Castel Monastero

That is the key to Castel Monastero, an old mediaeval hamlet embraced by sturdy walls that have defied time without turning its back on its past. From an out-of-the-way monastery shrouded in the peaceful silence of the Tuscan hills – back in the 11th century – it became a country retreat for the noble Chigi Saracini family, a cathedral of style in the flourishing green expanse threaded by cypress trees just a hop and a skip from Siena.

Today, it is a sophisticated resort and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. As befits its noble origins, it offers genuine Italian hospitality, extending a warm and traditional yet impeccable welcome, with excellent food that finds a divine marriage in the local DOC wines and a natural vocation for helping you get back in shape.

The galloping excitement of the nearby Palio, the sublime mastery of Piero Della Francesca, the enthusiasm of the Etruscan civilization – this heady mix of vibrant Tuscan culture seems to come straight out of another era.

For here, among the rolling hills, life has its own pace. Even time follows a gentler rhythm as the sunlight floods the palace, the piazza, the church (tying the knot at Castel Monastero has a real royal charm) and the two country houses crowned by the Chigi Saracini family’s emblematic star and coat of arms. Sixty-eight rooms and suites plus a villa. 2 restaurants – one Michelin star “Contrada” located on the Square and the Tuscan “Cantina” in the 13th-century cellar. The Spa has eight treatment rooms, a “water-wellness” zone and three outdoor pools cascading gently into one another, forming the perfect soundtrack suffusing day after day of pure relaxation. Castel Monastero is all this and more.