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"Heaven on earth in the hills of Tuscany"
My husband and I and three ten year olds had a marvelous stay at the Castello di Montalto
for a week in July 2009. We rented a three bedroom (the gamekeeper's cabin) with a large
living room, spacious kitchen and two outdoor spaces, a table and chairs in the back and a
large deck with table and chairs off the master with views over the Tuscan countryside. We
enjoyed breakfast daily in the common room and ate outside under the grape arbor. The
built in pool, ping pong table and grounds were enjoyed by all. The charming hosts had us
over for wine and conversation and also hosted an impromtu barbecue one evening. The
entire week was fantastic, and it was an ideal location (just outside of Siena) for various
day trips to explore Tuscany. It was one of the highlights of the Italy trip. We look forward
to our next trip back.
21 June 2010 - review from tripadvisor.com |
"Tuscan dream!"
Stayed at Montalto for a week in Sept. 2008 and 2009 and had 2 wonderful experiences.
Steve had also visited the castle 16 years prior. This year we were joined by his sister and
her husband, and we shared an apartment. The views from the windows are breathtaking,
and Diana and Giovanni are gracious hosts. The fresh veggies from the garden are a real
treat, too. Making bruschetta every night with the fresh bakery bread, eggplant, and
beautiful tomatoes will be a tradition for our future trips to this Tuscan paradise. Montalto
has a rustic charm that is hard to describe, but once you visit you become enthralled. At
least we did.
We love the fact that the castle is our base, and we can return and relax after a long day
visiting the surrounding Tuscan towns. We stopped in Orvieto on our way from Rome and
had lunch at La Palomba, and then continued onto Castelnuovo Berardenga. Dinner was at Il
Bivacco which is not to far from the castle. It has become very popular, but the pizza is
wonderful. Our visits to Assisi, Montepulciano, Pisa, Montechiello, and Perugia were some of
the highlights of our trip, but we visited at least 22 towns in 7 days. Our itinerary was
overly ambitious, but well worth it. Driving back to Montalto on the last day we stopped to
see Monteriggioni which is a small walled town with 8 towers. The sun had just come out
after a light rain, and it was beautiful with double rainbows and spectacular vistas. It was
hard to leave after such a great week, but we will return next year for sure!
We had many a great meal in Tuscany, but here were some of our favorites this time
around. Cortona - Osteria del Teatro (amazing) Montechiello - Osteria La Porta (wonderful
food and view) Pisa - Osteria dei Cavalieri (incredible, but reservations necessary) San
Gimignano - La Mandragola (tuscan bean soup and walnut ravioli!) Siena - Osteria da Divo
(elegant etruscan tombs), and Montefioralle - La Taverna del Guerrino (good food and
incredible views). Truly a foodies dream.
Our favorite times were spent at the castle drinking wine and making our antipasto platters.
For breakfast we would use the fresh castle eggs we had ordered to make a strata, or
scrambled eggs with pecorino from Pienza. You can also get Montalto's own olive oil and
wine. The brioche and bread are a must from the local baker.
I could go on, but I will end by saying that anyone who visits Castello di Montalto will
experience something extremely special, and will make memories to last a lifetime.
5 Nov 2009 - review from tripadvisor.com |
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"Perfect Setting, Perfect Accommodations, Wonderful Hosts"
In the midst of a 17 day trip to Italy, we were lucky enough to find this Castello in the heart
of Chianti - Wine country. Our hosts were so wonderful and the accommodations were
perfect. Very American friendly. There were 8 of us traveling together and we had large
spacious rooms each with it's own bathroom. The house we stayed in had a large open
Kitchen, Living area and a large Loggia (deck). It was the perfect place to tour the Italian
Tuscany area, close to Siena, Florence and the wine districts in Montalcino. We stayed for a
full week and it was the best part of our trip!
21 Nov 2009 - review from tripadvisor.com |
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"Paradise"
We've been coming here for years and I think it must be one of the most beautiful places in
the world. It's sheer Tuscan gorgeousness in a secluded castle surrounded by forests and
amazing views of rolling hills. The hosts are incredibly thoughtful and friendly. The houses
are very pretty but in a low-key, Italian style - don't expect five-star swankiness.
