Hotel Palazzo del Capitano Wellness & Relais San Quirico d'Orcia - Tuscany.

Hotel Palazzo del Capitano Wellness & Relais, an edifice dating back to the 1400's when it was built for the noble Birigucci family, is considered to be one of Tuscany's most beautiful period houses. Its historical importance is linked to the town in which it is situated; the stunning medieval "borgo" of San Quirico d'Orcia, in the heart of the Val d'Orcia.

Within the territory of the Val d'Orcia Nature Park, in 2004 the town was declared world heritage site by UNESCO. San Quirico d'Orcia, the origins of which have been traced back to an ancient Etruscan settlement, was a key town for merchants and pilgrims travelling along the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome in the middle ages.

San Quirico d'Orcia became famous as the setting for the historic encounter between the ambassadors of Pope Adriano IV and Federico I of Sweden, otherwise known as "Barbarossa", which occurred here in 1155. To this very day, the event is commemorated each year on the third Sunday of June. Amongst the sites more than worthy of visit there is the Romanesque Collegiate Church, the Horti Leonini gardens and the ancient hospital of S. Maria della Scala.

Subject of a meticulous restoration project, Palazzo del Capitano has been subsequently transformed in charming hotel, the interiors of which still display the traces of its past as patrician town house. Exposed beams in rich chestnut wood, lavish textiles, and warm colored stone walls are just some of the features to be seen in the rooms and suites of Palazzo del Capitano, each of which has been appointed with the latest in modern comfort and technology. Guests arriving at the Palazzo del Capitano are greeted by the current owners, Roberto and Cosetta Genovese, a couple dedicated to offering the highest levels of hospitality and service.

Of the hotel's 16 bedrooms five have been defined Wellness suites and feature an in-room Jacuzzi with chromotherapy bath for two people. Spa lovers will be delighted to discover Palazzo del Capitano's recently Grotto di Venere Wellness Center and the hotel's superb range of skin products made from olive oil and aloe vera.

Rooms which were originally the stables of the Palazzo, have been converted in a charming venue for breakfast and aperitifs. Lunches and evening meals are served in the hotel's restaurant "Al Vecchio Forno"; an eatery which has received international recognition for its superb Tuscan cuisine and selection of the region's finest wines. In the hotel's lavender and herb scented garden, beneath the vine and olive covered pergolas, guests indulge in peaceful moments of complete relaxation.