By Jori Diego Cherubini
On 16 June 2023 the Casanova Wellness Centre celebrated its 30 years of activity, the Casanova was in fact born in 1993 from a brilliant idea by Leri Bellugi (entrepreneur of the area) who created an accommodation facility with an incredible view of the Val d’ Orcia.
«It was a unique event – says excited Sabrina Bellugi, who together with Pane Ieri and her sister Enrica manages the structure – with tasting and show, in which many took part but above all the people who love us and who have cared for us seen working with determination to get to where we are today.” The Casanova was born as a small accommodation business but over the years it has transformed into a much larger reality where the splendor of nature is in perfect harmony with the services of a first-rate hotel and with attention to the well-being of pampered guests from the sweet breeze of the Val d’Orcia.
What you notice when you arrive is a typical Tuscan structure that integrates perfectly with the surrounding nature, where you perceive absolute quiet and which offers an all-round view of the valley and the medieval village of San Quirico d’Orcia just a few steps from the Hotel and the La Taverna del Barbarossa restaurant. It is the sum of many small efforts repeated every day in these 30 years, a “magical obsession”, which Leri Bellugi together with her daughters Sabrina and Enrica, have cultivated and which today opens the doors to the future: «We have created and we want to continue to be a welcoming refuge sheltered from everyday life for our guests – explains Leri Bellugi – my dream has always been to create a reality that was perceived as a place where the atmosphere you breathe is that of a country house that makes you forget the spend time immersing yourself in the harmony of nature and its silence. Over the years we have pursued this objective and in addition to the splendid panoramic outdoor swimming pool, the structure has been enriched with new services with a journey of the senses through the way of living the ideal of beauty of the ancient Etruscans, a people who knew how to elevate body care an eternal symbol.”
And here are our Etruscan salt caves: «they are a unique thermal path – explains Sabrina – which finds its origins in the ancient cures used by the Etruscan people. The water, hot and cold, extremely pure, is enriched with magnesium and potassium to make it endowed with particular therapeutic characteristics and is used in all its forms. An experience that involves body and mind. Our Water Path, hydrotherapy in “salt” water with natural micro components that relieve physical tension, combined with the holistic rituals and techniques from Eastern and Western cultures of the massage centre complete that desire for relaxation and inner harmony where you can take refuge and enjoy a break of absolute well-being”. «Water is the origin of all things – continues Leri – and we open our future on this. Precisely on the occasion of the celebrations of our 30 years of activity we inaugurated and renovated the panoramic outdoor swimming pool with 18 hydromassage stations and a new insulation system that will allow us to extend the summer season – but not only – and our attention to the environment makes us will soon lead to it being transformed into a rainwater swimming pool, therefore a four-season outdoor swimming pool.”
The “La Taverna del Barbarossa” restaurant, managed by Enrica, is the perfect refuge for relaxing while eating good food while drinking excellent wine: «We created it in 1995 in an ancient farmhouse from the 1200s, continues Leri, overlooking the Val d ‘Orcia. I imagined eating while looking at the valley at sunset and I got excited; “eat, drink, relax and indulge your eyes too, that’s what I thought. Tradition and quality are the main pillars of the service. The courtesy and professionalism of the staff accompany the customer in a unique experience. The suggestive location, immersed in an enchanting panorama, offers the best views at sunset, when the warm lights of the setting sun are reflected in the environment and transform it”.
The Valdorciana tradition is presented at the table but the restaurant offers a vast choice of typical Tuscan dishes: «we also gladly host people who are gluten intolerant, who can taste the ancient local cuisine here as we are also a Gluten Free restaurant associated with AIC ». And for next year… «the opening of the Enoteca del Barbarossa is planned which will allow those who come to visit us to also have excellent tastings».
Info: Casanova Wellness Centre, Strada Provinciale 146, Loc. Casanova, San Quirico D’Orcia (Si) / Tel. 0577 898177 / www.wellnesscentrecasanova.it / info@wellnesscentrecasanova.it / Ristorante: barbarossa.bellugi@alice.it