Castello della Castelluccia

Built in the 12th and 13th centuries, this castle hotel is a stunning escape from the traffic and clamor of central Rome. Situated amid green countryside and picturesque meadows, the hotel has beautiful and extensive landscaped gardens planted with Mediterranean flora. The lush grounds exude an undeniable romantic ambience, and it’s no wonder that the castle is famous for hosting many wedding celebrations. The impressive stone building offers a lobby and common spaces lined with archways, stone walls, and elaborate crown molding throughout, giving off a luxurious air with a touch of medieval, old-world charm. There are plenty of places for guests to gather or relax, including an outdoor terrace with breathtaking countryside views and the on-site restaurant, La Locanda, a rustic room with vaulted ceilings, brick walls, and a welcoming fireplace with an ornamental hood. The bar and lounge area features stylish blue-cushioned and gold-painted chairs alongside an oversized stone fireplace, and the furniture throughout the castle is antique. The hotel almost exclusively draws couples, though families also pass through, as well as guests with group events like weddings.

To be clear, this hotel is not in the center of Rome, so tourists hoping to walk to the city's main historic sights will want to look elsewhere. However, for guests with a car, there are plenty of attractions around the hotel, which is about 40 minutes north of Rome by road, outside the town of La Giustiniana. The humble ruins of the ancient Etruscan city of Veii take about 20 minutes to reach by car, and the ruins themselves are surrounded by gorgeous countryside in Veio Park. Lake Bracciano, ringed by scenic hillside towns (including Trevignano and Anguillara), is about 25-35 minutes north of the hotel depending on the destination. The castle does has a complimentary shuttle service to and from the Ipogeo degli Ottavi train station that makes it reasonably simple to reach Rome's center, although it does involve a transfer. From Ipogeo degli Ottavi, guests can reach Termini train station in Rome in 40 minutes to an hour depending on the train type. From there, the metro links travelers to the Colosseum or the Spanish Steps in five to ten minutes. Rome's Fiumicino Airport is a 30-minute drive from the castle.

Each of the rooms at this hotel are individually decorated and named, and all are elegant and stylish, with terra cotta tiled floors and decorative wrought-iron bed frames in all rooms. Furniture is antique throughout, and most rooms have interesting nooks holding classic art objects, while other rooms feature stone fireplaces with ornate hoods or exposed-beam ceilings. Though the decor harkens back to another time, all rooms are outfitted with modern features, including free Wi-Fi, minibars, air-conditioning, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, and larger rooms have extra seating, like couches, chairs, and love seats. Bathrooms vary from room to room, though maintain the same classical ambience, with gilded mirrors, marble floors and walls, toiletries, and antique fixtures. While Classic Rooms have stand-up showers, larger rooms come with bathtub/shower combos or mosaic-tiled jetted tubs. Certain categories of room offer even more luxury, like the Romantic Deluxe Room, which has a four-poster bed, and the luxurious Tower Suite, situated inside of the castle tower. It's a two-floored room that has its own terrace with panoramic countryside views, frescoes on the walls, and ornate furniture throughout.

The Locanda della Castelluccia, the hotel's stunning stone-lined restaurant, is open for lunch and dinner and serves traditional Italian specialties. The restaurant also serves the hotel's free, buffet-style breakfast. There is a bar in the lobby in the colder months, though in the summer, the bar shifts outdoors and is set up next to the large, outdoor swimming pool. There is also an additional bar in the summer on the panoramic terrace. An in-house spa includes Turkish steam baths, a sauna, and a jacuzzi, all of which are free for guests to use, though fees apply for massage services and treatments. There are three gorgeous meeting and events spaces here and the hotel does cater to weddings. The castle is pet-friendly and parking is free. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and there is a free shuttle to the local train station for trips into Rome, though hours are restricted and appointments must be made in advance. Though this isn't the most family-centric hotel, children under 6 do stay for free and babysitting services are available for a fee. The 24-hour front desk can arrange car and limousine services as well as airport transfers for a fee.