About Castello di Ristonchi
Our journey to Ristonchi was driven by a vision to create a place that unites people from diverse cultures through the joys of good food, good wine, and the embrace of nature. Our purpose is to bring people together and enjoy the good things in life surrounded by the people they love.
Castello di Ristonchi is a 1,000-year-old castle commissioned by Italy's esteemed Medici family in 900 AD. Standing tall over the rolling Tuscan hills the castle continues to tell tales of monks, wars, and stonemasons through its ancient walls.
Upon entering the majestic iron gate, you and your guests are welcomed into a warm reception area, filled with the essence of our own produce – dried herbs, olive oil, honey, beer and selected local wines. Beyond, discover a breakfast room with still and sparkling spring water on tap, a traditional wood-fired pizza oven, leading to the grandeur of a banquet hall under an ancient arched brick ceiling. Descend to our unique 'Rave Cave', a dungeon turned disco, where history and modernity can party together.
Outside, the terrace offers breathtaking sunset views over lavender-scented surroundings. The Tower, Villa Borghetto, and Villa Fattoria provide comfortable accommodations for up to 80 guests, each with its own enchanting view and character, complete with a natural spring water pool. Ristonchi consists of olive groves, hemp fields, beehives, vineyards and fruit trees all nestled within an ancient chestnut forest.
But Castello di Ristonchi is more than a monument to the past; it is a lively stage for memorable events. Since 2017, we have hosted over 150 weddings and events, each one a unique celebration. Our dedication to creating extraordinary experiences shines through every detail, from the beautiful grounds to our personalized services and excellent staff.
Meet Stefanie and Rasmus
Hi! We are Stefanie and Rasmus, we met when Stefanie rented a room in Rasmus' apartment on Airbnb. After a lot of dreaming (and not a lot of planning) we bought Castello di Ristonchi a 1,000-year-old castle village surrounded by olive groves and an ancient chesnut forest in the hills of Tuscany, Italy. It is our dream to bring this ancient place back to life and bring people together to celebrate the good things in life.
Stefanie is from the USA and grew up in a small mountain town out west. She always dreamed of seeing the world - the password to her first hotmail account was “Italy11”, so dreams do come true! After high school graduation she left for adventure and university in Hawaii, studied journalism, interned at Walt Disney World in Florida and ABC4 in Salt Lake City then fulfilled her dream of living in New York City. She lived there for 10 years working in theatre, film, modeling, retail, marketing, writing, comedy and an Airbnb host before she decided to visit Copenhagen because she liked riding bicycles and was tired of near death experiences every time she rode her’s in New York. She had an instant connection to her Danish Airbnb host and when he asked if she would extend her vacation and join her in the South of France. She said yes and a year later she moved to Copenhagen, married Rasmus, studied Danish, gave birth to two lovely spunky children, and opened Denmark’s first improv theatre and school ‘Improv Comedy Copenhagen’. There she organized and performed in comedy festivals and taught hundreds of students to say YES to the unknown and break out of their comfort zones. Which is what made her ready to say yes to a castle in Italy!
Rasmus is a rugged builder and inventor. Always creating, building and thinking outside of the box. He loves nature and he goes after only the best of everything in life (food, wine, shoes, beards, women). Rasmus is from Denmark and grew up just outside Copenhagen. As a kid he wanted to be a hairdresser and practiced on his friends. He studied architecture at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts Schools of Architecture and enjoyed creating outdoor projects. He then worked in Switzerland creating sculptures from music and China designing hotels but he always dreamt of building his own place in the trees. When Stefanie showed up at his doorstep one day he knew he wanted his dreams to come true with her.
After reassessing what’s important to them in life and how they wanted to live as a family they decided to go back to the idea they talked about in their first conversation in Rasmus’ Airbnb room: building a place to create and bring people together from all different cultures and uniting them with good food, good wine and nature. They decided against their very easy, boring life in Copenhagen and went for a very hard, very confusing, very rewarding life at the castle. Join our online village to be notified of events, specials, and to hear about exciting new castle projects.
RISTONCHI IN THE NEWS
RISTONCHI IN THE NEWS
“When a Danish chef travels to Tuscany to sell his father's business, he meets a local woman who inspires him to rethink his approach to life and love.”
“Set high in the hills of Tuscany and surrounded by a forest and olive groves, Castello di Ristonchi is a 1000-year-old castle that was once its own village.”
“Reducing Food Waste: Stefanie Grassley of Castello di Ristonchi On How They Are Helping To Eliminate Food Waste”
“If the thought of rolling hills, regal interiors, and stately architecture excites you (honestly, who doesn't it excite?), consider your next vacation to include a stay in a luxurious castle hotel.”
“Italian castle opens it’s doors to Ukrainian refugees”
— Fox13 News
“It's a fantastic night for groups large and small to get together and enjoy amazing food and stunning views of the valley below - all while in a medieval castle!”
“The castle offers a range of apartments, from a studio to a three-bedroom unit that can sleep up to seven people, an onsite restaurant with wood-fired pizza, a chapel, a fresh spring water pool, playground, olive groves and a magical forest”
“Whether you’re looking for the perfect royal digs to live out your kingly fantasies for a weekend or an uber-romantic setting to pop the question to your significant other, these are some of the world’s most luxurious castles you can spend the night in.”
Try staying at Castello Di Ristonchi, which is a 1,000-year-old medieval castle, sitting on the Tuscan hills, which overlooks olive groves, villages and vineyards. Indeed, it is a magical experience.
— 16 Epic Romantic Destinations Worldwide