Italy has long been the darling of American travelers, ranking at or near the top of the most popular European destinations for folks traveling from the States.
13.03.2024 - 16:11 / forbes.com
With films like Under The Tuscan Sun and Call Me By Your Name romanticizing Italy in the summer, it’s no wonder the season is the country’s busiest. But with the country seeing unprecedented numbers of visitors—last year they received an estimated 68 million visitors, three million more than before the pandemic in 2019—it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find the magic of Italy amidst the crowds. Since the early days of Tuscany’s tourism economy in the 1980s, the region has remained a summer destination that largely shuts down to visitors during the winter months. But with the growing number of visitors in the summer, hotels in the region have gradually been expanding their seasons to open earlier and close later, providing visitors an opportunity to see Tuscany when it’s not flooded with tourists.
Castelfalfi is one of the resorts open the longest, closing for just two months beginning in January and reopening in March. Set in the rolling hills of Tuscany an hour outside Florence, Castelfalfi is more than a hotel—it’s a 2,700 estate with its own medieval village, lake, forest and vineyards, meaning you don’t need to leave if you visit in the shoulder season when other tourist attractions are closed. Best of all, visiting before the summer rush means plenty of opportunities to embrace the slow culture Tuscany is beloved for.
Wandering the cobblestone streets of Castelfalfi’s 2,000-year-old village where you’ll find a 800-year-old castle, contemporary clothing shops and calming baroque music pouring out of the 15th century church, feels like a journey back in time without the crowds. With its own market and skating rink at Christmas and festivities for Easter, the village (referred to as the ‘borgo’) is unique for being open to and frequented by locals, unlike most resorts in the region which have closed gates. Continuing onward past the village, four hiking trails take you through the quiet rolling hills speckled with towering cypress trees and past the 27-hole golf course, the largest in Tuscany. Those seeking more of a thrill can find it ziplining through the canopy or taking a survival course, two of several activities on offer in the adventure park.
Immersion in nature is Tuscany’s greatest selling point and thus the thorough line of Castelfalfi. A visit during the shoulder season allows visitors to experience the Tuscan countryside through all the senses without the distraction of others. A private pizza making class in a trattoria that predates the resort is even more special when it’s just you and the pizzaiolo.
Visitors can feel like they’re Stanley Tucci wandering through the 61-acres of vineyards and near 100-acres of olive groves followed by a tasting of the resort’s nine varieties of
Italy has long been the darling of American travelers, ranking at or near the top of the most popular European destinations for folks traveling from the States.
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