COMO Hotels & Resorts called on the creative direction of designer Paola Navone to breathe new life into COMO Castello Del Nero, a 740-acre estate in the Tuscan countryside where a 12th-century castle takes centre stage.
The Italian designer caught the world’s attention with COMO’s Point Yamu in 2013, where clean lines and a blue and white colour palette created a modern aesthetic for the Phuket hideaway. In Tuscany, the 50 guestrooms and suites are presented in neutral shades of grey and cream, with floors of terracotta tile and vaulted ceilings. Original fireplaces and 18th century frescoes capture the magic of the historic building, and windows look out at the bucolic Tuscan countryside.
Gourmet culinary experiences abound: much of the produce used in Michelin-starred restaurant La Torre comes from the kitchen garden, and the estate is home to olive groves, vineyards and its own bee hives. Executive chef Giovanni Luca Di Pirro oversees the restaurant, which moves between the castle’s former stables in the winter months and the garden terrace in the summer. The intact 12th century wine cellars are home to a generous selection of labels that appear on the menu of La Taverna, where traditional Italian cooking is served in an informal setting, and in the summer months, the Pavilion offers Mediterranean-inspired fare.
The local area is home to plenty of local hikes and guided cultural experiences, and for those that prefer not to stray too far from their suites, there’s a COMO Shambhala Retreat for wellness and pampering.