Arrival is between 17:00 and 19:00 on Saturday, April 9.

I’ve been told that each person has to check-in individually. If you’re planning on showing up on Saturday the 9th, just know that you can’t show up until 17:00. (5:00 pm)

If it’s looking like you won’t be able to show up until after 19:00 (7:00 pm), someone may wait for you if you can text me and let me know. If it is not possible for someone to wait for you, you will find the instructions to reach your apartment, and the check-in process will take place on the following day at the reception.

Reception is to your left after you walk in the main doors.

If you’re not planning to arrive until Sunday the 10th or Monday the 11th, any time before 17:00 should be fine to check in.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Departure between 08:00 and 10:00.

If you’re leaving on Sunday, you’ll need to be out of your apartment by 10:00.

Check the room assignments page to see which apartment is yours. I will be sending the castle a list in January of 2022, so speak now if you have any issues with the apartment I assigned you, or forever hold your peas!

Welcome to Italy! Here are some unexpected charges for you.

Yes, the bulk of your room is free because Steve and I are exceptionally nice people. (And/or exceptionally crazy.).

But true to just about everywhere in Italy, there is some stuff that they just don’t include in the rental price, and no I don’t know why.

Be prepared to shell this out upon check-in.

Mandatory charges not included in the apartment rental price:

Refundable deposit: 150.00€ (Use your credit card for this. You will be reimbursed after your stay, or you will not be charged at all if your room isn’t trashed.)

Final Cleaning (mandatory): 110.00€

Local Tax: 1€ per person/per day for the first 6 days of stay (not applicable to children under 15 years).

Tourist tax (mandatory): 1.00€ per person per day

Optional services (arrange these at check-in directly with whoever checks you in):

Washing Machine: 3.00€ per usage.
(Sign up is at reception. There is no dryer so be prepared to hang your laundry like in the olden times.)

Extra Bed: 100.00€

Maid service: 15.00€ per hour

Baby cot: 52.00€ per child per week

Heating: 21.00€ per day

There is enough parking for 50 cars. We’ll have way fewer cars showing up, so parking should not be an issue.

There is one parking lot to the left as you enter down the main loooooong driveway, and then another a short distance away. (I am getting a map/brief description of where that is.)

You may be asking yourself, where do I go to eat? Where do I go to stock my fridge? Do I really have to drive EVERYWHERE, or can I walk to some places? How did I get here? This is not my beautiful house…

The Castle Restaurant

It’s got rave reviews, it’s within stumbling distance of your apartment, what more could you want? The restaurant is open for (very light) breakfast and dinner, except I believe it’s closed on Tuesdays. (Which, conveniently, is the night of our progressive cocktail hour!)

You’ll need a reservation for dinner, and you can just wander in and talk to them directly about that. The restaurant bar will be open every morning from 8 am - 10 am for coffee, juice, and pastries. You pay them directly, on the spot.

The Local Store

There is a shop for all your essentials to stock your castle apartment within walking distance. They’ve got basic kitchen essentials (salt, pepper, TP, etc.), plus prepared foods to take out and store in your college dorm fridge.

Ristorante Il Focolare

Allegedly one of the best restaurants in Tuscany - specifically for bistecca - this place is hella popular and right there within walking distance! Be sure to make a reservation (calling is best - we can’t get them to return an email), as this place fills up faaaa-aaaast.

Other restaurants

There are other highly-rated restaurants right in the same general area (a wee delightful cluster called Montagnana) that all have great reviews, within walking distance, and that you should definitely try! There’s a great looking pizza place, more ristorantes and trattorias, and just cool places to explore and sample.

So as you should probably know by now, your apartments are Air BnB-style, not hotel-style.

Expect to buy your own food, and that includes basic condiments like sugar, oil, salt, etc.. Each apartment will have TP to start with, but once you’re out, you’re out.

There’s a couple of small markets in Baccaiano, and a co-op supermarket in Montespertoli, and remember that Tuesday is market day in Montespertoli! Also, if you’re on the Monday and Tuesday walking tours, we will be stopping by Mercato Centrale, so picking up some “basics” there would be a blast.

The un-renovated rooms in the oldest part of the castle are funky. For example, the “kitchen” in our room is really a college dorm fridge and a cooktop in a closet. The emphasis was on keeping the rooms looking as close to 17th century feel as possible, which I, personally, really appreciate and love, but it might be a bit different if you’re not into that kind of thing.

I would not push the electricity to its limit, remembering the castle’s age. A small hair dryer and charging your phones/laptops is all cool but I wouldn’t plug in, for example, an air fryer. (Sorry, Kathleen!!)

The wi-fi will be inconsistent castle-wide, so expect it to be spotty in some apartments and good in others.