Tenuta Castel dell'Aquila — Hotel in Unione di comuni Montana Lunigiana

I’ll start with the positives, this is a stunning venue and setting. We’re familiar with the property (from previous visits under the old management) and have to say they’ve also made some nice upgrades with the addition of a pool (hotel guests only). That said, there’s a lot of room for improvement on service and the restaurant.

We were a group of 9 people, 5 adults, 4 children. We came for “apericena” which means a light dinner. We arrived at 8pm, service was extremely slow and for $25 per person (less for children) we received house wine, water, bread and a 2 meat and cheese boards with some jam and small squares of local “torta”. Then we were served dessert. This would have been fine if it were an APERITIVO, but it is not anywhere near enough food for APERICENA. At least a cold pasta or rice dish should be served… at a minimum. Wine was warm and when we asked for bollicine, the waiter said they have none. We then noticed that the table directly behind us were ordering bottle after bottle of BOLLICINE. We understood from Alessandro at the end of our “meal” that the waiter was new but that’s no excuse. If you’re working on the floor, you need to be properly trained. I don’t blame the waiter, I blame the trainer. Service was extremely slow. They weren’t staffed sufficiently for the amount of tables. Nothing ruins a beautiful, Instagrammable setting like plastic cups. If you have to, go to IKEA and get some glasses for €1, but plastic is really tacky. A cocktail menu would be a great addition. At least an aperol spritz. Minimum. The low point of the evening was unfortunately with Alessandro. When a couple people in our group politely shared some of our feedback, his response was arrogant. “NON TI PREOCUPPARE! We are fully booked for the next 20 days! We have so many good reviews!”. It felt like he really didn’t care about what we had to say. His attitude was very disappointing because we teach our children the importance of accepting feedback graciously, which is important as a general life skill, and especially so if you work in the service industry. What’s more, I’ll point out that you are profiting from hundreds of positive reviews established by the previous administration, which WENT BANKRUPT. It’s great that you’re fully booked now, but keep in mind this is high season. We live in Florence but come here year round on weekends. Our friends are locals. If you want to establish a solid clientele who will support you throughout the year, treat people well, learn to accept feedback with grace and make improvements. We’re patient, we understand the challenges of starting or “re” starting a business. Hire the right people, compensate them well and we have no doubt you will make CDA a jewel in Tuscany. Next visit we hope to turn our 3 star review to a 5...

Special thanks to Nicole – thank you for your incredible kindness and charme, Fabrizio – thank you for creating a dinner experience that was just what we needed, Flavia – thank you for your warm smile and positive energy and having a laugh over translation issues Michele – for being so interested in our game nights, approachable, and funny! You guys made our stay truly special and ensured we didn’t have a single worry. ❤️

We stayed at Tenuta Castello dell’Aquila for three nights as a couple, and it was so wonderful that I felt compelled to write this review – something I rarely do.

The atmosphere of this place is something else: the historic castle full of soul and stories, the warm and welcoming community around it, the romantic and lovingly designed grounds with details in every corner. From every angle, you're greeted with breathtaking panoramic views over the Tuscan valley – and when you’re relaxing at the dreamy pool, it’s easy to forget the outside world exists.

Our absolute highlight: the unforgettable dinners on the terrace at sunset. The incredible antipasti platter, the attentive and kind service, and that view – oh, that view! – made each evening magical. It’s the kind of experience that makes you want to keep this place a secret… but it's just too good not to share.

One small tip: we came straight from a three-week trip with two huge suitcases, and we definitely got our workout in – as is proper in a castle with real character, there are quite a few stairs (and the views from the rooms are worth every step!). If you can, pack a smaller bag for your stay to make it easier.

We will definitely be back. Thank you for this unforgettable...

What a marvelous and special place. If you want to try something a little extra special then this is the place to come. The entire castle is decorated fantastically and really gives you that extra feeling of being somewhere special. The rooms are of good size with benches at the windows where you can sit and enjoy the magnificent view. Bed is very comfortable and bathroom very good size. At the top of the tower there is 360 degrees view and some sun chairs to sit in. The manager, Andrea, is amazingly sweet and super attentive. We had their 4 course evening dinner which was very delicious and in an amazing setting. They even adapted it to our 10 year old, who is a slightly picky eater but lived the food she was served. Breakfast was great and we didn’t miss a thing.

Definitely a perfect place for a romantic getaway, but certainly also suitable for a family trip where you want time to be more together and get the experience of living in a castle, which our 10 year old was very excited about.

We will definitely be...