine-producing area.

Parts of the beautifully-restored monastery-turned-castle date from 1,000 AD; the main building wraps around a lovely courtyard where gourmet meals are served in summer.

The bedrooms here, accessed by a warren of stone staircases and passages, are full of character; those in the outbuildings less so.

Spaltenna, which lies just outside the pretty village of Gaiole, makes a great base for exploring this lovely area of Chianti and its famous wine estates. Florence is an hour by car and Siena 40 minutes.

The gourmet-style Pievano restaurant serves elegant, Michelin-starred meals in the candlelit courtyard while Bistecca alla Fiorentina and other more rustic dishes are on offer at the more relaxed La Terrazza.