Tuscan heritage and contemporary design crafted by Alessandro Moriconi at Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany

APRIL 2024 - Located on an ancient Etruscan site, Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel - once a 
10th century medieval Tuscan castle - welcomes two new private Villas and eighteen 
restyled Suites by interior designer Alessandro Moriconi, embracing both traditional and 
contemporary design. Moriconi pays homage to the postmodernist Italian movement with his restyling of the hotel’s nine Etruria Suites, built in 2001 by renowned architect, 
Alessandro Mendini

VILLA THESAN AND VILLA USIL: A REINTERPRETATION OF CLASSIC TUSCAN STYLE
Just a five-minute walk from the hotel, located on 1300-hectares of vineyards and olive groves, 
the Villas bear the name Thesan, meaning "dawn" and Usil, meaning "sun", showcasing a 
continued commitment to the land’s cultural Etruscan heritage and language. The spacious 
250m2 Villas can accommodate up to seven guests, each boasting a large private garden and 
terrace with panoramic vistas, three double bedrooms, as well as an outdoor kitchen with a 
wood-fired oven. Guests have access to an infinity pool shared with four other luxury villas 
and private experiences within the sanctuary of their own villa. 
Alessandro Moriconi combines Tuscan tradition with a modern approach, a vision aligned 
with Castello di Casole’s noble heritage. Careful research has been undertaken of reclaimed 
materials and objects of Tuscan craftsmanship and antiques in the area, giving the new Villas 
an authentic and rustic charm, conveying the feeling of a home away from home. 
Terracotta floor tiles, carved sculptures, exposed bricks, rustic wooden beams, and wrought iron balustrades work harmoniously with lamps and furniture expertly crafted from Tuscan 
stone, creating a strong sense of place. Each area is distinguished by its unique palette of 
bucolic hues and colours, drawing inspiration from the surrounding nature. From the sandy 
tones gracing Villa Thesan to the verdant greens of the more rural Villa Usil, these palettes 
are further enhanced by the carefully chosen furnishings and fabrics with floral motifs, stripes, 
earthy textures, in collaboration with Dedar and Loro Piana. 
“With this project, I was able to return to my Tuscan roots and discover the extent of local 
craftsmanship, which Belmond is committed to enhance and support. It was educational 
to get to know the artisans who contributed with their art to the villas, and to be able to 
source materials and antiques from the region,” affirms Alessandro Moriconi. 

NEWLY RESTYLED SUITES: A FRESH TAKE ON TUSCAN TRADITION 
In the main building Alessandro Moriconi has expertly restyled nine Suites - four located in 
the room historically dedicated to wine fermentation and five in the former priest’s house. 
Evocative of a traditional Tuscan home with heritage elements integrated skilfully with 
contemporary fabrics and décor, giving the Suites a renewed vibrant atmosphere. 
Distinguishing each area by its own colour palette, Alessandro Moriconi chose cool and warm 
colours, reflected in terracotta or sage-green shades. From peculiar “bluette” and “terracotta 
fiammato” fabrics created in collaboration with esteemed textile company, Dedar, 
specifically for the project. These are complemented by Loro Piana interiors, floral carpets 
inspired by nature, and landscape paintings. Through meticulous research of Tuscan 
craftsmanship and antiques, the designer creates a dialogue between the outdoor and the 
indoor. 
"My approach to the restyling of these suites was more that of a curator. My challenge was 
to bring a new perspective to a centennial building, curating a sense of contemporaneity 
while preserving the authenticity and heritage of the place," says Moriconi.

THE RENOVATED ETRURIA SUITES: CONTEMPORARY DESIGN AND ART
Housed a short stroll from the main hotel, along a charming gravel road, the Etruria Suites 
are inspired by Italian design and the sprawling surrounding natural landscapes. Built in 2001 
by one of the masters in Italian and Postmodern design, Alessandro Mendini, the nine Suites 
integrate perfectly with their environment. 
Moriconi creates a dialogue between the Italian contemporary design from the fifties and 
Mendini’s legendary architecture. The interior designer crafts stories through design, 
recollecting the iconic figures of Italian design, sculpture and painting, interlacing the 
eclecticism and elegance of those times with modernity. Just like a museum, guests will be 
surrounded by timeless art pieces - lithographies by De Chirico, renowned “camaleonda” 
sofas by Bellini, carpets inspired by Gio Ponti’s drawings, vintage lighting and furnishings.
The terrace embraces the colours of nature with pastel shades permeating both interior and 
exterior areas. The landscape designers ensured a prevalence of plants from other countries 
and less classical Tuscan plants, as Euphorbia candelabrum from Africa or cast-iron-plants 
from Japan, instilling a sense of the unexpected.

A PERSONAL SANCTUARY, CLOSER TO NATURE
In harmony with the villa namesakes, guests can partake in astronomical sun-gazing led by 
an expert astro-tourist guide, unveiling the mysteries of solar eruptions and coronal 
emissions. Castello di Casole has been awarded by Astronomitaly for having “one of the most 
beautiful skies in Italy” due to its clarity and lack of light pollution, which guests can witness 
in real life.
The experience allows guests to travel back in time, imagining the life of an Etruscan with 
bespoke cosmetology workshops. These delve into the depths of ancient cosmetic traditions 
and share age-old beauty recipes cherished by Etruscan women who were great aficionados 
of self-care and well-being. 
Tuscan hospitality is at the forefront of the Villas experience. Upon arrival, Castello di Casole’s 
Barman welcomes guests with a local aperitif. A thoughtfully curated basket of locally 
sourced produce awaits with meats and freshly harvested vegetables from the Orti del 
Castello, the hotel’s very own vegetable garden, alongside daily breakfast baskets. Those 
seeking a special culinary moment can call on the talents of a private Chef for special lunches, 
dinners or pizza classes. Embracing the great outdoors, an expert floral designer leads flower 
workshops and creative painting classes to reflect the verdant scenery.
The Castello di Casole estate is home to a collection of Etruscan artifacts unearthed during 
excavations in the 1870s. Today, these pieces can be discovered inside the Essere Spa and the 
hotel library, as well as at the nearby Casole d'Elsa archaeological museum.