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· Europe · italy · Tuscany

Castiglion del Bosco

Author: Antra Birzule0 COMMENTS

An exclusive top level members-only club in the very heart of Tuscany, Val d'Orcia - a mountainous location populated by Etruscans in 6th century BC and still adorned with a 12th century castle and remains of an early Gothic chapel. Several hundred million euros were invested in the development of this property. The 4500 acre territory (five times the area of New York's Central Park) is flanked by the historic Tuscan valleys, vineyards and olive groves, and in the midst of it all - twenty luxury mansions, available exclusively to members of the club, a hotel, several restaurants and a winery. Castiglion del Bosco is the embodiment of the best things this Italian region can offer: excellent Brunello wines and an oasis of peace and quiet.
Castiglion del Bosco opened as recently as in late May and is still undergoing certain improvement and streamlining. Alongside Corky Severson who hails from the USA and an American financial institution, the impressive project is being supervised by a man with one of the most widely recognised surnames in Italy, Massimo Ferragamo, the youngest following the developments on the property the most closely, spending at least three days a week at Castiglion del Bosco to monitor each stage of setting up the exclusive club personally. What are the floors, furniture, lighting and bathroom products going to be - all of these decisions are being made by Ferragamo, of course, working closely with a team of interior designers.
Val d'Orcia is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so each of the buildings was renovated in keeping with a set of strict restoration rules. The exclusive villas have retained their original unique 17th-18th century architecture, only the building materials and paint used in the renovation tend to be somewhat more contemporary. The buildings are located a cannon shot distance from each other and their inhabitants are not disturbed by their neighbours or stray groups of tourists. A stone-covered driveway leading up to the front door; a verdant garden, heated outdoor swimming pool and the intoxicating fragrance of wild roses wafting in through the open windows... The traditional Tuscan flavour is also well preserved in the decor - and with panache: there is nothing over-the-top or in-your-face about it, and yet you are not likely to forget where you are staying. Not even for a moment. It is crystal clear even to a layperson that every single detail has been given lots of thought. Each piece of furniture has been chosen by Massimo for a reason. The style could be described as an expensive top quality blend of past and present. While the shower and the faucet are perfect examples of Italian Modernism, the bathroom tiles look authentically ancient and the bathtub is proudly resting on quaint little legs. A lap in the pool will make you feel as if you were swimming amidst the Tuscan clouds - the infinity edge pool is located practically on the edge of a cliff and offers a breathtaking view of the famed village of Montalcino... somewhere far below.

Nine of the twenty villas have been renovated so far; the remaining eleven are scheduled to be completed by summer 2009 - however, staying at one of the villas is a strictly members-only luxury. You can become one by paying an affiliation fee of mere two million euros, however, the member's card can be inherited, given as a gift or sold - with the consent of the rest of the members. It is little wonder then that most people staying here belong to the Italian elite. There have been sightings of a few Hollywood luminaries as well, Goldie Hawn and her husband Kurt Russell included. And yet, even if you can afford to stay at the exclusive luxury apartments, Castiglion del Bosco reserves the rights to make inquiries regarding the potential members and, in some cases, refuse membership, giving preference to connoisseurs of Tuscany and its wines. The maximum number of club member is limited to 120: the club is intended to bring together people with similar life experience and interests. Likewise, it is not everyone who is allowed in one of the 26 suites of the Castiglion del Bosco hotel. It is housed in an old winery conversion and offers only luxury suites, the rates varying from EUR 600 to 3000. Some are equipped with a kitchenette and other rooms, which makes one feel almost like staying in a separate flat. Decor of the suites - like that of the villas - is dominated by a light beige tones and Tuscan elegance. 16 suites are currently open for booking; the hotel is scheduled to be completed in spring 2009.
The old winery has been replaced by a new one - although the building looks as if it had been standing here for a good hundred years. The façade of the winery is designed in keeping of the architectural tastes of the period and only the modern fermentation room and its equipment reminds one of the hundreds of million euros invested in the plant in comparatively recent times. Winemaking enthusiasts are offered guided tours of the premises and lovers of the divine drink can take part in Brunello tasting sessions. Club members can afford to feel a little more privileged than that: a special wine storeroom hides cleverly designed lockers with wines from all over the world (but mostly Tuscany), selected by the members themselves; there is room for a maximum of ten crates in each locker. Each of these lockers has its owner's name engraved on the door. Now that's class for you!
The Brunello di Montalcino, produced right there at the new winery, perfectly compliments a moreish meal at one of the two restaurants. Castiglion del Bosco also offers a cookery course. It is as yet unavailable to the general public; club members, however, are already free to pursue practical studies of Tuscan cucina under the guidance of highly skilled chefs.

The giant territory hides yet another treasure, San Michele Arcangelo, the church of Archangel Saint Michael, to which some of the wealthiest local families still regularly come to worship. The church building is small, lovely and very charming. To make it even more special, an ancient fresco painted by the famous 14th century artist Pietro Lorenzetti was found during the renovation.
Now safely venture on - behind the church you will find a fantastic lush garden! Apart from the flowers lots of seductively juicy strawberries of different varieties, artichokes, spinach and loads of other delicacies are grown here. None other than the Vatican gardener helped to create the organic garden. Everything is calculated to the tiniest detail - when, where and how long the sun is going to shine, in which specific spot strawberries of each sort should best be planted, etc. It is almost like a small perfect world in itself: someone comes by, plucks a bunch of something or digs up a couple of something else and prepares an exquisite meal at the hotel restaurant. And that's not all. There is also a small organic farm on the premises of Castiglion del Bosco where meat and dairy animals are bred for the needs of the restaurant, from pigs to pigeons. The farm is also surrounded by vast hunting grounds - mostly for the benefit of the guests, though. There is no shortage of greyish brown pheasants scurrying about as well.
A spa centre covering an area of some 12 000 square feet is scheduled to open by 2010; a golf-course is already on its way to completion - and what a golf-course it is, with a golf house in the shape of a Tuscan villa at least a hundred years old!

Castiglion del Bosco
Val d'Orcia, Province of Siena (12 km northwest of Montalcino, 95 km south of Florence)
Phone: +39 0577 80 7078
www.castigliondelbosco.com

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