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Couples are flocking to Tuscany for a dream wedding — followed, naturally, by a bucolic honeymoon in the magical landscapes.
According to recent research from jewelry firm Mark Broumand, Italy accounts for an average of 7,428 monthly searches from engaged couples, putting it in the top 4 for a destination wedding.
Tuscany, a province in the northwest, is often top of mind. Not only is there the art of Florence and the history of Pisa, there’s also the jaw dropping eye candy of the countryside.
“It is simply a dream location,” said Carlotta Albanese, director of events at Castelfalfi, a 5-star, 2,700-acre resort in the heart of the Tuscan countryside. “Landscapes resemble live paintings, and the medieval castles encapsulate the essence of a fairytale.”
Castelfalfi itself has plenty of history. The hilltop estate — which has no gates or walls, blends seamlessly into the hills of San Gimignano visible on the horizon — and has been inhabited since Etruscan times.
In 2021, entrepreneur, Sri Prakash Lohia embarked on the idea of forming the area into a resort “with community at its heart,” weaving existing structures and industries into a working luxury estate.
Certified organic, the surrounding farmland supplies the hotel kitchen with seasonal produce; the 62 acres of vineyards provides six varieties of wine available to taste in the wineries. In co-op fashion, the 10,000 olive trees are pressed in a communal frantoio (mill) utilized by the locals for their own extra virgin olive oil.
The hotel itself sprung up from a tobacco warehouse from the 1900s and has just emerged from a new makeover by Henry Chebaane, Affine Design and Caberlon Caropp. Now housing 146 rooms (31 of them in the original building) the style is sleek and contemporary, merging modern art with those alluring views.
Outside its doors is a restored medieval hamlet, overlooked by the impressive turreted Castelfalfi Borgo (castle) first documented in 754 AD.
In July, it opened as a skillfully reimagined gourmet restaurant, La Rocca, under the helm of executive Chef Davide De Simone. Two innovative tasting menus offer cosmopolitan spins on Mediterranean cuisine, leaning on the chef’s Sicilian roots. Inside, the space is sleek yet traditional, and an outside terrace allows for dining under the stars. It’s one of the spectacular locations couples can choose for a wedding or reception (seating 200, or 50 more if using the outdoor terraces.)
Outside, the winding cobbled street has shops, restaurants and an ancient church (not available for weddings yet, but plans are afoot) plus another new offering — the renovated 18th century villa, Casa Medici, which leads out to a private botanical garden.
The hamlet’s Medician garden beyond is another Instaworthy spot for a wedding, and also features the luscious scent of the rare chimera plant, Bizzaria. This ancient Medici bush sprouts both lemons and oranges, and is also the inspiration for the hotel’s signature scent.
Dotted around the estate are 6 other private villas, including the 5-bedroom Casale I Bianchi farmhouse with pool, nestled within the resort’s challenging 72 par mountain golf course, offering plenty of leisure opportunities for your guests. (A more leisurely 9 hole lake course offers an easier route.)
If that doesn’t suit, you can e-bike around the estate, while an adventure course complete with climbing wall is great for kids and the energetic alike. For downtime, there’s an indoor/outdoor pool and a serene RAKxa spa – perfect for pampering the bride to be.
Be sure to make time to dig for truffles. Watch the dogs easily snuffle out the precious fungus below the oak tree roots, then bring some back for the chef – because, as you would expect from an Italian resort, the epicurean offerings at Castelfalfi are superb, with the six restaurants and bars all utilizing creative menus from delicious farm-to-table produce.
“Landscapes resemble live paintings, and the medieval castles encapsulate the essence of a fairytale.”Carlotta Albanese, director of events at Castelfalfi
That’s not lost on the couples who choose to wed here.
“The culinary offering is exceptional,” said Albanese. “That makes it a wedding destination that truly ticks all the boxes.”
The most luscious spot for your nuptials is the expansive lawn overlooking the Tuscan landscape. Ceremonies as large as 250 can be arranged, although micro weddings for as few as four people can be accommodated too.
Weddings are completely bespoke and priced accordingly, though as a benchmark, for 10 guests for a spring wedding, expect to pay about €2.500 ($2,736) per person. That includes two nights stay, daily breakfast and the reception meal with a wine package. Regular room rates start at $650.
And if you have specific Tuscan dreams, so far Albanese has managed all requests, from midnight spaghetti to bespoke marquees to boy bands.
“It has made the couples we celebrated here at Castelfalfi truly memorable,” she added.
Undoubtedly, surrounded by Tuscan beauty, your memories will be just as special.
