The hotel Torre dei Serviti was born in
2000 in order to organize an attractive tourist proposal of
accommodation characterized by some elements of originality compared
with the average of Tuscany (sure elevated).
The society has been founded by a group of friends of various
professional and company experiences, but with the common aim to offer
a tourist proposal of quality respecting the Tuscany
tradition.
They live in this land and want to try to involve you into the
atmosphere of Casole d'Elsa, recently described by one of the most
important Italian newspapers as "one of the small countries of noble
civilization and culture of Tuscany hills from 1300's to 1500's,
substantially untouched in its rigorous building and environmental
standard.
...more to know...
In the delicious village of Casole d'Elsa
of the 300' century, small gem of Tuscany countryside, lies Residenza
d'Epoca "Torre dei Serviti", which was formerly a
convent in the second half of the 400's, later the dependency of the
Episcopal seminary of Volterra.
Casole d'Elsa is a medieval beautiful
village, easy reachable from the more fascinating and famous angles of Tuscany.
(Siena 25 km, Florence 45 km).
The harmony between a relaxing life led in a lovely context as
the Tuscany and the closeness to the main historical and cultural
centers of the province of Siena makes the staying in Hotel Torre
dei Serviti a truly particular, original and unforgettable
experience.
The main reason of the fashion of Torre dei Serviti
is due to its introduction in an historical and landscaped context of
highest value.
The village of Casole d'Elsa preserves
nowadays features typical of 300's, which perfectly combine with the
restorations, the modernisations and the splendour of the surrounding
nature.
The restoration of Torre dei Serviti
stresses the extreme respect of medieval characteristics as well as the
architectonic structure and its inner furnishings, trying to develop
such characteristics and underline them with originality, sobriety and
heat.
HistoryThe architectonic complex of Torre dei Serviti
has the most articulated and unknown history of Casole d'Elsa.
Torre dei Serviti rises in the north part of the village, where
anciently lied "Porta ai Frati".
From the plain in the north part of the village the walls and
the towers of the ancient caste of Casole d'Elsa
still conserve the austere appearance of the fortress of Siena, as
reproduced by the engraving of Jean von Der Streat (called "Giovanni
Stradaro"). Following the troops of Florence, the
Fleming reproduced the scene of the siege of the castle, which will
give in, on August 1554.
Casole d'Elsa was an outpost of great
strategic importance for the Republic of Siena, which will definitively
extend on it its dominion after the victory of Montaperti in 1260. In
the first decade of 300's, Casole d'Elsa lived a
remarkable urban and economic development, thanks to the favourable
exchanges due to the improved practicability in Valdelsa as well as for
the presence of the powerful Aringhieri's family.
The gothic extension of the Romanesque "Pieve di Santa Maria
Assunta" is dated on the first part of 300's as well as the
construction of the new "Cassero senese". The new settlement of the
orders "Frati Mendicanti Servi di Santa Maria", placed outside the
walls of the castle of Casole d'Elsa, belongs to
the same period (around 1327).
A big degradation of the walls of Casole d'Elsa
has been testified during 400's. In 1481 the Government of Siena
deliberated on new works of fortification and charged Francesco di
Giorgio Martini, painter, sculptor and architect, famous for his
activity of military engineer.
It's thanks to him that we can observe the two rounds towers on the
East side of the walls.
The first tower we meet going back to the city town's walls of
Casole d'Elsa belongs to the curtain building.
The second one, leaned to the extreme part of the defensive circuit,
projects nearly totally from the curtain, just for its particular
position of defensive walls and for the door on the north part of the
village.
This tower will be called later "dei Serviti" as
well as the door will take the name of "Porta dei Frati". After that in
1513 it will come granted to the monks "Servi di Maria" to settle
within the walls of Casole d'Elsa, just nearby the fortified zone.
After the peaceful period under the dominion of Florence,
the convent of Servants will be totally reconstructed from the
beginning of 600's, that will include also the tower of Francesco di
Giorgio, without changing the essential characters. Probably the plan
belongs to Padre Leonardo Morelli da Casole, sacred
music composer, organist and chapel's master of the Dome of Volterra,
prior of the convent of Servants of his hometown.
The three elegant overlapping arcades, supported at the first
and second floor by octagonal blink columns, covered by plaster and
decorated with black and white bands, have been put on a context
respecting the pre-existent construction and city elements. The arcades
disposition is today only partially readable from outside, due to the
construction of new building during 800's and to the plunging of a
great part of the arcades during a phase, in which these places have
been converted into private houses.
Towards the end of 500's Casole d'Elsa
grow for music development. Maddalena called later "Casulana", who had
great fortune by Medici in Florence, and Francesco Bianciardi, theorist
born during this period.
The begging convent will be abolished in 1653 and the building
will be converted formerly on dependence of the Episcopal Seminary of
Volterra and successively on private house. The next Chiesa di San
Pietro, annexed to the convent and entitled to " Santissima Vergine
Annunziata" will be reduced to the present size, after the
transformation of a part of the building in kindergarten in 1931
dedicated to Marchese Giovanni Bargagli.
...the restorations...
The most relevant historical events from XIII century up
nowadays of the architectonic complex Torre dei Serviti are the two
great operations of restructure of Francesco di Giorgio in 1487 and of
Fra' Leonardo in 1600 (carried to fulfilment after his death from Fra'
Pietro Ricci).
The third operation of restructure of a part of the estate is
dated back to 2001, which will transform it after two years of workings
in "Ancient Residence Torre dei Serviti".
The historical residence Torre dei Serviti
lies in front of San Gimignano, in the picturesque village of Casole
d'Elsa, a
delightful medieval hamlet on the hills surrounding the
town of Siena. It is situated at a stown's throw
from the most interesting artistic sites of Tuscany,
such as Volterra, Certaldo and Florence. The last
is reached within a distance of 45 km.
Torre dei Serviti offers a buffet breakfast
with a wide choice of typical products from 8:30 am to 9:30 am.
La Torre dei Serviti, besides its internal
restaurant, disposes external restaurants at guests' disposal, so as to
guarantee a variety of menu. All these structures have an agreement
with Torre dei Serviti and it will be possible to dinner (only in the
summer and only on request ) outside.
The head office of Torre dei Serviti shall
reserve the possibility to organize the catering service inside its
restaurant or in the other restaurants, all close to the hotel, but
always assuring a good service.
