This is Tuscany. Past. Present. Perfect. Wisps of morning fog meander through verdant valleys. Like so many gentle waves they wash against the hilltops … now a sea of tiny islands peeking above the clouds. As the sun crests a distant mountain, Tuscany is bathed in Michelangelo’s morning light. Here and there, all but forgotten by time, are villages and grand estates. If there is a single word more alluring than Italy then it must be its own heart and soul … Tuscany. Always so much more than a place, Tuscany is fi rst a way of life, each present moment infused with two centuries of the world’s favorite art, culture, food and wine. Welcome to Castello di Casole - A Timbers Resort.
In the rolling Tuscan hills not far from the mythic cities of Florence, Siena and San Gimignano is one of the largest private landholdings in all of Italy. Vineyards and orchards of olive trees pattern the landscape. Two majestic cypress-lined lanes ascend to a collection of private villas and a historic castle that is today an acclaimed and very intimate hotel. Dotting the hillsides are restored and reconstructed Casali farmhouses, each with its own mesmerizing glass-tiled infinity pool. This treasured property is Castello di Casole, and we invite your family to share in this remarkable chapter of Italian history.
The Castello di Casole estate – 4,200 acres, untouched except by history
A Passion for Preservation Protecting and preserving the rich history and the natural wonder of the Castello di Casole estate has been a diligent labor of love throughout every stage of development. Very much a working farm in the classic traditions of Italy, the estate is a recognized game preserve and a leader in organic agriculture and environmental best practices. Our game wardens oversee a wildlife management program that both protects and sustains. From pheasant and deer to boar and porcupine, nature is very much a part of everyday life here in the rolling Tuscan countryside. Indeed, one of the endearing and ever-present rewards of living here is enjoying this expansive estate from the country roads and trail system that crisscross the property.
The Vineyards At Castello di Casole, more than 88 acres, 35 hectares, of working vineyards surround the hotel and homes of our Owners, producing Cabernet, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Sangiovese grapes. The blend is our own Castello di Casole wine, which is produced in limited quantities for our Owners and their guests. Pressed and bottled at the winery, to return home to enjoy a bottle overlooking the vineyards is a special experience. One sip, and life takes on a new hue.
The Groves Tuscany is home to the world’s finest olive groves, whose trees in and around the Chianti region produce oils of rare and subtle character. From the thirty acres of Castello di Casole orchards, we produce an estate-bottled, extra virgin olive oil, that you’ll always find on the tables in our homes as well as in our restaurants.
Arrive home through 200 cypress trees and 2,000 years of history
At the Heart of the Estate – a Storied Castle At the heart of this vast property is a classic Tuscan castle that has been restored to be the centerpiece of life on the estate. The wine cellars are now a spa, the school room and blacksmith building now elegant residences. The castle itself has been spectacularly transformed into a five-star boutique hotel in the grand European tradition. Guests enjoy exquisitely appointed suites that effortlessly combine Old World charm with modern luxuries. This is a place of sublime comfort and sophistication. It is that secret place one might hope to discover along a country road – with graceful and intimate spaces, inspired cuisine and an inviting repertoire of activities, and, of course, the special brand of hospitality for which Timbers Resorts is known. For Owners at Castello di Casole, this is the vibrant heart of life in Tuscany.
The Taste of the Old World Made New Whether at home or at the Castello, every meal presents opportunities for discovery. Breakfast may be at your farmhouse, or enjoyed at the hotel. Lunch may be a panino under a poolside cabana, a pizza in the courtyard or a picnic in the vineyard. When friends arrive, gather for an afternoon glass of wine followed by a festive dinner at Ristorante Tosca. Whatever the venue, the cuisine is always local, organic and original. As it has always been, nature, art, music and laughter are simple pleasures that carry the day.
Bar Visconti
Pazzia
Ristorante Tosca
A richly appointed rendezvous for friends old and new, Bar Visconti is as well-stocked with charm and character as it is with wine and spirits. Named for the famed filmmaker Luchino Visconti, who lived within these walls, the room is always alive with guests from around the world, happy to have found themselves here at the Castello.
