Relais La Suvera Casole D'Elsa

The historic residence and 5 star hotel, Relais La Suvera, is situated in the enchanting Chianti countryside between Siena and Florence.
The origins of La Suvera can be traced back to the high middle ages when the building served as castle of the county of Siena. The name Suvera is thought to derive from the French 'souveraine', or sovereign, in honour of the then ruling Countess Ava Matilde dè Franzesi, a relation to the Clovis King of France.
In later years, in an attempt to gain the favour of the church, the Republic of Siena donated the Suvera to Pope Julius II. The Pope commissioned Baldassarre Peruzzi, (Siena 1481 - Roma 1536), as the man responsible for the architectural project which transformed the building from fortified edifice in sumptuous Papal villa.

The Suvera was inherited by Pope Julius's nephew Nicolò della Rovere and then passed on to the Chigi family from Siena. Centuries later, through inheritance, marriage and acquisition, the property came in to the hands of the current owners, the Marquis Ricci and his wife, Princess Eleonora Massimo, daughter of King Umberto II.
The one time Papal residence is now at the heart of a large property which gradually developed over the centuries. In addition to numerous outbuildings, the Suvera estate is the site of a consecrated 15th century chapel dedicated to St Carlo Borromeo and formal Italian gardens dating back to the 18th century.
The Relais la Suvera has a total of 32 guest bedrooms and suites all named after the aristocratic ancestors of the owners and individually furnished with antiques and precious heirlooms from the family collections of the Marquis and the Princess. Many of the Relais La Suvera's rooms, such as the Maria Gabriella di Savoia Suite, are worthy of museum status. This suite, located in the 12th century tower of the hotel, boasts a magnificent canopied bed with gilded wood crown. The rooms of the suite are filled with oil paintings, tapestries, ancient bronzes and gold-lacquered chinoiserie, and offer stunning views out over the surrounding Chianti countryside.
The Oliviera restaurant serves excellent Tuscan and Italian cuisine to guests dining in the hotel's elegant dining room or open air terrace. A superb wine list features the finest vintages including some of the organic wines produced on the Suvera estate.

The Bar dei Limoni, close to the pool and with view of the sweet smelling lemon trees, provides the ideal informal environment for those wishing to partake in a light meal or pre-dinner drink.
The large heated swimming pool is equipped with ultra modern purification system and hydromassage corner. The Hotel La Suvera's wellness center offers a series of massages and beauty treatments in addition to a hydromassage pool, steam bath, and fitness area.
Guests may like to browse in the hotel's boutique, where to purchase a bottle or two of the Suvera's Organic wine, or a copy of the book "stories of the Earldom of the Suvera".