In 1999 I was fortunate enough to be able to attend a friend's wedding at Castello di Montalto. I was staying elsewhere but immediately fell under the spell of this beautiful and enchanting Castello. At the end of the festivities I swore I would some day return and share this magical spot with friends. It took six years but in 2005 I retuned with a group of friends for a week long Tuscan holiday. The accomodations were excellent! The hosts were charming and helpful, going out of their way to make our stay a memorable one. One night they set up a traditional Tuscan cooking class/dinner for us with a local chef. To say the least it was a wonderful evening full of amazing food, wine laughter and friends! I could go on forever raving about Castelo di Montalto as it is still the most memorable vacation I have ever had. But I won't. This is a magical spot everyone at some point in their travels should make their way to! I know I will be retuning (hopefully) next year.

Sincerely,
Dana Leavitt

Montalto Castle is a beautiful place to stay in the heart of Tuscany. It’s basically a tiny medieval village, with a central courtyard, stone steps, and pathways between the various outlying houses. The hosts (Giovanni and Diana) do a lot of work to make it welcoming with lots of flowers throughout the grounds. To get there you drive through the woods on a dirt road -- and you start to wonder if you are in the right place, until the trees part and the castle appears right in front of you, with a beautiful open view of Tuscan hills in the background.

We were there for a week with a group of friends, so we rented Loggia, which is a 4-BR apartment. It has a good sized kitchen/living room combo, and a nice large covered terrace overlooking the valley below. It was very comfortable, with updated kitchen and modern bathrooms. Despite the updates, it still had a lot of old character and really gave you the feeling of living in the Tuscan countryside.
The terrace was large enough to accommodate all of us for dinners al fresco and for just relaxing. It includes a table that fits 10, if a bit snugly.

Although our place had a full kitchen, we went out for dinner most nights. There are some good restaurants within 20-30 minutes, but you MUST have a car to stay here!

Breakfast is available in one of the buildings every morning (for an extra charge). Espresso, cereal, yogurt, pastries, and of course bread and jams and honey. If you want to cook lunch or dinner, you can get groceries in town. We also supplemented with fresh vegetables (lettuce, zucchini, tomatoes, herbs etc. depending on the season) from Montalto’s gardens (for a small fee). You can also have fresh bread delivered (order it the night before), and they also sell wine if you haven’t picked any up on your day trips throughout the region. Prices for all of this seemed pretty reasonable.

Montalto is not a hotel – so no maid service or linen changes (unless you stay there more than a week). We did see a centipede or two in the house -- but we had the doors and windows open a lot so we just considered it part of the experience of being in the countryside. There is a nice swimming pool for days when you want to just relax, a so-so tennis court, and a barbecue area that we did not use. There are also some easy trails in the woods, if you want to go for a countryside walk.

Diana and Giovanni live in the castle itself and are very helpful hosts. Each week they have afternoon tea in the great hall of the castle – which is your only chance to see their half of the main castle itself and a chance to meet other guests. We almost skipped it, but I was glad we went. They tell you the history of the area and the castle, plus other historical info. The hall is lined with all kinds of old weapons, which is interesting and gives a very authentic ambience.

As for location, Montalto is relatively close to all the day-trip sites, but not extremely close to anything. It is off in the country, so most of your outings take a full day (except for Siena or some wine-tasting vineyards which are pretty close). We went to Siena (ask for info about the street market there); did a combined trip to Pisa and Lucca; spent a whole day in Florence; and did a combined day trip to Assisi, Perugia, and Deruta. Other trips to San Gimignano and other small villages and hill towns would also be pretty convenient.

All in all, this is a great place to go if you are tired of generic hotels and like something out of the ordinary. If you want constant activity and nearby nightlife, stay in Florence – but if you want to see the tourist sites by day and experience the quiet Tuscan countryside by night, then Montalto is a perfect option.

Giovanni and Diana Coda-Nunziante own and run this beautiful 1,000 year-old castle in the Tuscan countryside just outside the historic city of Siena. Because it is not a hotel, the prices are very reasonable and Montalto really feels more like your home in Italy, rather than just being a guest in a hotel. Everyone speaks perect English and is really warm and welcoming. The rooms are comfortable and of a good size with all you need should you choose to eat in your house / appartment. However, there are so many great local restaurants that you will probably go out for lunch and dinner most days. The staff is extremely helpful with reservations and recommendations. Siena is a short drive away and not to be missed, especially the Duomo and we had fun climbing the Torre de Mangia in the Piazza del Campo with our 7-year-old son, Ian and 10-year-old daughter, Bessie. The castle has a very nice and warm outdoor pool which we visited at least once every day. There are some great local walks in the fields and lanes around the castle with wonderful views. There is also a tennis court, although we didn't use it. You will have a wonderful time here if you go and we highly recommend Montalto.

I just spent a week in this place and found it to be absolutely wonderful. Words cannot describe the facility and its peaceful atmosphere. I will return! Not for one week but for two.
Ed Cohn