Is anyone not mad for authentic Italian cuisine? And so it seemed fitting to name the casual eatery Pazzia, which means madness in Italian. Ever inviting, Pazzia offers an espresso bar, homemade gelato, divine salads and crunchy panini, and of course, thin-crusted brick oven pizza prepared to your liking.
Here is fine, traditional Italian cuisine interpreted for a new age. The pasta is house-made, the seafood line-caught and produce organic. Each course is perfectly paired with recommendations by the estate’s expert sommelier. Here, the cellar follows but a single rule – only wines of consequence.
Essere Spa – a Serene Reprieve Essere Spa is perhaps the most dramatic setting at the hotel, with handset vaulted terra cotta ceilings and rich stone walls that create a theatrical setting. Long views across an expansive valley accentuate the experience, especially as a backdrop to invigorate movement classes on the terrace lawn. With spacious treatment rooms, secluded men’s and women’s relaxation areas, pools, steam rooms and a private outdoor garden, the spa soothes and nourishes. Nearby, the state-of-the-art fitness center provides even more ways to refresh and revitalize.
The Farms, Farmhouses and Villas
Castello di Casole offers three distinct ownership opportunities; The Farms, Farmhouses and the Villas. Each are unmistakably unique, each on its 4,200 acre estate. The Farms offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase a working farm of more than 100 to 160 acres with a luxurious, custom farmhouse as its center point. For those who would like the farmhouse without the working farm, the Farmhouse offerings provide a private setting surrounded by agricultural land. The Villas enjoy the benefits of a private setting with the attraction of being a few steps from all the amenities and activities at the Hotel.
The Farms at Castello di Casole
The Farms at Castello di Casole offer a unique opportunity to purchase a working plot of land within the acclaimed Tuscan estate. Each Farm has 100 to 160 acres of cultivable land with crops consisting of vineyards, olive groves, fruit orchards and wheat fields. The opportunity to build a new farmhouse in this setting, ranging from 5,500 to 12,000 square feet and customized by our design team, is a truly unique experience. As with every type of ownership at Castello di Casole, owning a farm here is as effortless as it is enjoyable. Our architecture, interior design and construction teams will work with you to design and build your Tuscan dream home. Our agricultural team will manage your farm by keeping all the crops in typical Tuscan beauty. Best of all, you can enjoy your own wine, olive oil and fruit without any of the hassles.
Whole and Shared Ownership
Sprinkled throughout the estate is an immaculately restored and reconstructed collection of Casali farmhouses. Each Casali is a luxury farmhouse, ranging from 4,000 to 7,000 square feet, surrounded by many acres of agricultural land. Each farmhouse is designed in traditional Tuscan style with a complete range of modern amenities including mosaic glass tiled infi nity-edged pools, a guest house and al fresco dining complete with wood burning ovens. Whole Ownership and Shared Ownership, through the Private Residence Club, provide families fortunate enough to call Castello di Casole home all the amenities, services and activities available at Hotel Castello di Casole. Whole Ownership allows Owners to custom-tailor the fi nishes and design to their liking; while Shared Ownership provides Owners every detail imaginable from classic European antiques to local artwork and down to Pratesi linens and towels. Both provide full residential services and Villa maintenance.
Restoration and Reconstruction
Typically, lower floors were home to livestock.
Casale Escaiole’s restored interior features the Villa’s theatrical arches.
Like much of the estate, Casale San Giuseppe was discovered in ruins.
A magnificent San Giuseppe pool house after 18 months of restoration.
Commanding the most favored sites throughout the property are the ruins of modest farmhouses where one can trace the centuries across the stones of walled courtyards and hand set loggia. Respectful of their heritage, they are being painstakingly restored and reconstructed by architects and artisans who gently coax them into the modern age. Everywhere is confi rmation of thoughtful restoration and reconstruction – reclaimed timbers and terra cotta, brick and stone from the property – every inch, every detail wrought by hand. When families choose to own at Castello di Casole, they also become part of Italian history.
