The rebirth of a medieval village: this is the story of Castiglioncello del Trinoro, a small village of just fourteen inhabitants in the municipality of Sarteano. The turning point came in 2003, when Michael Cioffi, a lawyer from Cincinnati, fell in love with this 900-year-old ancient settlement, deciding to save it from abandonment.
Before Cioffi’s intervention, the village was in a state of decay, with crumbling buildings and vegetation invading the streets. But the American lawyer glimpsed the hidden potential among those ancient walls, attracted by the millennial history of the place and determined to bring it back to life. The restoration project, which began in 2005, led to the creation of Monteverdi Tuscany in 2012, an exclusive scattered hotel named after the famous composer.
The transformation wasn’t limited to accommodation facilities: the village’s small church was converted into an auditorium, while the kitchen was entrusted to chef Riccardo Bacciottini from Poggibonsi, who delights guests with traditional local dishes.
This intervention saved Castiglioncello del Trinoro from a fate of abandonment and ruin. However, the “touristification” of historic villages remains a controversial topic, as demonstrated by the controversies that arose in similar cases: in Chiusure, in the municipality of Asciano, historic residents opposed similar operations, while in Monticchiello, in the territory of Pienza, a group of intellectuals led by Alberto Asor Rosa opposed the construction of new houses near the historic walls.
In Castiglioncello del Trinoro, however, the transformation occurred without conflicts, giving new life to the village. A success that also made Andrea Franchetti happy, a pioneering entrepreneur who started a winery in an area considered by many to be unpromising for viticulture.
Sources: Corriere di Siena e Cibotoday.it