A 12th-century castle in the Chianti hills, restored to fifty rooms by COMO Hotels. La Torre's Michelin-starred kitchen sources from the estate's own gardens; the castle has stood for nine hundred years.
"12th-century castle in the Chianti hills, restored by COMO. La Torre Michelin-starred kitchen, COMO Shambhala spa, 740-acre estate."
Castello del Nero is a 12th-century castle in the Chianti Classico hills near Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, on a 740-acre estate of vineyards, olive groves, and forest, restored over a five-year programme by Christina Ong's COMO Hotels and operated under the COMO brand since 2018. The castle's tower and main keep date from the 1100s; the main villa structure was added in the 17th century; the supporting farm buildings were restored as part of the 2018 conversion. Fifty rooms, suites, and self-catering apartment accommodations are spread across the main castle and the supporting structures.
The interiors are by Paola Navone in a restrained Tuscan palette — terracotta floors, restored ceiling beams, Tuscan stone walls, and contemporary Italian furniture sourced through COMO's design network. Every room retains original architectural detail; many have direct views over the vineyards or the Chianti valley. The Suites and Junior Suites are the most-booked categories; the Castle Suite, with its private terrace and the original 12th-century-castle features, is the property's flagship.
The COMO Shambhala spa here is a smaller version of the Bali parent — Ayurvedic protocols, customised wellness programmes, daily yoga in the converted barn pavilion. The spa connects to the heated outdoor pool and the wider gardens. The estate's working farm — vineyards producing Chianti Classico, an olive grove producing the property's own oil, and the vegetable garden supplying the kitchens — is a daily-tour activity for guests and a substantive part of the property's identity.
Dining is at La Torre — the Michelin-starred restaurant in the original castle tower's stone-walled dining hall — under chef Giovanni Luca Di Pirro, with a daily-changing seasonal Tuscan menu. La Taverna is the more relaxed all-day Italian. The wine programme is heavily Chianti-focused with the estate's own labels alongside the regional producers. Service is COMO's understated standard delivered by an Italian team. Castello del Nero is the most architecturally significant Tuscan luxury hotel and the answer for travellers who want the historic-castle experience with the discipline of an Asian-luxury operator.
The Tuscan anniversary for couples who want the historic-castle experience. Book the Castle Suite or a Tower Junior Suite. La Torre Michelin dinner in the castle tower at sunset is the centrepiece. The team handles vow renewals at the on-property chapel, private vineyard tours, and milestone arrangements with the discretion the COMO brand requires.
The Tuscan honeymoon for couples who want the castle setting. Book a Junior Suite with vineyard views. The combination of the 12th-century castle, the working vineyard, the Michelin-starred dining, and the COMO Shambhala spa programme produces a Tuscan honeymoon with depth. The proposal-anniversary-honeymoon Tuscan circuit often runs through this property.
COMO Shambhala protocols at Castello del Nero are the more accessible version of the parent Bali programme. Three- to seven-day Ayurvedic and stress-management protocols, daily yoga, and the supporting Tuscan setting (vineyard walks, olive grove hikes) make this one of the better Italian wellness retreats.
Strada Spicciano 7
50028 Tavarnelle Val di Pesa (Florence), Tuscany
Chianti Classico region, 35 min from Florence (FLR), 90 min from Pisa (PSA)
50 rooms across castle and supporting buildings
Standard Room from €900/night
Junior Suite with vineyard view from €1,400
Castle Suite from €4,500
Check-in: 3:00 PM
Check-out: 12:00 PM
Minimum stay: 2 nights
12th-century castle setting
La Torre (Michelin-starred Tuscan)
COMO Shambhala spa
Working vineyard (Chianti Classico)
740-acre estate · olive grove · gardens
Open: late March – early November
Peak: June–September (book 3–4 months ahead)
Best value: April, October
High-speed WiFi throughout
Reliable signal in all rooms and across the estate
In-suite office setups on request
From €900/night. Peak season books 3–4 months ahead. Castle Suite needs direct hotel contact.
Book This Hotel →5,000-acre Brunello estate restored by Massimo Ferragamo. 39 suites, the most refined Tuscan luxury.
10th-century castle on a 4,200-acre estate. 39 suites, working vineyard, Belmond service.
13th-century medieval village restored as a 21-suite Relais & Châteaux property in Chiusdino.