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Castello di Celsa is located in Sovicille, in the countryside of Montagnola, Siena. Plunged in the woods of hornbeams, holm oaks and chestnut trees, it overlooks the landscape from Siena to Mount Amiata.

The castle takes its name from the Celsi family from Siena, who built it in the XIII century. For centuries, it has belonged to the Aldobrandini family, who have often used it for weddings and receptions.

In front of the castle, there are the Italian gardens, which can be accessed through a gate framed by pillars adorned with capitals and stone vases – it’s also bordered by two small XVIII-century facades. Created by Baldassare Peruzzi (Sovicille, 7 March 1481 – Rome, 6 January 1536), architect, painter, set designer and military engineer), they were restored, after the Second World War, by the current owner Luisa Aldobrandini, a passionate gardener.

The restoration works involved several iconic features of the gardens, like the very XVI century terraced layout, the formal flower beds, several travertine vases and citrus basins (which in winter are stored in the adjoining lemon greenhouse), the north-east wooded garden (with a large lawn crossed by an avenue of cypress hedges, modelled in the shape of wavy parapets) featuring a large semicircular fish pond, and the wood of centuries-old holm oaks, called the “Rocco”, once used for hunting. In that wood, there’s also a beautiful XVI century fountain.
Along the avenues of the woods, covered with cyclamen and wild orchids in spring, some contemporary works of art have been put on somehow hidden display.

The Castle of Celsa offers the XVI century chapel, the large loggia, and rooms of the recently restored “Granaio” for wedding ceremonies, receptions and private functions.
The annexed historical residential structure – the “Limonaia”, featuring a swimming pool and a tennis court, offers accommodation for up to ten people.

(Photo source: official website)

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)