Rosewood - Castiglione del Bosco - Villa Alba – Tuscany

3 Bedrooms – Heated Swimming Pool

The marvellous natural scenery of the Val d'Orcia has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Site for years. It is the very same, almost untouched landscape so beloved of the masters of the Sienese School of painting during the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries; rolling hillsides, cypress trees, vineyards, clusters of olive groves and magnificent castles.

Villa Alba forms part of the vast, 800 year old, Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco estate, which lies in the heart of the Brunello di Montalcino wine producing area. The estate, founded by  Massimo and Chiara Ferragamo, boasts 5,000 acres of woodland, vineyards, a medieval church, the ruins of an ancient castle and the Borgo itself, the gorgeous historic village that forms the very heart of the estate. The Borgo contains, among other buildings of architectural note, the historic manor house, the stables and the old winery now converted in luxury Suites, the priest's house, and the church of San Michele Arcangelo. The church features a fresco by Pietro Lorenzetti  which was discovered in the late 1800s and has since been restored to its former glory. There are also two restaurants, two bars, the cooking school, an organic kitchen garden, a spa, a kids club, an infinity pool and a fitness centre.

Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco features a superb, private 18-hole golf course designed by the legendary British Open winner, Tom Weiskopf. The course is suitable for players of all abilities yet manages to offer challenging games for professionals as far as the 19th Brunello hole. The club house is situated in a beautifully restored farmhouse on the estate and includes a bar, a pro-shop and adjacent practicing facilities.

For the wine lovers, in addition to the vineyards, the estate has its own winery which produces, amongst other quality wines, the famous rich, deep red Brunello di Montalcino DOCG. The grapes have been harvested in the same hands-on manner since the 18th century and the enormous winery on the estate holds international wine making and wine tasting events, workshops and seminars.

Why not try a Tuscan speciality cooking class held at the Osteria La Canonica Cookery School in the old priest's house in the Borgo? These 2-hour classes are led by a professional chef and you'll use the herbs and vegetables grown in the estate's organic vegetable garden. The vegetable garden was designed by the same landscape gardener that designed the Vatican gardens. And what could be better than an organized truffle hunt through the countryside with trained hounds followed by a truffle-tasting session afterwards?

For a more sporty experience, you could also try archery, horseback riding, fly fishing, nature walks, mountain biking, quad bikes, helicopter tours or hot air balloon trips which are all available through Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco.

Villa Alba is perfect for guests seeking all of the luxuries and services of a high class hotel whilst enjoying the privacy of a secluded house in the hills.

Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco is 120 km from Florence international airport and 180 km and 220 km from the international airports of Pisa and Rome. The city of Siena is only 45 km away and Florence 90 km. There is a private airport in Grosseto, about an hour's drive away and the estate has its own private helipad.

The Property. While the estate of Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco offers all of the facilities and treatments of a 5 star hotel, Villa Alba offers the seclusion and privacy of an exquisitely restored Tuscan farmhouse. The villa is set on a gentle hilltop and has far-reaching views out across the Val d'Orcia and surrounding Tuscan countryside. Villa Alba sleeps up to 6 guests; four people in the main house and two people in the adjacent cottage. On the first floor, the main house has a king-sized master bedroom with a four poster bed and a twin bedroom, both with en-suite bathrooms. The cottage has a king-sized double bedroom, en suite bathroom and large, private, outdoor terrace. All of the bed linens are of exceptionally high quality, as are all the furnishings in the villa. The bedrooms are fitted with flat screen TVs and air conditioning.

On the ground floor of the main house, there is lovely, comfortable living room with a fireplace and a television, a homely dining area within the gorgeous, Tuscan style, fully fitted, modern kitchen and a smaller, third bathroom. In addition to the welcoming furniture, the property also features wooden beams, terracotta floor tiles and period fireplaces.

Villa Alba has its own, large, heated private swimming pool and the poolside area is furnished with sun loungers for lazy afternoons spent relaxing in the sun. The pool is paved with timeless Tibetan stone to create a deliciously inviting colour. The outdoor seating/dining area is under a pretty, shady pergola with potted plants and surrounding lavender fields to complete the romantic atmosphere.