Relais La Costa (Monteriggioni)
Central Tuscany, Chianti, and Siena, Italy
Relais La Costa: the residence
As soon as you arrive in front of the ancient residence "La Costa" you will begin to experience a place where history and nature meet within its park-like setting and ancient stone walls. The historic residence La Costa is located in an area settled during medieval times, as is evident in the impressive stone architectural structure. The building was once a hospice for pilgrims taking shelter within its stone walls. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed in the elegant reception area, where you will find information and assistance to make your stay truly special.
Relais La Costa: apartments
All the apartments at La Costa each have their own entrance, living room with fully equipped kitchenette, fireplace, double or twin bedroom, and bathroom. Direct phone, satellite TV and Wi-Fi connection will be the only links to the modern world, from which you are free to disconnect for a few days to fully enjoy the timeless ambience of Tuscan hospitality.
Relais La Costa: restaurant
In the typical Sienese tradition, the smell of bread baked in the courtyard oven will greet you every morning. You may enjoy a continental or American breakfast, or an authentic Tuscan dinner served directly in your suite or in your favorite corner of the residence.
Spa
The spa at La Costa enhances wellness with the sauna, whirlpool (reservable), a large massage cabin and relaxation area.
Relais La Costa: country - a breathtaking journey to discover the most spectacular Tuscany views.
Monteriggioni
The impregnable medieval village, persists until the present day in an excellent state of preservation, has long been a symbol of Siena domination and supervision on the Via Francigena and the Cassia. The"round circle" of walls mentioned in Dante's Inferno has withstood three hundred years of sieges and still shows intact all its magnificence to the many tourists who come to admire it from all over the world. Monteriggioni has been the scene of many TV commercials and movies thanks to its beauty and the spectacular surrounding scenery, typical of Tuscany. The gentle hills surrounding the citadel, planted halfway between Siena and Val d'Elsa, dotted with vegetation and scattered farmhouses, are a perfect setting and offer a unique view to visitors' eyes. Instead, enter between the houses and the streets of this village means going back in time: if you wander with imagination, you almost get the impression to see a guard who makes the patrol among the towers, or a pilgrim in search of refreshment among the little shops of the town.
Via Francigena
Also known as Via Francesca or Romea, the Via Francigena goes through Tuscany for 400 km. 15 of the 44 Italian stages recorded in the diary of Archbishop of Canterbury Sigerico are located in Tuscany and, among these, the stage San Gimignano-Monteriggioni was the first to be equipped with services for pilgrims. The inauguration of this stage, on 8 October 2011, has been a first step towards the rediscovery of Tuscany's ancient pilgrims routes and a push toward ever-increasing territorial development for a tourism attentive to the historical, cultural and religious traditions. Although much of the track that Sigerico traveled in his pilgrimage from Canterbury to Rome is now deleted or off the main roads, re-evaluate the old Via Francigena's paths means guarding a treasure for tourists that traverse them and for the region itself. Discovering step by step cities, landscapes, traditional cuisine and local culture.
Chianti
Renowned for its DOCG red wine, the Chianti area appeals tourists and the curious from all over the world for the uniqueness and the beauty of its towns, for its lovely landscape and for its food and wine traditions, typical of collective imagination about Tuscany. It is divided in Chianti Senese and Chianti Fiorentino, depending on the proximity to the one or to the other city of art, and it is crossed by a short mountain range called Chianti Hills, which forms the border with the Val d'Arno and Val di Chiana areas. The territorial characteristics of these regions have always favored human settlement since Etruscan times, when it changes over from sheep-farming to agriculture and began to grow vines. But what we see today is the result of Middle Ages and later centuries settlements, which have changed the territory profile until it become the warm and rich land that we know today.
Siena
Expression of Medieval commune par excellence, this city has been recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Site for its architectural and artistic heritage and for the most popular among its traditional festivals, the Palio. Flows of tourists come to this jewel of Tuscany every year to admire its almost intact splendor and to visit the surrounding areas, all within a few miles away, full of breathtaking landscapes, ancient villages, spa facilities and interesting activities to do.
Walking through the streets of the city center you can easily reach the main points of interest: Piazza del Campo, dominated by the Torre del Mangia and the Palazzo Pubblico, seat of the prestigious Civic Museum, the Duomo and the adjoining Museo dell'Opera, San Domenico Basilica and the old Santa Maria della Scala hospital, one of the oldest and largest hospitals in Europe. Going away to explore the surroundings, however, you can easily reach Chianti, Crete Senesi, Val d'Orcia and the city of Florence. Appreciated by visitors is, finally, the local food. Tasty appetizers, pasta and meat marry beautifully with the sweet Siena specialties: panforte, ricciarelli and cantucci that, especially at Christmas time, make the mouth water showing themselves in the city shop windows.
San Gimignano
Nerve center halfway between Val d'Elsa, Siena and Chianti, San Gimignano has all the credentials to be inevitable stage of all who visit Tuscany. Tight into its walls, this ancient village has preserved almost intact houses, squares, alleys and most of the thirteenth century towers that once dotted the city in large number. Piazza della Cisterna and the Torre Grossa are undoubtedly the two most characteristic places: the first is a beautiful open space that takes its name from the ancient monumental well that is there, the second is the tower of the Palazzo Comunale, from where you can admire the adjoining landscape splendor. Right there, in the countryside around San Gimignano, Saffron and the grapes for the famous Vernaccia are grown. It is the first Italian wine to receive the DOC and one of the finest white wines. A combination of history, culture and local products makes San Gimignano a precious treasure in Tuscany,set in all its beauty over the hill from which overlooks the changing surrounding Tuscan landscape.Relais La Costa: country - a breathtaking journey to discover the most spectacular Tuscany views.
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