Castello di Velona

A spectacular castle with 360-degree views over the Val d'Orcia, Castello di Velona was originally an 11th-century fortress. Today, it is an architecturally stunning hotel with elegant interiors, fine cuisine, a glorious pool, and one of Tuscany's best panoramas. There is a tangible sense of history as you wander through this imposing building, where the ambiance is welcoming and inviting.

The Castello di Velona offers 46 rooms, divided between the Castello area and the Spa area. All 46 rooms and suites are elegantly appointed with period furniture, antiques, and prized fabrics and materials. The castle rooms' style is warm and cozy with exposed beams, vaulted ceilings, terracotta tile floors, and large decorative fireplaces. In each room, hand-made decorative motifs and paintings of different color shades combine with the warm hues of fabrics and furnishings.

The rooms provide a stunning panoramic view of the Val d Orcia and the vineyards surrounding the Castello di Velona. Dine with a fantastic view, by the fire in winter, or outside under the cypress trees in summer. Spend time by the pool soaking up the Tuscan sunshine or head out to Mount Amiata, Italy's highest extinct volcano, which you can see in the distance.

Restaurants & Bars - With the aromas of the herbs and spices and typical colors of the Tuscan countryside, the vineyards and olive groves surrounding the Castle, the Hotel's wine and food offer satisfies the body and soul, both in the rustic Il Brunello in the historical part of the Castle, and the modern setting of the Settimo Senso Restaurant, created in the new wing. The rooms inside look onto the Val D'Orcia thanks to the panoramic terraces of the Castle's two restaurants, one to the east, exposed to the first rays of the sun, the other to the west, pointing towards the sunset. Here guests experience complete sensory emotions, immersed in the silence and romance of the landscape, sampling fine wines and the olive oil produced by the Castle estate, and tasting the specialties of regional Tuscan and Mediterranean Italian cuisine, a blend of creativity in the kitchen and respect for the seasons and genuine ingredients.

The Chef also accepts special requests, preparing the menu directly with the guest to create a unique gourmet experience. Brunello di Montalcino, produced in the 5 hectares of vineyards on the estate, is top of the wine list, to be tasted in the internal Cloister, the veritable hub of Velona Castle, enclosed overhead by a glass dome. There is also the Dolce Vita Pool Restaurant, in the swimming pool and wellness area, where it is possible to find a refreshing drink, aperitif, barbecue, pizza, and other tasty dishes at any time of day.

The History - A thousand years of History in a union of Art, Nature, Beauty, Good taste, and style. Standing above the old Via Clodia, which connected southern Etruria to Rome, Velona Castle was built as a medieval fortress in the 11th century. The Watchtower remains intact from the 12th century, a reminder of the old rivalry between Siena and Florence. The rear part of the Castle is from the late medieval period. In the Renaissance, a period that gave us the Main Loggia, the Castle was turned into a residential villa; "Velona" is represented in frescoed maps in the Vatican by the famous cosmographer, geographer, and mathematician Perugia Ignazio Danti. Darkness fell over the Castle for many centuries, until 1997, when it was resurrected from the ruins and turned into a luxury relais, thanks to restructuring work that retained the residence's original structure. The company Podere Castello 1997 Srl, which purchased the property in 2003, undertook renovation and extension works, supervised by Ing. Fabiani, the modern-day Castello di Velona Resort.