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Relais La Suvera
53030 Pievescola
Casole d'Elsa (SI)
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Tel. + 39 0577 960300
Fax + 39 0577 960220
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www.lasuvera.it
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The origins of La Suvera go back to the Middle Ages when it was one of the castles of the Montagnola and Montemaggio counties ruled by the legendary Countess Ava Matilde dé Franzesi, a relation of the King of France, also known as the Queen of Montemaggio. The name Suvera in fact derives from the word “souveraine”, French for sovereign.
Later this county passed into the hands of the powerful Ardengheschi family, Longobards, but by 1507 it had been gifted to Pope Julius II, who received it from the Republic of Siena for political reasons.
This Renaissance Pope, a highly political and militant ruler, is far better known as Raffaello and Michelangelo’s patron and for having commissioned Bramante to build St Peter’s.
This gift was greatly appreciated by the Pope, so much so that the renovation work and conversion of the ancient fortress to a villa were entrusted to Baldassarre Petruzzi, who blended its medieval severity with the sumptuous luxury of the Renaissance.
La Suvera passed from Pope Julius to his nephew Nicolò della Rovere but from there it went to the Chigi family from Siena and later, through marriage, inheritance and acquisition it came into the current owners’ hands, the family of the Marquis Ricci. The Ricci family have turned it into an extraordinary five star country hotel whose suites and rooms offer hospitality to the most demanding of guests from all over the world.
The Marquis Giuseppe Ricci Paracciani Bergamini and his wife, the Princess Eleonora Massimo, together have created a most charming ambiance. The family collection of antiques, which bears witness to their connections with the historical families of Europe, creates a living theatre of history and culture which cannot fail to fascinate their guests.
A suite may be selected from a wide choice of styles, from the Neo-Gothic to the Neo-Classical, from sumptuous Empire furnishings to the 19th century English elegance of the Fox suite. The true atmosphere of revolutionary France at the end of the eighteenth century comes alive in the Marie Antoinette Suite while the Papal Suite holds echoes of Julius’ life during the Renaissance. In the Maioliche Suite, it was Princess Eleonora Massimo’s keen desire to keep alive the memory of her great grandfather, Ferdinand of Savoy, First Duke of Genoa. And a great deal more awaits.
From the Papal Villa to the Old Stables, the Farm and the Olive Mill, each room or suite is a world unto itself. The grounds and the setting of La Suvera are spectacular. Passing through the gate guests enter the square with the aviary at its centre, and beyond it the church, dedicated to Saint Carlo Borromeo, where at sunset church music can be heard. All around are the beautiful Italianate gardens and what was once an ancient fishing lake is now a swimming pool. The fitness centre and the soft, Sienese countryside contribute to the all-pervading feeling of peace and tranquillity, which is the true gift of La Suvera.
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