A Tuscan Dream
May 21, 2011In the rolling hills not far from the mythic cities of Florence, Siena and San Gimignano is one of the largest private landholdings in all of Italy. Rich Italian history and vast ownership, including movie stars and Italian nobility, is Castello di Casole – a signature development of Timbers Resorts.
With vineyards and orchards of olive trees patterning the hillsides, a historic castle is poised to open as a boutique hotel. Originally owned by the Bargagli family, an ancient and noble family of Siena, the Castello (castle) and surrounding estate dates back to 1680 and provides a vision of events that influenced the economy and culture of farm life in Tuscany. Today, Castello di Casole is a luxuriously appointed five-star resort and residence club featuring fractional and wholeownership opportunities in artfully restored and reconstructed Casali farmhouses.
The history of the Castello di Casole estate is deeply rooted in the Tuscan agricultural system of centuries past. At the time the castle was built, around 1700, dramatic changes in the social and agrarian landscape were underway. The rural houses throughout Tuscany began shifting to the sharecropping agreements, helping to dispel the centuries-old oppressive tradition of feudal serfdom. Here, for the first time in history, peasants became a party in a legal agreement – at the same level as the owner. Crop rotation needs and the tending of livestock created a yearround need for workers, and the job offered peasants far more favorable conditions than any other at the time.
The view that welcomes today’s visitors along the road from Casole d’Elsa towards the Castello, as well as from Monteriggioni, is an intimate reflection of its original 18th Century Tuscan landscape. It remains every bit as pastoral and pristine as it was over 200 years ago.
Owners at Castello di Casole enjoy a lifestyle as rich and diverse as Tuscany itself. Situated on many acres of land, the Casali range from 4,000 to 7,000 square feet. Each farmhouse features deep traditional Tuscan style with a complete range of modern amenities including a private infinity-edge pool and guesthouses. Additionally, each Casale is separately named after one of the original farms on the estate with its own custom style, layout and color scheme.
