I LIVE IN A SPECIAL PLACE IN SAN GIMIGNANO COUNTRY

This morning while I was walking along the old path around my house I was thinking how happy I am to be living in this special location, which is for me the most beautiful place in the world.

Every place has its own unique identity. These rare characteristics that we can find in no other place on earth is what droves me to this charming spot. Here, during the Renaissance great intellectuals, artists and politics of that time were hosted by Paolo Cortesi distinguished humanist, secretary of the pope Giulio II and professor at the University of Siena. He was the owner of this cultural center named Castrum Cortesianum. Here Pope Alessandro III, Pope Giulio II, Angelo Poliziano, I Medici, Marsilio Ficino, Pico della Mirandola and many others personalities spent part of their time talking about literature, art, politics, architecture; here there was a private library for public use; here Paolo Cortesi also wrote and printed his most important book “De Cardinalatu”, a book dedicated to the role of cardinal-senator, a typical figure of the Papal States to pluck it out between the '400 and '500. The text is one of the cornerstones of humanistic literature.

Every time I caress these walls full of history and culture I feel a special energy.
What good vibrations and great sense of peace all around .....!

Relaxing holiday, our philosophy.

First, you must be on the mood. It is a rustic romantic place. Everything is very simple, but, as one once said, simplicity is the last degree of elegance. By the price you pay, you must think you are paying to see how paradise looks like, not for a mini bar full of sugar and alcohol.....

Today I want to say thank you to one of our kind customers who posted this comment on the most popular travel community on Internet. These words perfectly interpret the philosophy and the nature of our offer: a place where the silence, the history, the sense of peace are everywhere in a spacious environment for a few guests, where time is suspended to allow them to regenerate.

San Galgano Abbey, a secret treasure in Tuscany

Far only 1 1/2 hour by car from Fortezza de’ Cortesi, situated on the main road between Massa Marittima and Siena, the Cistercan abbey of San Galgano leave to visitors an indelible picture in the memory. It was built between 1224 and 1288 and contained the earliest Gothic churc in Tuscany. It provided the inspiration of Siena Cathedral. A magical, special, suggestive place. Absolutely to visit!

Poetry , our soul food….

Today is a tender spring sunny day. I’m in the mood for poetry. Here is one of my favorites.

The morns are meeker than they were-
The nuts are getting brown-
The berry's cheek is plumper-
The Rose is out of town.
The Maple wears a gayer scarf-
The field a scarlet gown-
Lest I should be old fashioned
I'll put a trinket on.

Emily Dickinson

Yes, me too I’ll put a little trinket on.

What a kind way to start the day!

What a pleasure to recognize the same values and feelings in the appreciation of one's guests! Today after breakfast, two delicious American guests told me how nice is rediscovering the pleasure of speaking, the useless of telephone and television in a place like the Foretezza. I replied, this is exactly what brought me and my husband in this magical place, here there is time and peace of mind to find ourselves and our loved ones.

Tuscan emotions, romantic luxury of a relaxing holiday in the countryside

Tuscany is the place where senses re-align to the nature; the smell of the countryside by the season change, the sight of generous landscaping, deliciously rolling lush of olive trees, cypresses vineyards dotted by antic villages, the luscious taste of a fruit picked from its tree, the story of struggle working hands on the roughness of an old "beating" table, the sound of the nature at night.
Enjoy the romance of a luxuriant holiday of idleness, antonym " negotium", forced time to tasks materials, taking the privilege of ample living space to share in a few ......

Cooking class at Fortezza de' Cortesi!!

An experience of savours, flavours, consistence, you will be aware of the essential secrets of cooking, giving you all right instruments to share them with your friends and amaze your guests during your genuine Italian dinner.

I will show you the organic row ingredients we mostly use for our recipes; we ‘ll pick aromatic herbs and vegetables directly from our garden in our organic farm, then I’ll give you some basic information on our self produced saffron DOP and extra virgin olive oil, so that you will have no difficulties to choose the right ingredients from the shelves once back home.

Come and stay with us!!!! ask for more info to: info@fortezzacortesi.com

Saffron in the kitchen

There are several recipes in which saffron can be used. From appetizers to desserts, its peculiar flavor due to the presence of the elements that compose the picrocrocina and its scent made up of active ingredient safranal joined to the beautiful yellow gold color given by crocin, makes it one of the most unusual and versatile spice.

The Romans used it to prepare dishes for cooking game and aromatic wines. Arabs for cakes and breads. During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance it was used for the preparation of "crayons" spices and meat pies, breads, soups, cakes savory, vegetables and legumes in meats and cheeses, fruit and cakes.

Today, appreciated by the best international chefs including those in the restaurant "Dulcis in Fundo", San Gimignano, is used for preparing countless recipes and creative cooking.

About Charming Country Resort in Tuscany

The Charming Country Resort will be the right choice for a holiday, making you experience the full potential of this land, combining pleasures of the countryside comfort and relax, luxury and antic, wellness and culture, art and food, wine and traditions.
A stay of excellence, the pleasure of living according to natural rhythms of the seasons, to enjoy the taste of the old home made breakfast and meals with local produce, to spend time lost in idleness reading or just listening to the chirping of cicadas on the edge of a swimming pool or chatting in front of a fireplace, have the luxury of this era in which everything is experienced in haste. In Tuscany and throughout Italy there are several structures that apply this philosophy of hospitality. The guest has the opportunity to enjoy a holiday full of exclusive comfort out of the same stereotype farmhouse rustic and good. Often these luxury cottages to foster local knowledge, organize courses of all kinds, from those of typical local cuisine to those of medieval history, horseback and bicycle tours, guided tours of the city of art and wine.
Some even offer the possibility of personal services such as relaxing massages, Shiatsu, sauna etc.. and are often organized as a real beauty farms. All this offers the opportunity for both owners and guests to give and receive hospitality at all times of the year beyond the limit of seasonality. At all times so you can spend a period of pleasant break to relax and then return to everyday...... knowing that somewhere not too far away, there are places where you can experience that time got still human beats .

Fortezza de' Cortesi You tube channel

Follow us on

Feel the atmosphere of our Tuscan Retreat, a special place for unforgettable holiday.... beautiful pictures will make you feel here and share with us unforgettable moments in San Gimignano, Tuscany!