Honeymoon in Tuscany

The historic Castlello Berardenga lies in one of the loveliest parts of the Chianti area of Tuscany, in the heart of the ‘Sienese triangle’ which is formed by Florence, Siena and Arezzo. It is perfectly located for enjoying the splendour of Tuscany, it’s medieval towns, wineries, countryside and much, much, more.

This beautiful estate is a magical place, with the castle, it’s grounds and much woodland to explore. It is over 700 acres in total and was once it’s own hamlet in the medieval times. It is still currently a working farm, producing olives, wheat, alfalfa, sunflowers and canola for cooking oil. Everything here is grown using ecology friendly methods. A major part of the estate is woodland, primarily oak, which produce firewood and heather for twig brooms still used in the area today. You have the opportunity to see many forms of local wildlife including wild boar, small deer, pheasant, hare, wild goat and large porcupines. Countless species of birds also enjoy life here on the estate.

The different cottages and buildings surrounding the castle have all been restored to provide eight homes of different sizes, accommodating up to 44 people. The neighbouring estate is able to accommodate an extra 120. All houses are tastefully and individually furnished and equipped with ample cooking and table ware, bed linens and towels. Most houses have BBQ’s, a private area for outside dining, fireplaces and washing machines. Some are also equipped with telephones.

The Castello Berardenga was initially built by a descendant of Berardo, first count of the Berardenga family whose name is reflected in today's township. When it was built is uncertain, maybe as early as the 8th or 9th century AD, certainly by the eleventh.

Faithful to Siena in the on-going struggle for supremacy between that city and Florence, Monalto saw recurrent battles between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. Eventually the impoverished Berardengas lost the castle to Siena, who refortified it with yet higher walls and maintained a garrison against the Florentines.

After a long siege in 1478, people refused to live at the castle because of its exposed position. Siena first offered incentives for settlement, then in 1546 ceded the castle and its lands to knight Giovanni Palmieri. Under whom Monalto became completely autonomous, with the only obligation of loyalty to the independent republic of Siena. Soon after, however, Cosimo de' Medici led Florence to victory. When all of Tuscany became peaceful under Medici domination, the castle lost its brief independence and the Palmieri descendants turned it into a residential manor, decorating the Hall of Arms with the frescoes of life on the estate's farms that can still be seen today.

Extensive restoration was undertaken in the 19th century and completed in 1908. The castle had a population of about 120 at the time of the Second World War, when fighting again raged in the woods during repeated passages of German and Allied troops. After the war, the little community gradually became depopulated as country people moved into towns, and now only the owners and caretakers live there all year round.

The present owners have been living and farming on the estate since 1970. They have added to the castle's interior comfort with modern conveniences, while cherishing the different types of stonework that reveal the castle's long and varied past.
The castle's charming chapel is available to use for weddings and the central courtyard is a perfect place to enjoy your special day.

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