Castel Monastero

That is the key to Castel Monastero, an old mediaeval hamlet embraced by sturdy walls that has 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 true 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 fervour of the Etruscan civilisation – 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. 74 rooms and suites plus a villa. 2 restaurants – the styled gourmet “Contrada” and the Tuscan “La Cantina” in the 13th-century cellar. The Spa with 8 treatment rooms, “water wellness” zone and 3 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.