Location: Castelnuovo Berardenga, Siena Area, Tuscany, Italy, Europe (Siena km.22 - Rome km.235 - Florence km.80 - village km.10)
Accommodations: Castle and Farm Houses, 22 Bedrooms + Detached Unit, 10+ Baths (Sleeps 44)
The historic Castle of Montalto lies in one of the loveliest parts of the Chianti area of Tuscany, very centrally located for art touring.
The Castle is situated some 23 km. (14 miles) east of Siena. The nearest village is found at 10 km (6 miles) from Montalto, the major Italian highway (Autostrada del Sole) at 30 km. Road distance is 40 km to Arezzo and Cortona, 75 km to Perugia, 80 km to Florence, 90 km to the sea, 125 km to Pisa, 230 km to Rome. The nearest train stations are found at 12 km (trains to the south) and 18 km (trains to the north). There is no convenient bus service.
Montalto is not a hotel. The owners, who live in the castle and farm a surrounding estate of 700 acres, offer part of the castle itself and the carefully restored old houses of its little hamlet for rent to vacationers seeking a quiet country atmosphere.
Rentals are by the week or by the month. Prices include all utilities, heating, weekly exchange of sheets and towels, sports facilities, normal final cleaning and taxes.
Ten homes of different size are available, for separate rental by the week or month or all together for weddings and reunions. The houses are tastefully and individually furnished and equipped and most have a private gardens in addition to the common grounds. More information on each can be found by clicking below.
Renters of the various houses enjoy privacy without isolation. They share use of the swimming pool, tennis court, clubroom, library and laundry area and are assisted with information on local sights, restaurants, shopping, tickets and transportation. Farm products are for sale as available. Housekeeping and cooking can be arranged. Lessons in Italian cooking and language can be organized.
Horseback riding is available at the border of the estate on a farm formerly belonging to Montalto.
A chapel and a large hall are available for ceremonies.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer (5) : Washer in some units, shared laundry facilities for others
- Dryer: Coin-op dryer in common laundry room
- Linens Provided: clean linens provided weekly, available more often at extra charge. Extra pillows available as desired.
- Covered Parking: some carport space
- Off Street Parking: Road ends at castle
- Parking for RV/Boat/Trailer
- Wood Fireplace (8) : In most houses, and in Common room
- Beds
- King Bed (8) : In all there are 14 'matrimoniale' beds (c.160-180cm/65-75in), one to three per house/apartment
- Queen Bed (6) : See under King Bed. In many rooms the beds can be united or separated as requested.
- Twin/Single Bed (8) : Twins (85-100cm/34-40in)in one room of each of the larger houses, more if desired. Note: Italian Twin beds are narrower (85-90 cm).
- Child Bed: 3 available at extra cost (€100/week)
- Convertible Bed (4) : Only for occasional overnight guests
- Crib (4) : available at extra cost (€30/week)
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV (3) : In some apartments and in Common room
- TV (No Cable/Satellite): portable tv available for rent
- VCR
- Music Library: Piano in Common room, sheet music available
- Shared Pool: 20x40ft / 6x12m, with landscaped and furnished sun terrace; also shared TENNIS COURT and rackets, bocce ball court, grass volley.
- Foosball
- Ping Pong/Table Tennis
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen (9) : Every house/apartment has a complete kitchen, large or small
- Shared Kitchen: Separate large kitchen available for rent for parties and for cooking lessons
- Cooking Utensils Provided: Baic; extra utensils available to borrow for enthusiastic cooks
- Refrigerator: per house or apartment and in commmon kitchen
- Dishwasher: In two apartments and in common kitchen
- Microwave: In common room
- Catering Available: A local cook can bring supper to your door. Regular meals can be arranged for special groups. Top caterers for weddings and other occasions.
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill: Portable bbqs available for individual houses with patios; large one in barbecue area near tennis court and pool
- Deck/Patio (7) : All units have areas for outdoor dining
- Balcony (3) : Guardia and Vescovo have balconies with views
- Lanai: Loggia apartment only
- Gazebo (2) : in Vescovo garden and in barbecue area
- View/Location
- Mountain View: Views are of a cultivated valley with rolling wooded hills. Creek runs through property and crosses valley floor.
- Monument View: The castle itself is a 1000 year old historic building
- Communications
- Telephone (10) : All but 2 units
- Cell Phone: provided free for renters of the two cottages without fixed phones.
- Computer (2)
- Computer w/ Dial-up Internet (2)
- Broadband Internet
- WiFi (Wireless Internet): Most of castle area is covered
- Other Amenities
- Dishwasher in some apartments. Screens and shutters. Fans available, Thick stone walls, high beamed ceilings, brick tiled floors
- Suitability
- Pet Friendly: Not in all houses - permission required
- Kid Friendly: High chairs, play garden, lots of outdoor space
- Smoking Not Allowed: Smoking forbidden in bedrooms, discouraged inside houses
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Swimming
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Antiquing
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Live Theatre
- Museums
- Horseback Riding
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Other Activities
- Swimming pool and tennis court on property, Horseback Riding 2 km, Hot springs swimming pool and spa 12 km
Rate Details (In Euros)
Torre del Vescovo ............. €2400/week (for 6) High Season
Loggia ........................ €2640/week (for 8) High Season
Casa del Guardia .............. €1800/week (for 6) High Season
Fattoria ...................... €1200/week (for 4) High Season
Apartments San Giovanni East & West ..... each €1200/week (for 4) High Season
Scuola, Voliera, San Martino ..... each, € 720/week (for 2) High Season
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Credit Cards Accepted:
Owner's Profile
Owner Description
Year Purchased: 1969
Giovanni, an economist, was born of an aristocratic Neapolitan family in 1929. He studied at the University of Naples and then worked briefly on a coffee plantation in Africa and at FAO in Rome before going to California for an advanced degree at UC-Berkeley.
There he met Diana, daughter of a California artist, who was already entranced with Tuscany after a European tour following her graduation from Stanford.
We were married in 1961, and after a few years in Naples we moved to the Castle where we managed the farm and raised four children, while Giovanni continued to teach European agricultural policy at the University of Siena until his retirement.
Around 1980 we started refurbishing the abandoned old stone houses within the castle walls and around the property, offering them for rent to vacationers.
In 1995 daughter Paola, who had learned computer design in San Francisco, designed the first Montalto web site, subsequently updated regularly by Giovanni and completely reworked by daughter Elena in 2006.
As time went by, one after the other the old buildings were restored, bathrooms and heating put in and plumbing and wiring improved. The swimming pool and tennis court were installed and the former granary became an impressive hall for banquets and ceremonies. Montalto is still a working farm under Giovanni's guidance, but agriturism - "agrotourism" or hospitality for tourists in an agricultural context - has become a full-time occupation.
Why the Owner Chose Castelnuovo Berardenga
We enjoy this life, not only because the income helps to maintain the estate, but especially because the people who choose to come out to the country to spend their vacation in beautiful surroundings in an historic context, who welcome the simple life and the opportunity to visit the famous and less-known art treasures of this incredibly rich area of Italy, are people we like.
We enjoy the opportunity to invite them into our home, to show them our collection of ancient weapons and to repeat the history and legends of the castle, and we enjoy talking to them. Many have become our lasting friends.
Property Photos
- - Tuscany Real Estate
- - Tuscany Real Estate
- - Tuscany Real Estate
Guest Comments (0)
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #65273
There have been 25706 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in 2005.
This listing was first published here in 2005.
Date last modified - November 05, 2009
This property does not yet have any comments in the guestbook.
Be the first to add a comment to this listing...