Certosa di Maggiano (4 Star Hotels) Siena

The Certosa di Maggiano, built in 1314 with funds donated by Cardinal Ricardo Petroni, was a place designed for meditation and prayer. It is located in the countryside immediately outside Siena, a mere 2 km. from the famous Piazza del Campo. The property passed from hand to hand until 1969, the year in which Signora Anna Grossi Recordati fell in love with the majestic, ruined complex and decided to restore it to its former glory. In 1975 the Certosa di Maggiano was transformed into a hotel and became part of the famous Relais & Chateaux Association.

The 17 rooms of the Certosa di Maggiano, corresponding to what were seventeen monastic cells, are situated on three floors. Differing in style, color scheme, view and furnishings, they share a common simple, refined elegance, in addition to all the modern comforts.

The Certosa di Maggiano offers its guests a variety of thoughtfully appointed spaces in which to spend different moments of the day. The "Emperor's Hall" is so-named for the twelve eighteenth-century paintings, portraying the twelve Roman Emperors, which line its walls. The Library, dominated by an antique alder-wood bookcase, also features sofas upholstered with fine silk created by the Antico Setificio Fiorentino. The grounds are vast and among the olive groves and vineyards one finds our tennis court, helicopter landing, and a heated, open-air pool. Near the pool there is also a small fitness room.

The restaurant "Il Canto" takes its name from one of the centuries' old farms belonging to the Certosa, which even today produces olive oil and fresh produce, the ingredients upon which our dishes are based.
The spaciousness of the Certosa allows our guests to enjoy their meals in varying locales throughout the day. Breakfast is served in a historic kitchen, decorated in a rustic style with age-old tree branches, and in its adjoining patio. During the summer, restaurant service is available at the colonnaded porch near the pool, for those who wish to dine casually. Dinner, instead, depending upon the season, is either served in the small, exquisite dining room, or under the arches of the central cloister. A wide selection of Italian specialties is offered according to season, and in accompaniment guests will find a careful selection of Italian wines, particularly Tuscan red wines.