The Castle of the Lemon House
- €23,000,000
A thousand year old fortress reborn as a home of art and hospitality in the hills of the Florentine Chianti
Ref. FIR484
In the hills between Florence and the heart of Chianti, about 25 minutes from the historic centre, a castle of medieval origin rules over a landscape of vineyards, olive groves and cypress trees. Its tower rises above terracotta roofs, courtyards open one into the next, and formal Italian gardens step down towards the countryside in geometric terraces. The estate brings together approximately 7,350 sqm of buildings on 9.6 hectares of land, and today it is fully restored and run as a high end hospitality venue.
A thousand years of history
The roots of the complex reach back to the early Middle Ages, when a fortified outpost on the ridge watched over the roads to Florence. Over the centuries the fortress became a noble residence: the Renaissance courtyard dates from the late sixteenth century, while the seventeenth century left a frescoed Baroque chapel and a Baroque grotto adorned with statues and mosaics, a theatrical surprise hidden among the gardens. The salons retain painted ceilings and walls, where the morning light still brings the original colours to life.
The castle
The main building extends over approximately 6,740 sqm and offers 44 bedrooms and 35 bathrooms, sleeping 104 guests. The finest suites look onto the courtyards or the countryside and preserve frescoes, timber beams and terracotta floors. Shared spaces include reception salons, a dining hall for 150 guests and a restaurant seating 35 indoors and 75 on the terrace, ideal for events, receptions and weddings.
The guest house and the villa
Beside the castle, a guest house of about 385 sqm contains 9 apartments for around 30 guests, furnished in Tuscan style with beamed ceilings and antique terracotta. Some fifty metres away, a former hay barn has been turned into a 180 sqm villa with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, perfect as the owner's private residence or as an exclusive retreat for guests. Altogether the estate counts 39 apartments and 71 bedrooms, with capacity for about 142 guests.
Gardens, pool and landscape
Around the walls lie formal Italian gardens with box hedge parterres, a lemon garden of potted citrus and panoramic terraces from which the eye travels across the Chianti hills. The swimming pool opens onto the valley among vines and cypresses, while further down a natural lake mirrors the outline of the tower at sunset. Olive groves, vineyards and generous parking areas complete the property.
Restoration and amenities
The castle has undergone a recent restoration covering the structure and the electrical and plumbing systems, carried out with respect for the historic materials. The interiors have heating and air conditioning, and the property is sold furnished with an established hospitality business: a rare opportunity to combine the stewardship of a Tuscan monument with a prestigious hospitality project.
Price: € 23,000,000
Tuscan Soul RE conducts technical due diligence with the owner’s technician to have a full report on each property’s urban and cadastral state of the art. The due diligence may be requested by clients showing a strong interest in the property.