9 Oct 2009 - review from tripadvisor.com |
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Enchanting and Relaxing
We stayed for a week at Montalto in the old school house, we loved it. The castle and
grounds are absolutely amazing! Diana and Giovanni are wonderful and very willing to share
their indepth knowledge of the castle and surrounding area. We loved having so much
privacy, the nights were perfectly quiet. We were lucky enough to experience a few
afternoon thunderstorms, which gave us a reason to make use of our fireplace. Our 'little
house' was very comfortable, the bed and linens were quite nice. I've noticed that a few
other reviews mention updating the accomodations and though that would be nice, it would
also raise the rates - for the price our place was great. We didn't get to see the other
accomodations, so we can't speak for them. There is a very nice swimming pool, a tennis
court and even a bocce court. Montalto is a perfect location for exploring Siena, Florence,
Assisi, Montalcino and more. We do plan to go back one day!
8 Oct 2009 - review from tripadvisor.com |
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"Heavenly"
I first stayed at Montalto when I was seven. Since then I've gone back every year I can
make it (I'm now 29).
There's a peace and a beauty at Montalto that you don't get anywhere else. The landscape
is stunning and because you're miles away from anywhere you can see the stars and hear
the forest at night. That's after you've gone for a cheeky midnight swim in the pool or
stopped off to pick some herbs to cook with the vegetables that were grown by Giovanni
and Diana's mates.
It's really not a hotel and people who come expecting standard hotel blandness will be
disappointed. It's much more interesting and individual than that. All the cottages and
outhouses have been done up separately, so you feel as though you're living in your own
private 15th century house (although totally luxurious).
Parts of the main castle are about a thousand years old and once a week Giovanni and
Diana, who are incredibly friendly, have a tea so you can go and have cake and lemonade
with them, hear the castle's history and look at the 16th-century murals on the walls.
It's a short drive from Siena which is itself a completely addictive, beautiful and lovable
town, and an equally short drive from Arezzo, the home of gorgeous buildings, antique
shops and comedy jousting. In between are twenty tiny Tuscan villages which all have some
amazing or bizarre thing to make them stand out.
Really, it makes you feel like you'd forgotten how it felt to be alive. I'd spend all year there
if I could.
Oct 2009 - review from tripadvisor.com |
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“A genuine Italian experience - cannot get better than this”
The views are breathtaking, there is horseback riding and many wineries nearby. Spa mud
treatments just down the road. My favorite Italian restaurant is just at the bottom of the
mountain "Il Bivacco". Giovanni and Diana are the most attentive and wonderful hosts. Stay
a week or a month, you will not regret it!
20 Feb 2009 - review from tripadvisor.com |
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"Great Views but accomodations lacking"
The castle itself is beautiful as are the grounds and the hosts friendly and accomodating.
The surrounding towns are amazing and you can explore them at your leisure. The
experience is amazing. This property could be a 10 if only the accomodations were updated.
Need new comfortable beds. Updated bathrooms and kitchens are necessary. Everything
else is fantastic!
18 Aug 2009 - review from tripadvisor.com |
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"Perfect re-union"
We had a college re-union and a combined 50th birthday party at Montalto in the first week
of August. There were 8 of us with families for a total of 23 people. We rented 6
apartments. It was the most perfect place I can imagine for such an affair. We felt that we
had rented an entire village, it felt so cozy.
Montalto is very well located, several km from any town but still close enough for day trips
to Siena, Florence and a number of other small towns in Tuscany. On the outside, it has the
look you would imagine it must have had a 1000 years ago, but the apartments are all very
comfortable and furnished with taste. There are so many original features in each of the
apartments that the past never seems far away. The sky was amazingly clear, the air was
perfect, the pool was refreshing.
The owners Giovanni and Diana were very helpful with information and directions and even
gave us a tour of their house, which is also in the castle. If they were to sell it, we would
queue up to buy it.
It is the perfect place for families and re-unions. There is even a lovely chapel in the castle,
so it would also make a great place for a wedding with 40-50 guests.
9 Aug 2008 - review from tripadvisor.com |
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Le charme et le calme de la campagne, l'élégance seigneuriale d'un château et de ses
dépendances transformées en confortables appartements de vacances, en accueil amical et
attentionné...tout cela près des sites touristiques de la Toscane et de l'Ombrie, à l'abri des
collines du Chianti... Un rêve.
20 Nov 2008 - review from lapaquerette.com |
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