In honor of or our March issue, a special report on Tuscan hideaways, we asked friends of Dream of Italy to tell us about their favorite spots in Tuscany. This recommendation is from Rosanne Cofoid of La Dolce Via Travel:
Castelletto Di Montebenichi is an enchanting little hotel (just 10 rooms), in the center of a medieval hamlet that was once a fortress, has been created in a 12th century tower. Located high on a hill above a valley in Tuscany, 28 km from Siena, Montebenichi is only a few km from the train station, offering convenient transportation to Florence. Comprised of private houses and one small restaurant, this quiet village is made entirely of stone.
The Castelletto opened as a hotel in 1998 and features rooms with original frescoes, a loggia where a bountiful breakfast is served, and sitting rooms filled with valuable antiques. Each room has a name, each has antique furnishings, and each is different in layout and decor. There is a beautiful swimming pool with a view overlooking the Tuscan valley, located outside the walls ofthe village that the owners have built exclusively for the enjoyment of guests of the hotel.