As I mentioned in a previous post, a group of my family members and friends that are just like family rented a villa in Tuscany last summer (a step by step guide on that experience here) and it was glorious. Most of our dinners were spent at the villa either prepared by us or the villa housekeeper, but we did venture out on a few occasions, most notably to one special dinner at the Monteverdi Hotel. It was about a 30 minute drive away and we used a car service to take our large group there. When asked my favorite part about our trip, our dinner at the Monteverdi is at the very top of my list.
If you have never been to or heard of the Monteverdi Hotel, it is located in the heart of the Val D’Orcia region of Tuscany and is so beautiful — almost too beautiful to adequately put into words. Rather than try to fumble my way through it, here is a quote that attempts to do it justice:
Monteverdi is a rare boutique hotel experience that ignites your passions, awakens your curiosity and indulges your senses. It is the timeless Tuscany you dream about: Medieval hilltop village; no paved roads or sidewalks. Sweeping views of fields of gold and green, cypress trees and vineyards, Roman roads, watchtowers and walled cities.
Castiglioncello del Trinoro, the Medieval village that hosts Monteverdi, is located in the Val d’Orcia region of Tuscany and is equidistant to Rome (180 km/111 mi) and Florence (120 km/74 mi).
Hotel Monteverdi
Some background on the owner and history of the property from Condé Nast Traveler: “Cincinnati lawyer Michael Cioffi fell in love with the crumbling 12th-century fortified village of Castiglioncello del Trinoro while on holiday in 2003. It’s set on a hilltop with views across the patchwork fields of Val d’Orcia, so it’s not difficult to see why he has since bought it and done up a number of its neglected medieval properties.”
And more from Forbes, “”It has panoramic views of the Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its scenic splendor. The six-year-old hotel is not confined within a single building but instead is dispersed throughout an idyllic, medieval village, with its 18 rooms and suites tucked in among authentic and fastidiously maintained properties. The spa, with its not-notch therapists, Italian beauty products and multiple thermal pools is a dreamy spot to do nothing.”
If your travels take you anywhere near the Monteverdi, you cannot miss it. And if you need guidance on how to plan a vacation in Tuscany, use my step-by-step guide here.
The pace is slow; there’s an infinity pool, a lavender garden and a wine bar, Enoteca at Monteverdi, which hosts weekly wine tastings and serves simple lunches daily (crostini, creamy burrata with slow-roasted tomatoes, homemade gelato). For supper, Oreade restaurant has a seasonal menu, which might include wild boar or truffles. A short but bumpy car ride down the hill will take you to La Foce estate with its stunning gardens by British designer Cecil Pinsent.
condé nast Traveler
