The Certosa di Maggiano, built in 1314 with funds donated by Cardinal Ricardo Petroni, was a place designed for meditation and prayer. It is located in the countryside immediately outside Siena, a mere 2 Km. from the famous Piazza del Campo. In the XVI century the Certosa di Maggiano was partially destroyed in the terrible war between Spain, headed by the Emperor Charles V, and France under Enrico II, but its charm remained intact. Life at the Certosa continued peacefully from that time to 1792 when the Tuscan. Grand Duke Leopold II decided to dispossess the monks of their cells and sell them to private individuals. The property passed from hand to hand until 1969, the year in which Signora Anna Grossi Recordati fell in love with the majestic, ruined complex and decided to restore it to its former glory. In 1975 the Certosa di Maggiano was transformed into a hotel and became part of the famous Relais & Chateaux.
The 17 rooms, which were once the cells of the monks, are laid out over three floors. They differ in terms of type, colours, furnishings and view but are united by their simplicity and elegance as well as by all the modern comfort they provide.
The Restaurant "Il Canto" gets its name from an old farm belonging to the Carthusian monastery that still produces olive oil, fruit and vegetable, the basic ingredients of the dishes we offer. The restaurant's uniqueness comes primarily from the variety of the places it offers for eating lunch or dinner depending on the season. An old, rustic kitchen decorated with age-old branches and the patio are the ideal place for simple, informal lunches. Depending on the season, dinner can be eaten in the dining room - which has a plethora of unique, beautiful furnishings - or beneath the agival arches of the main cloister. Our cooking is characterized primarily by its simplicity and authenticity that we use. The olive oil, fruit and vegetable come from our gardens, which gives us another reason to be grateful.
The Carthusian monastery offers its guests various unique areas for every moment of the day. The "Sala Imperatori" (Emperors's Rooms) has been given this name because its walls bear twelve 18th-century canvases from the Veneto Region, rapresenting the twelve emperors of Rome. The library is furnished with impressive alder bookshelves and embellished with sofas upholstered in silk Schappe made by historic Antico Setificio Fiorentino silk mill. In the spacious park with its vineyards and olive groves are the tennis court, heliport and an uncovered, heated swimming pool. The pool area also offers a small fitness room.