Castello di Vicarello: A Sensory Experience — Hidden Gems of Italy | An Editorial Series — Italia Segreta | By Giovana Haruvi

Hidden Gems of Italy

Italia Segreta

Castello di Vicarello — A Sensory Experience

THE ART OF DISAPPEARING

There are places that seem to exist beyond the ordinary geography of travel. Places where the landscape becomes part of the architecture, where centuries of history remain quietly present, and where the true meaning of luxury reveals itself in the simple privilege of being somewhere extraordinary.

Hidden among the rolling hills of Tuscany's Maremma, Castello di Vicarello is one of those rare discoveries.

Surrounded by ancient olive groves, vineyards and vast stretches of woodland, this medieval castle rises from the landscape with an almost cinematic sense of belonging. Its weathered stone walls, softened by centuries of sunlight and changing seasons, seem inseparable from the earth beneath them.

There is something deeply romantic about its isolation.

Far from Tuscany's more familiar routes, Vicarello belongs to a quieter Italy — one of winding country roads, distant horizons and landscapes that have preserved much of their untamed beauty.

The castle's origins reach back to the Middle Ages, when its elevated position served a defensive purpose. Today, that same commanding setting offers an entirely different privilege: the possibility of retreating from the world without losing one's connection to it.

Here, the idea of luxury becomes almost instinctive.

It is found in the contrast between ancient stone and contemporary comfort, in the changing light across the surrounding hills, and in the feeling that every architectural detail carries a story.

Rather than presenting history as something distant or untouchable, Castello di Vicarello invites its guests to inhabit it.

And perhaps this is where its greatest fascination begins: the sensation of entering a place where time has not stopped, but has learned to move differently.

A FAMILY'S VISION, A CASTLE REBORN

The story of Castello di Vicarello is as compelling as the building itself.

During the 1980s, Carlo and Aurora Baccheschi Berti were dividing their lives between Milan and Bali, moving through the worlds of fashion, textiles, furniture and design.

Their discovery of a ruined medieval castle in the Tuscan countryside would eventually change the course of their lives.

What began as an ambitious restoration became something far more personal: the creation of a family home shaped by their travels, aesthetic sensibilities and profound respect for craftsmanship.

With their three young sons, the couple embraced the extraordinary challenge of bringing Vicarello back to life.

The undertaking demanded years of dedication. Ancient masonry was carefully restored, original architectural features were preserved, and rooms that had witnessed centuries of history gradually acquired a new sense of intimacy.

When the property opened as a boutique hotel in 2003, it offered something noticeably different from conventional luxury hospitality.

It felt like a home.

That distinction remains essential to Vicarello's identity.

Inside, the interiors reveal a confident dialogue between cultures and periods. Historic stone walls and exposed wooden beams coexist with carefully collected furniture, distinctive textiles, artworks and objects gathered through the family's travels.

The result is neither a museum nor a meticulously staged interpretation of Tuscan tradition.

It is a living composition.

The rooms carry individual personalities, allowing antique architectural elements and contemporary design to inhabit the same space without competing for attention.

There is a sense of freedom in this approach — an understanding that authenticity does not require rigid historical reproduction.

Today, the next generation of the Baccheschi Berti family participates in the estate's continuing evolution, maintaining the connection between its history, hospitality and creative vision.

At Castello di Vicarello, design is not simply a question of appearance.

It is the visible expression of a family history, written through materials, memories and an enduring affection for the place they chose to call home.

THE LUXURY OF THE SENSES

To understand Castello di Vicarello is to appreciate how intimately its pleasures are connected to the surrounding landscape.

Here, the experience extends far beyond the architecture.

The estate's gardens, centuries-old olive groves and organically cultivated vineyards create a setting where nature plays a central role in the rhythm of everyday life.

Its outdoor pools offer an invitation to contemplation, their carefully chosen materials establishing yet another dialogue between design and the natural environment.

From the travertine infinity pool, the Tuscan countryside stretches toward the horizon. Elsewhere, a wellness pool crafted from green marble rests among the olive trees, bringing a distinctly tactile quality to the idea of relaxation.

Gastronomy occupies an equally important place in the experience.

At Vicarello, the kitchen celebrates the traditions of Tuscany through seasonal ingredients, produce grown in the estate's own gardens and a philosophy that places freshness and provenance at the centre of the table.

The pleasures are wonderfully elemental: vegetables harvested according to the season, aromatic herbs, carefully prepared regional dishes and wines that carry the character of the surrounding terrain.

Wine is also an expression of the family's commitment to the land.

Carlo Baccheschi Berti and his eldest son, Brando, have developed the estate's organic vineyards, creating wines that reflect both their personal vision and the distinctive conditions of the Maremma.

It is easy to imagine how the different elements of Vicarello come together.

An afternoon spent overlooking the hills. The warmth of ancient stone. The scent of herbs growing in the garden. A beautifully prepared meal accompanied by wine produced just beyond the castle walls.

None of these pleasures needs to be extraordinary in isolation.

Their beauty lies in the way they belong together.

For travellers drawn to places with personality, history and a genuine sense of intimacy, Castello di Vicarello represents a particularly compelling vision of Italian hospitality.

It is not simply the opportunity to stay in a medieval castle.

It is an invitation to experience Tuscany through its textures, flavours, landscapes and the sensibility of a family that has spent decades preserving and reimagining a remarkable place.

Some destinations are remembered for what we see. Others remain with us because of how they make us feel.

Castello di Vicarello belongs to the latter.

GLIMPSE OF GLAM

Hidden Gems of Italy — Italia Segreta

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