Services offered

A vacation villa or apartment rental at Montalto Castle will give you flexibility and independence, but at Montalto, unlike an isolated farmhouse, the owners live in the castle and have a knowledgeable assistant for help with tourist information, medical emergencies, the loan of extra equipment and any other need. We also offer a variety of additional services to make your stay complete.

Included in your rental: Kitchenware, sheets and towels (exchanged weekly), normal final cleaning Water, gas and electricity, heating, firewood Washing machines, in a common laundry and in four houses Use of swimming pool, tennis court and raquets, bicycles, a playground, bocce ball and ping pong, Parlour games, a multi-lingual library, television and a piano. Maps of the many trails through the fields and woods Available for a fee: Wireless Internet and use of a computer Breakfast buffet: available 8-11 every morning. Available for purchase: Postcards and stamps Local ceramics Wine from a family-owned vineyard Our own extra-virgin olive oil Organic produce from our organic vegetable garden. along with olive oil, eggs and honey.

Special services available: Cooked meals: prepared by a local cook and and brought to your house. Cooking class: Hands-on classes can be organized at Montalto, with dinner afterward; or we can help book you into a formal cooking school. Italian lesson: A short practical lesson in basic Italian is available for English-speaking foreigners. Guided Tours: we offer a free guided walking tour of Siena on Tuesday afternoons. Guided day tours of the region can also be arranged with emphasis on art, history, archaeology, nature or the wines of the region. Transportation: group or individual transportation to or from the airport at Florence, Pisa or Rome can be organized, as well as auto hire. Horse-back riding: at an excellent riding school on the border of our property you can take English-mount lessons and guided rides. Spas: Nearby hot springs with spa services and naturally heated pools offer discounted tickets through Montalto. Wedding or special event planning: Montalto is a perfect place to hold special events such as weddings, anniversaries, family reunions, incentive trips and other meetings. (See Special Events for more information.)

We try to keep up to date on the many concerts, fairs and other events in the area (check To do in the area for an overview) and will be happy to provide assistance in obtaining tickets.

Contact us for more information on any of the above or to book certain services in advance.

Many tracks for hiking, biking and horseback riding through the fields and woods around the castle

Aereal view with swimming pool and tennis court at top left.

Unlike a hotel, Montalto offers independent villas and apartments in and around the castle for rent to vacationers seeking the quiet country atmosphere of Tuscany. Unlike a condo, we have a part time concierge to help our guests in the way of tourist and restaurant information, train schedules, auto rental, etc. (See all our Tuscany villa rentals.) We try to provide a friendly environment and the assistance that you may need to make your stay at Montalto complete.

Rates include kitchenware, sheets and towels (exchanged weekly), water, gas and electricity, heating, firewood, use of the comunal sport activities, normal final cleaning and all taxes. In a common room 2 washing machines are available for guests. (See our rates).

For those interested in outdoor activities, as well as a large swimming pool, we have a tennis court, bocce ball, ping pong, bicycles, a small children’s playground, and maps of the many trails through fields and woods around the castle. (Read more about outdoor activities.)

A common room, the Scrittoio, has parlour games and a multi-lingual library.

In our office you will find sight-seeing brochures and magazines offering information on the area. We try to keep updated on the many things to do in the surroundings such as concerts, special events, etc (you may check the To do in the area page for an overview), and we will be happy to provide the assistance you may need in obtaining tickets and often discounts. In the office you can also purchase postcards and stamps, local handcrafts, or our extra virgin olive oil to bring back home with you. And there is a computer with Internet access for you to check your email and a wireless connection to work with your computer.

The following services are also available:

Wining and dining:

Breakfast: All houses have fully equipped independent kitchens, but for those who wish to take advantage of it we offer a generous buffet breakfast (at a small extra charge), served informally from 8:30 to 11 every morning.

Cooked meals: For people who occasionally want to eat at home without cooking we can have simple meals prepared and brought to your house by a local cook. The price will vary according to the menu.

Farm products: Montalto has its own organic vegetable garden. In season its products are available at nominal cost, along with farm-produced extra-virgin olive oil, eggs, honey, and wine from the region. Wine: Red and white table wine from a family-owned vineyard is available for purchase.

Restaurants: an informative guide to the many local restaurants has been compiled for you, and it is kept up to date by the experience of our guests.

(Read more about food and wine in the region.)

Travel and sight-seeing options:

Guided tours: in your house or apartment you will find a booklet with some suggestions about the most interesting art towns and monuments in the area. There is a good selection of guide books for you to borrow in the Scrittoio room.

Every Tuesday afternoon we offer a free guided walking tour of Siena.

We can also organize private guided day tours for small groups, with an emphasis on art, history, nature or the wines of the Chianti and Brunello regions, following your personal interests and taste.

Transportation: If you need transportation to or from the airport at Florence, Pisa or Rome, we can organize the service for you — probably at a lower rate than you would be charged if you did it yourself.

Special Activities:

Italian lessons: A short practical lesson in basic Italian can be arranged for English-speaking foreigners.

Cooking class: Hands-on cooking classes can be organized at Montalto for 2 to 12 participants, preparing a typical Tuscan meal and enjoying it together at the end of the lesson. The price will vary according to the number of participants.

Horse-back riding: On the border of our property there is an excellent riding school and equestrian center where you can take lessons and guided horseback tours (they also have a summer camp for children in June).

SPA: For those interested in hot springs, at 12 km from Montalto there are thermal pools and spa services, particularly nice in the cooler season and at night, for which we have discounted tickets available. The Polo Club, less than 10 minutes' drive from Montalto, has regular matches.

Golf can be practiced at a half hour's drive, and there is a particularly beautiful course about an hour away.

Contact us for more information on any of the above, or to book certain services in advance.
Also remember that special events may also be organized, such as weddings, anniversaries, renewal of vows and commitment ceremonies, family reunions, sales incentive trips and other social or corporate events. Check the Special events section for more information.