Diana at Montalto

We try to keep the calendar accurate and up to date but we encourage you to always inquire: in the hamlet of Montalto there are ten homes, so even if one is booked there may be another that is available and just perfect for you.

For those who use satellite navigators our WGS coordinates are as follows:
•Expressed in degrees: East 11° 32´ 49.6´´ - North 43° 22´ 11.0´´
•Expressed in decimals: East 11.547111 - North 43.369722

If you are asked for an address indicate: "Castelnuovo Berardenga" (town) and "Castello di Montalto".
In some cases you'll need to indicate "Castello di Montalto" as town and then "city center".

•Take the autoroute A-1 going towards Florence and Rome; leave at the Firenze-Certosa exit, and take the road on the right toward Siena. (If you are already in Florence, ask for the "raccordo per Siena")
•When you reach Siena, do not enter the town but go around it following the signs for Arezzo-Perugia
•Drive past the Castelnuovo Berardenga exit without leaving the main road. Then take the Colonna del Grillo exit and follow the signs for Bucine.
•After roughly 3 km you will find on your left a sign to Montalto. Drive 3.2 km to the end of the road (of which the last 2.5 km are unpaved) where we will be expecting you at the Castle.

Call us at 0577.355675 if you have any problem along your way

•Take the autoroute A-1 going towards Florence;
•Leave at the Valdichiana exit, turn right and follow the signs for Siena.
•Drive for about 30 km passing the Rapolano T. exit, then take the exit to Colonna del Grillo and follow the signs for Bucine.
•After roughly 3 km you will find on your left a sign to Montalto. Drive 3.2 km to the end of the road (of which the last 2.5 km are unpaved) where we will be expecting you at the Castle.

Call us at 0577.355675 if you have any problem along your way

No, you will need a car. There is no convenient public transportation to the Castle.

If you wish, we can arrange an auto rental with pick up at the airport, at the train station or even directly at the castle.

Though located in one of the loveliest and most unspoiled parts of the Chianti area of Tuscany, Montalto is very accessible:

•The major Italian highway (A1, the "Autostrada del Sole") is 30 km / 19 miles away: exits Valdarno to the north and Valdichiana to the south (see Driving directions).

•The Florence airport is less than 1½ hours away. The Pisa airport is about two hours away, while the drive from the Rome airport takes three hours.

• There are train stations at 12 km / 7 miles (Rapolano, for trains to the south) and at 18 km / 11 miles (Bucine, for trains to the north).

•The nearest town, Castelnuovo Berardenga, is 10 km / 6 miles away, but there is a restaurant less than 3 km / 2 miles from Montalto and a village at 5 km / 3 miles.

If you get tired of simply relaxing in the beautiful countryside of Tuscany, there are many activities you can do right here at Montalto:

Included in every villa rental:
•Swimming pool
•Tennis court
•Bocce ball
•Ping pong
•Bicycles
•Small playground
•Barbecue pit
•Maps of the many trails through fields and woods around the castle

Our swimming pool is 6x12 meters (20x40 ft) and has a deep end for diving. We also have a bocce court for sand bowling and a covered ping-pong table. You are welcome to play tennis on our court, which has a surface of synthetic grass and sand, and if you prefer asphalt or clay there are tennis clubs in Siena that accept temporary guests.

For health and wellness, we have miles of trails and dirt roads for walking and jogging, on and around our 700-acre estate, and a small work-out bench with weights for exercising.

Right on the border of the Montalto estate is an excellent horse-back riding school and equestrian center, where lessons in English mount and jumping are available, and interesting guided tours on horse-back through the countryside are organized daily. They also have a summer camp for children in June.

Once a week we invite our guests for tea in the great hall. This gives you the opportunity to see the frescoed hall of arms, hear about the history of Montalto, and meet other guests that are staying with us. After that you can join us for an optional barbecue to chat with the firends you have just made, and sample local fare such as sausages, chicken, grilled eggplant, tuscan cold cuts, and plenty of wine.

We can also arrange for cooking lessons or italian language lessons upon request; contact us a few days ahead of time to book these.

And periodically throughout the summer we offer painting or drawing workshops, music workshops and choral singing. Contact me to find out about future ones, since these need to be booked in advance.

This area of Tuscany is so rich in things to do!

Montalto castle is the ideal home base for interspersing quiet days of rest and relaxation with interesting local excursions, because there is so much within reach. This is a great way to get to know a country in depth, and far more relaxing than an exhausting whirlwind tour of Italy.

Whether you are interested in art and culture or want to sample the local food and world-famous Chianti and Brunello wine, or to relax and rejuvenate with a day at a spa, you will find it all in the area surrounding the castle. There is too much to list here, I'll try to give you an idea with a few words on each of the following topics:

Art & history - A large part of the masterpieces of Italian art can be found in Tuscany, and the area around Montalto is especially rich in history.

Food & wine - Tuscan wines and cuisine are justly famous. Sample local delicacies and familiarize yourself with the excellent wines of the region.

Fairs and local culture - Immerse yourself in the local way of life and experience first-hand some of the culture and traditions of Tuscany.

Outdoor activities and sports - Tuscany is known for its beautiful landscapes, and there are various ways you can enjoy its clean air and natural resources.

If you want to reach out even farther, there are options for full day excursions: you might want to go to the Mediterranean coast and take a cruise to the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, or drive to Rome for a day: it takes less than 2 and ½ hours to get there. Pisa and Lucca are also within reach for day-long trips, while many stay overnight at the Cinque Terre to walk the mountain trail overlooking the sea.

In our office you will find sight-seeing brochures, magazines and guide books offering information on the area in several lanaguages. We try to keep up to date on the many things to do in the surroundings, such as concerts, special events, etc., and we will be happy to provide the assistance you may need in obtaining tickets and often discounts.

Two weeks at Montalto will hardly be enough!