Baronciole as a found ruin, carefully, meticulously, authentically and magnificently restored.
To step inside the Farmhouses and Villas is to discover interiors of richly textured fabrics and hand-stenciled antiquities, all burnished by the hues of the changing pastoral seasons. Everywhere are finishes that reward the curious eye and knowing touch. The furnishings are a collection of the finest interior appointments: Patina and Artitalia furniture; Rubelli fabrics; Callatini hand-painted beds; Gianfranco Ballerini refrigerators; DeMannicor gas and wood burning stoves; Pratesi bedding topped with Bagni di Volpi duvets; and an astonishing collection of baths with Philippe Starck fixtures, Carrara marble sinks and Bisazza mosaic tiles.
Inside and out and at every turn are secret spaces - fireplaces that warm a winter evening, cozy sitting rooms that make bedrooms true suites, and always, the attention to detail that makes these homes so comfortable and inviting.
Awash in Luxury The baths are a remarkable and contemporary counterpoint to the historic stone design of the exteriors. Dramatic. Unexpected. Sumptuous. They are themselves bathed in the marble made famous by Michelangelo. At every turn are surprising and thoughtful details, modern fixtures gloriously accented with the introduction of Bisazza glass tile. Each residence reflects the geologic origins of Tuscany’s many quartz, granite and marble veins – those gathered by farmers clearing nearby fields. The knowing eye will discover a palette of tiles individually selected by our architects to accent the natural colors that run through the stonework.
The Art of Immersion Whether it is the light playing off an ancient wall, a painterly sunset, or the silken touch of a chair by the fire, words are often insufficient to describe life on the Castello di Casole estate. Nowhere is this more true than the captivating collection of pools that grace each property. Each is an original work of art, a study in the art of immersion created with rainbows of sparkling Bisazza mosaic glass tile. Soaring off into the countryside, the pools invite lazy days sunning, napping and nibbling at pizza from the forno.
Attentive Services and Amenities Owners at Castello di Casole enjoy a wealth of luxurious services, conveniences and amenities – everything to make life in the Tuscan countryside a wondrous celebration of past and present. EE Estate-bottled
olive oil, wine and fresh flowers anticipate arrival
EE Your
refrigerator and pantry are stocked with practical necessities and treasures from local stores and markets
EE Attentive
governantes will see to your every request while in
residence EE Daily
housekeeping service
EE Upon
request, a personal chef, luxury airport transportation and private automobiles are available
EE Always
on hand are the property’s bilingual concierges to make dinner reservations, book exclusive museum tours, arrange luncheons in a private working vineyard or provide activities for the kids – they are here to make every day in Tuscany more special than the one before
EE At
the hotel, you will enjoy favored rates, as well as a pool, fitness and wellness spa, along with enticing dining venues to explore
EE Extensive
private trail system for hiking, biking and running through vast Tuscan countryside
EE On-site
educational experiences, including language lessons, cooking schools to inspire culinary creativity, and grape and oil harvesting classes with the local oenologist
EE Private
animal watching tours with the Castello game wardens
EE Guided
day trips throughout the region
EE Wireless EE Air
Internet
conditioning
Lake Como
Tuscany Region
Venice Cinque Terre
Tuscany Region Rome Naples
Sardinia
The Castello di Casole estate is one of the most prominent and ideally located in all of Tuscany.
Sicily
Those that know the region best treasure this particular locale for a myriad of reasons. First, the
Castello is central to the most desirable Tuscan destinations. Idyllic Siena is just 20 minutes east, and Florence 45 minutes north. The coast is a scenic hour’s drive. The walled fortress of Monteriggioni is a comfortable bike ride. Our nearby neighbors are the hill towns of Mensano, Radicondoli and the namesake, Casole d’Elsa. In the distance, the legendary towers of San Gimignano rise on the horizon.
Loca litĂ Querceto 201 Main Street, Suite 202 U.S. 866.963 .5005
Siena - Ita ly
Carbonda le, CO 81623
Ita ly +39.0577.967511
United States
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53031 Casole d ’Elsa
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