| Spring 2008 |
Il Borgo is unveiled after painstaking restorations, offering 16 elegantly appointed guest
Suites (the complete collection of 26 Suites and Guestrooms will be available by Spring 2009) as well as a
cooking school, two restaurants, a fitness center (October 2008), a tasting room, an infinity pool, and other
distinctive amenities within its historic buildings. |
| 2004 |
UNESCO adds Val d'Orcia to its list of World Heritage Sites. |
| April 2003 |
Massimo Ferragamo purchases the Estate. Along with Corky Severson, they decide to restore and
develop Castiglion del Bosco into one of the finest Private Membership Clubs in the world. |
| 1996 |
The Val d'Orcia Artistic, Natural and Cultural Park is founded. The Park, which encompasses the
Castiglion del Bosco property, is an Area Naturale Protetta di Interesse Locale focused on increasing awareness
of cultural and environmental heritage, as well as manufacturing and marketing of local products. |
| 1995 |
According to the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino, 120 producers made 300,000 cases. Today,
there are well over 200 producers in the Consorzio producing more than 500,000 cases of Brunello. |
| 1975 |
The number of Brunello di Montalcino producers increases to 25 vintners producing approximately 70,000 cases. |
| 1972 |
The Val d'Orcia is considered a site of ‘outstanding universal value’ by the World Heritage Committee
according to Article 1 of the 1972 World Heritage Convention, making Castiglion del Bosco a World Heritage Site. |
| 1967 |
Castiglion del Bosco is one of the founding members of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino. The
organization is created as a voluntary association of producers who regulate and control the quality of Brunello
production. Brunello is among the first Italian wines to be granted the titles DOC (Controlled Denomination of
Origin) and DOCG (Controlled and Guaranteed Denomination of Origin). |
| 1960s |
There are only a handful of Brunello di Montalcino wine producers. |
| 1888 |
Ferruccio Biondi Santi, who is said to have resided on the Castiglion del Bosco Estate, abandons Canaiolo,
Ciliegiolo and Colorino vine species and concentrates on an isolated Sangiovese clone producing the now famous
Brunello di Montalcino wine. |
| 1345 |
Pietro Lorenzetti paints the fresco "Annunciazione dei Santi" in the Church of San Michele in Castiglion del Bosco's
Il Borgo. It was rediscovered in 1876 and fully restored to its original glory. Pietro and his brother, Ambrogio
Lorenzetti, who painted the Allegory of Good Government and Bad Government fresco in the Palazzo Pubblico in
Siena, belonged to the famous Sienese School which flourished during the late Middle Ages and foreshadowed the art of the
Renaissance. |
| 1339 |
Upon Ciampolo Gallerani's death, ownership of Castiglion del Bosco passes to the Piccolomini family, who conquered
the castle after a long and bloody siege. During this period, the fortification was restored. |
| 1318 |
Castiglion del Bosco Bosco is taken over by the Gallerani family – prosperous merchants who held public
offices in Siena. It has been said that Cecilia Gallerani, was the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's painting "The Lady
with an Ermine" and a muse for the "Mona Lisa." |
| 1313 |
Badia Ardenga, a beautiful antique abbey located near the Fiume Ombrone, is frequented by emperors and popes
traveling along the ancient Via Franciegena route. Built before 1000 AD, the original formation is still intact
today. According to legend, German Emperor Henry VII of Luxembourg and his army went to the abbey to take communion
during their stop in Buonconvento in 1313. Allegedly, the monks poisoned the Eucharist and the emperor was found dead
in the church. |
| 1208 |
Castiglion del Bosco holds a prominent position in the Sienese Republic, paying the highest property tax of all estates. |
| 1100 |
Castiglion del Bosco's Castello is built in classic medieval style; its form is similar to that of Rocca of
Tentennano, located not far from the Estate. In the early 13th century, the family of Cacciaconti of Trequanda surrounded
the hilltop bastion with stone walls. Standing today are remnants of the walled enclosure, a gate and the partially
destroyed Castello. |
| 725 AD |
The Via Francigena, leading from Canterbury to Rome, is established and use for centuries by thousands of pilgrims. The
road passed through Castiglion del Bosco where pilgrims found shelter in the Pieve San Michelle. |
| 600 BC |
Archeological digs confirm that the Etruscans occupied Castiglion del Bosco as far back as 600 BC – prizing its
elevated position as a military outlook. |