Sometimes a destination does not live up to expectations. You arrive and are disappointed that it doesn’t look like the photos.
This is not the case with Castello di Reschio. The photos are spectacular but actually being there is so much better. It is the most beautiful property I have ever stayed at.
It has an interesting history. The castle dates from 1355 and has passed through many hands. Count Antonio Bolza and his wife bought a house in part of the estate in 1984. After selling his publishing company he bought the rest a decade later. The family discovered 50 abandoned farmhouses and the ancient castle hidden in the forest.
They set about turning the ramshackle buildings into the stunning creations they are today. The Count’s son Benedikt, an architect, and his wife Donna, lived in the castle with their 5 children while visualising the stunning hotel it would become.
Every detail has been designed by Count Benedikt and created especially for the houses and the hotel. The houses are for rent and occasionally for sale. The hotel has 36 spectacular rooms, including a 2 bedroom suite in the tower of the castle.
The entrance to the hotel is through the arched castle doorway.
It leads to the courtyard with a small chapel, boot room and the palm court. If this all sounds wonderful, I can assure you that it is absolute exquisite.
The palm court.
The chapel full of lovely things.
The boot room had a blazing fire on a cool day. It also has a long wooden table where the flowers for the hotel are arranged. 
It is difficult to get past the boot room, but you must, because on the other side of a beautiful bar is the palm court.
The entrance to the tower suite.
Our room in the hotel faced the central courtyard of the castle, now a beautiful garden. 
The door to our room.
Come inside.
The day bed was wonderful, with its view over the surrounding hills.
The bathroom was down a curved staircase.
The restaurant was as beautiful as everything else.
A sample of the delicious food.
A lovely reading room.
The bath house beneath the palm court has a Roman bath. The water is a warm 35 degrees. There is a small circular room off to the side with a warm shower…bliss. There is a tranquil treatment room beside the bath where you could lose several hours.
Castello Reschio by night.
I have saved my favourite part of Castello Reschio until last…the pool. The setting is spectacular, the stunning heated pool is surrounded by tall pines and gorgeous gardens and looking out over rolling Umbrian hills The weather was a little cool while we were there so the sun beds were heated! They think of absolutely everything.
If you go to my Instagram page…Debra Kolkka, over the next few days you will see some short videos I took while at Castello Reschio. I also encourage you to go to their website for much better photos than mine. As well as what I have shown there are stables and excellent horse riding facilities, tennis courts, outdoor gym, a second restaurant a short walk from the castle and much more. I have to add that the people who work there are as delightful as their surroundings. We were made to feel like part of the family.
I want to go every year to Castello Reschio, perhaps a little later in spring when the gardens are in bloom.