That is the key to Castel Monastero, an old mediaeval hamlet embraced by sturdy walls that has defied time without turning its back on its past. From an out-of-the-way monastery shrouded in the peaceful silence of the Tuscan hills – back in the 11th century – it became a country retreat for the noble Chigi Saracini family, a cathedral of style in the flourishing green expanse threaded by cypress trees just a hop and a skip from Siena. Today, it is a sophisticated resort and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. As befits its noble origins, it offers true Italian hospitality, extending a warm and traditional yet impeccable welcome, with excellent food that finds a divine marriage in the local DOC wines and a natural vocation for helping you get back in shape. The galloping excitement of the nearby Palio; the sublime mastery of Piero della Francesca; the fervour of the Etruscan civilisation – this heady mix of vibrant Tuscan culture seems to come straight out of another era. For here, among the rolling hills, life has its own pace. Even time follows a gentler rhythm, as the sunlight floods the palace, the piazza, the church (tying the knot at Castel Monastero has a real royal charm) and the two country houses crowned by the Chigi Saracini family’s emblematic star and coat of arms. 74 rooms and suites plus a villa. 2 restaurants – the styled gourmet “Contrada” and the Tuscan “La Cantina” in the 13th-century cellar. The Spa with 8 treatment rooms, “water wellness” zone and 3 outdoor pools cascading gently into one another, forming the perfect soundtrack suffusing day after day of pure relaxation. Castel Monastero is all this, and more.