Castello di Velona Montalcino - Tuscany.

Castello di Velona will be closed for rennovation work until April 2010.

Castello di Velona is situated in the countryside close to the celebrated Tuscan hilltop town of Montalcino, and overlooking the Val d'Orcia. The Castello di Velona is a fortified building constructed in medieval times and dating back to the 12th century. It is believed that the watch tower, still perfectly conserved, was erected in the 13th century at a time when battles raged between the cities of Florence and Siena. The main loggia was built in renaissance style in the period when the building was transformed in residential home. The Castello di Velona appears in the geographical papers painted by Ignazio Danti housed in the Vatican. The rear part of the building is of more recent construction and built in neo-medieval style.

The road at the foot of the hill on which the Castle was built, appears on old maps under the name of Via Clodia; the old Roman road which united the southern Etruria with Rome. In the vicinity, one can also see parts of the Via Francigena, a route much used by writers, artists, pilgrims and famous highway men who, in medieval times, all travelled to Rome in occasion of the Jubilee. In land close to the Castle, important Etruscan artefacts have been discovered, now exhibits in the museum of Montalcino.

In 1997, the Castle, which by this time had been long abandoned and left to ruin, came under new ownership and was subsequently to become the subject of a meticulous restoration project. The work ensured that the original structure and characteristics of the historic country dwelling were conserved whilst allowing for the transformation of the Castello di Velona in luxury relais complete with gourmet restaurant, high-tech function room and panoramic swimming pool and terrace .

The hotel has 22 suites and 2 double rooms all individually decorated using rich blues, greens and crimson reds. The rooms of Castello di Velona all feature open fireplaces, exquisite antique furniture, and fabrics of the highest quality. The hotel's 'Le Colonne' restaurant presents guests with a splendid menu of the finest Tuscan cuisine. During the summer season an al fresco dining room is positioned in the castle's gardens, in the shade of the estate's olive and cypress trees.

The Castello di Velona provides a unique venue for small scale meetings and social gatherings held in the meeting room, library and Salone dei Paesaggi. The castle, which is also available for exclusive rent, offers the highest levels of service and the latest in modern technology including Wi-Fi connectivity.