Discerning travellers to Southeast Asia are quite familiar with the sizeable network of plush lodgings of COMO Hotels and Resorts, but outside the region it’s lesser known. Well, that’s now gradually changing. The Singapore-based luxury hotel chain already operates alluring hotels in London, Miami, Perth and the Caribbean, and as of late, an ornate property just outside Florence has been added. COMO Castello del Nero occupies a grand 12th century castle which is located on an equally historic 740-acre estate. A private residence until 2006, the building comes with Renaissance frescoes and vaulted ceilings, tastefully matched with contemporary interventions by lauded Italian architect and designer Paola Navone.

The hotel features just 50 guest rooms and suites, and all offer the comfort and amenities you’d expect from a five-star establishment. Mind you, its gilded past alone brings tremendous added value to those with a sense of art and history. In a place as idyllic as this, it isn’t very hard to imagine the facilities are top notch and totally geared to making a stay at COMO Castello del Nero an unforgettable one. The hotel chain has long had an affiliation with fine dining, and hasn’t made an exception for this property. No less than three dining venues can be found on the premises, including the Michelin-starred La Torre, helmed by chef Giovanni Luca di Pirro, and the informal La Taverna, situated in the castle’s original kitchen, and finally, seasonal diner Pavillion with its Mediterranean dishes and sweeping views of the Tuscan countryside.

Each of the dining spots uses carefully sourced produce from the region to concoct nourishing and flavoursome dishes. Wellness is another expertise of the luxury hotel chain, and here, and its COMO Shambala concept presents itself in elegant form, offering therapeutic treatments, thermal suites, sauna, aromatic steam room and a heated vitality pool. A 25-metre heated outdoor pool (open only during summer) is ideal for gentle exercise, while the gym provides a space for targeted workouts. A true bonus is a spacious relaxation area with sweeping views of the umbers and greens of the surrounding hillsides.