Image: Essere Spa will house seven treatment rooms

A spa is to open this September within the former wine cellar at Hotel Castello di Casole - a former 10th century castle recently launched as a boutique hotel in Tuscany, Italy.

The 5,400sq ft (502sq m) Essere Spa will contain seven treatment rooms with barrel-vaulted ceilings and restored stone walls, as well as an outdoor garden for yoga and Pilates classes.

Comfort Zone products will be used at the spa, which will be open to non-residents and will offer treatments inspired by locally-sourced ingredients such as olive oil and grape seeds.

US-based J Banks Design Group worked with Sandy Burden, director of interiors for hotel owner and operator Timbers Resorts on the design of the Essere Spa.

Hotel Castello di Casole has opened as a 41-bedroom property at the heart of the 4,200-acre (1,700-hectare) estate following a five-year restoration programme.

In addition to the spa, facilities include an outdoor pool and a Technogym-equipped fitness suite, as well as the Ristorante Tosca fine-dining eatery and a gourmet pizzeria called Pazzia.

Timbers Resorts CEO and founder David Burden said: "The estate and hotel epitomize the best of the Timbers Resorts brand and hospitality and will be a gem in our portfolio for many years to come."

Details: www.timbersresorts.com