A Watchtower Reimagined at Castello di Vicarello’s Villa La Vedetta

In the undulating wilds of Tuscany’s Maremma, Castello di Vicarello is a beacon of rustic Italian hospitality. Once a fortress of the Republic of Siena and now owned and operated by the Baccheschi Berti family, this 12th-century castle is a sublime stay that feels more like an aristocratic estate than a conventional hotel, and the latest addition to their keys continues the family’s sophisticated restoration of this medieval jewel.

The existing accommodations are dispersed across a cluster of ancient stone structures surrounding the main house, each suite a romantic coalescence of collected curiosities and distinctive palettes. In the newest expansion of the Vicarello footprint, the family transformed a more secluded corner of the property into Villa La Vedetta—a private two-bedroom retreat carved from the estate’s former watchtower.

The build took over eighteen months to develop in a meticulous collaboration between local artisans and the family’s matriarch, Aurora Baccheschi Berti, who directs the property’s design. Vedetta rises at four levels with 2,300 square-feet of space, perched against cinematic views of the vineyards, olive groves, and unspoiled countryside. Inside, hand-carved window frames, Marmorino walls, French oak parquet, jewel-tone textiles, and black-and-white checkered marble define a confident modernity without diminishing the watchtower’s medieval character.

The two bedrooms are separated by a spiral staircase that corkscrews through the tower, each marked by scalloped ceilings, bespoke wood wardrobes, and arched windows. The marble-clad bathrooms feature copper soaking tubs and rain showers, while the ground floor’s open kitchen, grand fireplace, and plush seating nooks invite the unhurried rituals of Tuscan life. Vintage cane chairs, paper lanterns, and hand-forged iron fixtures fleck the rooms, each chosen with Aurora’s discernment.

Outside, private gardens unfold into a split-level terrace and a secluded marble pool, a tranquil counterpoint to the main castle’s convivial energy. And whether you’re lounging poolside or dozing on the rooftop of La Vedetta, you feel compelled to stay until the candy-colored sunsets sweep across the Maremma hills—the same horizon once surveyed by medieval sentinels now reframed for the modern traveler.

Every corner bears the family’s imprint from Aurora’s eye for material and texture, to her husband Carlo’s stewardship of the land, and their sons’ hands-on approach to guest culture and the food and wine program. What could have been a relic of the past instead feels deeply alive, with more ambitious expansion plans set for the near future.