Planning your dream wedding, an epic corporate retreat, or hoping to join our artists residency or farming apprenticeship, please get in touch. We want to connect, meet, and host you one day soon.
*At this time Ristonchi only accepts exclusive reservations for the entire castle. We do not rent per room.
Castello Di Ristonchi
Here is an overview of the property and all it has to offer.
Tower
The Tower (Castello) has 10 apartments for up to 35 guests, a Bar, Banquet Hall, Terrace and Rave Cave
Groom’s Room: Large room perfect for casual meetings or getting all the guys together before the wedding. The master’s quarters has an enormous original fireplace, bar and seating area. There is also a loft with 2 single beds and a bedroom with a queen bed.
Reception: Step through the castle’s thick stone walls and iron gate and you’ll be welcomed into our cozy reception full of local wine and our products from the farm like olive oil, honey, tea and other tasty seasonal items.
Buffet Room: The room just off the reception has a long buffet table where breakfast, dessert buffets or pizza nights happen. The old stone pizza oven is here and opens up to the terrace outside as well as the banquet hall inside. *This room can be used for dinner seating in case of inclement weather for an additional 20 guests.
Banquet Hall: This grand room has high arched brick ceilings and table and chairs for up to 70 guests. There is wifi in the room making it perfect for meetings or showing videos. A projector and screen can be rented.
Bar: Enjoy a drink in our cozy lounge bar or order something to take out to the terrace with a view. The bar offers a full range of drinks including a wide selection of spirits, Whisky, Brandy and Liqueurs, soft drinks and beer as well as a wide variety of wine from our favorite local vineyards. A selection of teas and coffees, snacks and ice cream are also available throughout the day.
Terrace: Step outside the buffet room onto the magical stone terrace with a view of the town below and surrounding green mountains. Fragrant jasmine and ivy crawl up the walls of the tower behind the terrace and festive bistro lights can be strung above. Add a Spritz bar and some live musicians and everyone is in their happy place. The best spot for aperitivo.
Rave Cave: This is where the after party happens. Down a winding iron staircase from the banquet hall (there is another more accessible entrance off the terrace) lies this dungeon turned disco. Complete with a mirror ball, party lights, smoke machine, lazers, DJ booth and bar.
Borghetto
Villa Borghetto is just down from the terrace behind the main tower. Quiet apartments away from the action for those who won’t be partying until dawn.
7 apartments for up to 20 guests
Borghetto Courtyard: The courtyard between the Borghetto and the Tower is a narrow space perfect for long banquet table dinners with bistro lights. A great spot for an outdoor dinner when the weather is cooler as the area is blocked from the wind. The castle kitchen is nearby so you can ensure your food arrives warm.
Fattoria
“The Farm” The Fattoria consists of 5 apartments and can sleep up to 25 guests.
5 apartments for up to 23 guests
Bridal Suite: Our newly remodeled bridal suite has a large wine barrel framed bed, makeup desk with antique mirrors, beautiful natural light and a central location.
Fattoria Courtyard: There is a stone courtyard between the villa and the pool. The perfect spot for a late afternoon BBQ pool party, quiet dinner under the bistro lights or a morning outdoor yoga session.
Chapel/ Church of Sant’Egidio
Destroyed by lighting in 1864, the stone and stucco church with a wood-beamed ceiling and stained glass window has been restored. A short staircase at the end of the single nave leads to the presbytery and altar.
Pool
Our large outdoor pool is filled with fresh mountain spring water and surrounded by nature. Take in the smell of lavender and the view of the valley spotted with olive trees while you relax on the warm stone. The pool is gated for safety. No lifeguard on duty.
Olive Grove
The castello is surrounded by 2,000 olive trees. We make our own olive oil and olive leaf tea from these beautiful trees.
Sunset Grass Field
Named for the beautiful view of the sunset seen from the field. Here you are enveloped in beauty from all sides! Views of the valley below, the forest mountains, olive groves, wild flowers and the castle itself all surround you with bistro lights and bright stars up above.
Beehive Hill
Down the road from the castle you can see a small hill covered in wildflowers and dotted with beehives. We have over 100 beehives and serve the amazing chestnut, lavender and rosemary honey the bees produce for breakfast.
Wedding Arch Field
Just to the side of the Fattoria and below the pool there is a large open grass field. From here you have views of the olive groves below and the castle behind. A wedding arch Rasmus built himself from trees he chopped down in our forest stands at the far edge. Ceremony seating for up to 150 guests.
Nature Playground
A special place just for the little ones. A swing set, small house and play kitchen with all the fixings for a perfect pinecone mudpie and a treehouse with the best view of the valley! All lovingly built by Stefanie and Rasmus. Children must be supervised at all times and play at their own risk.
Hiking & Biking Trails
Beautiful and interesting trails surround the castello. Ristonchi Castle is on top of a mountain surrounded by olive groves and an ancient forest with over 20km of marked paths for walking and cycling. View all hikes →
Castello di Ristonchi consists of 24 apartments ranging from studios to 2-bedrooms and can host up to 80 people. Each apartment has its own private bathroom.
The castle is over 1,000 years old, that being said, please do not think you are arriving at a brand new Hilton Hotel. The castle is old, rustic, and charming. The floors are worn and the bathrooms are small and quirky (hey it happens when a building is built 800 years before plumbing was common). A few of the beds are repurposed giant wine barrel frames. Keep your eye out because some of the stones in the walls have medieval markings engraved in them. The castle is surrounded by an ancient forest - we live in harmony with nature and don't use harmful chemicals - so there may be a bug, a bee, or a spiderweb around along with the beautiful serene nature.
Ristonchi Castle is an agriturismo (this is a combination of the Italian words agricoltura and turismo). It means that in addition to hosting guests and gorgeous events, we are also a farm and offer the freshest food.
Ristonchi was once an entire self-sustainable village. The villagers grew their own food and made their own products. We aim to do the same. Our agriturismo has 2,000 olive trees, 15,000 industrial hemp plants, 100 beehives, a large fruit and vegetable garden and a forest full of chestnut, walnut, acorn, cherry, fig, apple, pear and plum trees - plus numerous wild berries and herbs we use to flavor food as well as make our own gin, tea or fruity beer.
Along with the hundreds of thousands of bees, we also have our two 15-year-old horses, Rose and Mary and one abandoned kitten named Olive, that we found in an olive tree.
Our farm vision overall, is to begin restoring the 40 hectares surrounding the castle to the food forest it once was. One task we are really looking forward to next year is preparing the ancient monk-made terraces to cultivate some apple trees! We will continue to grow our veggie garden. Producing enough to sustain ourselves, guests and create products from guests to take home for a taste of Tuscany after they leave.
1
Cat
2
Horses
100
Beehives
2000
Olive Trees
10,000
Hemp Plants
Activities at Ristonchi
We have lots to do around Ristonchi, in the area or take a day trip to Florence.