Looking at the picturesque hills of Tuscany one sighs: I wish I could stay here! One day this was said by four guys from Amsterdam: Igor, Jeroen, Leonard and Mart. They were enchanted by the mountain village of Borgo di Gello, situated in the middle of a small valley of the same name. The views from the top were breathtaking, the play of light eye-catching. Although all of Tuscany abounds in such fairy-tale corners, the Gello valley had a peculiarity: the village was long abandoned. The medieval ruins were silent, the fields were deserted and the name of the village had long disappeared from the maps. Young entrepreneurs saw this as an opportunity to turn a few buildings into a pop-up holiday destination.
The idea worked. After years of silence, the valley was filled with sounds of laughter and conversations at long tables, steps of hikers and truffle hunters. The first guests began making reservations for the following year... After five more years, the owners of the hotel have acquired the entire valley. Now Novanta Borgo di Gello includes over 300 hectares of fields, rivers, woods, vines and flowering gardens, a thriving community and carefully restored homes of the valley's old inhabitants.
Welcome to an experience village in Tuscany hills!
Novanta is a true corner of paradise, but that doesn't mean it's a place for everyone. The natural environment and culture of the valley are regarded with special care by the owners, so don't expect a modern five-star hotel on a paved site with impeccable wi-fi coverage, big screen TVs and perfectly level access roads.
In the Gello Valley it is the unique experience of slow tourism that counts above all, something you won't find in popular holiday resorts. The architecture and interiors reproduce the traditional Tuscan style, which means thick stone walls and tiled floors. In case you get cold (the hotel is high in the mountains), the rooms are equipped with electric blankets. The village streets are not particularly well lit, so you may feel a little uncomfortable without a torch after dark. Phone and wi-fi coverage can be completely limited - be prepared for a digital detox and meeting new people.
The hotel consists of three traditional Tuscan farmhouses scattered around the village: La Fattoria, Il Casale and Il Grifo. All three are independent and have private terraces or gardens. There are altogether 16 hotel rooms in the farmhouses, and 2 special accommodations: the treehouse and the skylodge, for a total of 64 guests.
Approximately 10-15 minutes walking distance from the hotel, in Castello di Gello, there are also two ancient villas with private garden, grill area, fully equipped kitchen, three double bedrooms and two spacious bathrooms. Each villa can accommodate up to six guest.
Novanta is open for all friendly people, kids, pets (free of charge) and wild animals that visit our valley!
At Hotel Novanta, we pay great attention to food. We offer local wine and food from our valley: fields, gardens, henhouse, friendly farmers and neighbours. Our butchers are Fabrizio and Massimiliano, and their production is most wanted all around the country! Our truffles come from Nicola, who organises mushroom picking in the Casentino hills. Depending on the season, you will be able to watch grape picking, cooking orange marmalade or pizza sauce. And if you're lucky, you'll join us in making Italian pizza and pasta from scratch! Isn't life in Tuscany wonderful?
For the hotel guests we provide full board catering, which includes breakfast, lunch, and a 3-course dinner at a rate of EUR 50 per person per day. For kids (age 4-11) the price is EUR 25 per kid per day. Alcoholic drinks and soda are not included in the price. Coffee, tea and fresh spring water are free at all times – you can even pick your own mint leaves from our herb garden for a refreshing organic mint tea.
Guests accommodated in villas in Castello di Gello do not have a food plan included, there are fully equipped kitchens instead. For those who are not fond of cooking on their own we suggest visiting our restaurant in Novanta.
There is no place for boredom in our valley. Everything here is real and jam-packed with inspiration, starting with the stunning views and truly amazing people to such experiences as truffle hunting, pasta making, wine tasting, escape room, archery classes, hikes and e-mountain biking tours, a river hike, a pizza night or pottery classes.
There is much more on the list, for example a lunch at Fabrizio (our neighbour (and butcher) on his own farm!), or a walk to the ancient Franciscan monastery of La Verna. Oh, and do not forget the delights of our wellness experiences: the hot tub and swimming pool, regular yoga and meditation sessions, as well as massages (available on request).
And after a long day full of emotions there is nothing comparable to cuddling up in front of the fireplace, a (magically refilling) glass of red wine in your hand, playing some games, reading a book and having good conversations.
What’s there for children?
We say Novanta is a natural playground for children, full of secret corners, wildlife and nature's beauty, fostering children's creativity and exploration of the world. If duties permit, members of our staff are happy to play with children and run around the garden with them, but we recommend that you should only bring toddlers who are sure on their feet (at least from the age of 1). Please also note that whenever climbing stairs, bathing in the river or pool, hiking and playing, it's the child's parents or guardians are responsible for the child.
