Couple holding hands during their first look in front of Castello di Spaltenna, surrounded by garden and historic property.

Castello di Spaltenna Wedding Venue in Tuscany

Castello di Spaltenna is a five-star historic hotel in Gaiole in Chianti, known for its refined hospitality, Michelin-recognized cuisine, and intimate wedding atmosphere.

Set in a quiet Chianti valley rather than on a dramatic hilltop, the property feels calm, enclosed, and guest-focused, making it very different from large estate-style wedding venues in Tuscany.

Having photographed weddings here, I know that Spaltenna is chosen by couples who value comfort, food quality, and a slow, elegant rhythm over scale or spectacle.

TLDR
  • Castello di Spaltenna is a five-star historic hotel wedding venue in Gaiole in Chianti, focused on refined hospitality and intimate guest experience.
  • Ideal for small to medium weddings (20–60 guests) where comfort, calm atmosphere, and excellent food matter more than scale.
  • The venue is known for its Michelin-recognized cuisine, with ceremonies in gardens or under mature trees and dinners centered around the restaurant experience.

Venue overview

Castello di Spaltenna is a former medieval monastery transformed into a luxury hotel, with stone buildings arranged around intimate courtyards and gardens.

The layout is compact and protected, creating a sense of privacy rather than openness. There are no vast fields or sweeping panoramic viewpoints; instead, the venue offers cohesion, calm, and a strong sense of place.

Because Spaltenna operates as a full-service hotel, weddings here feel like a hosted experience rather than a one-day event. Guests stay on site, dine together, and move through the property naturally without logistics dominating the day.

Why this venue works for weddings

Spaltenna works best for couples who prioritize hospitality, food, and atmosphere over scale or visual drama.

Ceremonies typically take place in the gardens or beneath large mature trees, followed by aperitivo in courtyard areas and dinner either outdoors or inside the restaurant spaces, depending on season and group size.

One of the defining strengths of Castello di Spaltenna is its culinary reputation. The on-site restaurant, Il Pievano, has long been recognized by the Michelin Guide, making the dinner experience a central highlight rather than a secondary element.

Because the venue is contained and guest-focused, weddings here feel relaxed and unforced, with no need for transportation, large setups, or crowd control.

Photographer insight

From a photography perspective, Castello di Spaltenna is about intimacy, texture, and quiet moments rather than grand scenery.

Stone walls, shaded paths, olive trees, and enclosed courtyards create a visual language that suits couples who prefer natural, understated imagery.

Light here is softer and more diffused than at exposed hilltop venues. Late afternoon works well for portraits in the gardens and olive groves, while evening photography benefits from warm architectural lighting and the calm atmosphere of the hotel spaces.

This is a venue where real interactions photograph better than staged moments.

Tall stone tower of Castello di Spaltenna five stat hotel rising above the landscape with dramatic clouds in the background.
Couple kissing in the vineyard at Castello di Spaltenna with the castle tower visible in the background.
Couple standing very close together in the historic courtyard of Castello di Spaltenna.
Elopement ceremony at Castello di Spaltenna held under large mature trees in a secluded outdoor setting.
Couple standing in the garden at Castello di Spaltenna where the wedding ceremony took place.
Black and white close-up portrait of a wedding couple looking at each other at Castello di Spaltenna.
Couple holding hands and looking at each other in the vineyard at Castello di Spaltenna wedding venue.
Wedding couple kissing on the road leading to Castello di Spaltenna, framed by tall Tuscan trees.
Couple kissing on the stone stairs of an apartment building at Castello di Spaltenna wedding venue.
Wedding couple sitting closely on a stone wall next to an olive tree at Castello di Spaltenna.
Wedding couple walking across the grounds of Castello di Spaltenna with tall Tuscan trees surrounding them.
Wedding couple walking through an olive grove at Castello di Spaltenna, holding hands and looking at each other.
Wedding couple kissing among the vineyards at Castello di Spaltenna in the Chianti countryside.

Planning notes for Castello di Spaltenna

Castello di Spaltenna works best when the wedding timeline is built around hospitality, not production.

Allowing space for guests to enjoy the hotel, spa, and surroundings creates a more natural flow to the day.

Dinner is a focal point at this venue, not a transition.

Couples who give time and attention to the dining experience get the most out of Spaltenna’s strengths.

The venue is ideal for couples seeking elegance and calm rather than high-energy parties.

Evening celebrations are refined and atmospheric, staying aligned with the character of the property.

If you’re comparing locations, you may also want to explore other Tuscany wedding venues to see how hotel-based venues like Spaltenna differ from large countryside estates or castle complexes.

To understand how these venues photograph across different settings and group sizes, you can learn more about my approach to wedding photography in Tuscany.

If you’re considering Castello di Spaltenna for your wedding, feel free to get in touch to talk through timing, guest experience, and coverage options..