A TITAN IN TUSCANY

The exquisite Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, and its golf club, punctuates this part of Italy as a premier golf destination.

- YG CHEN

Country road SP103 is a far cry from the multi-lane SR2 from Rome. Once you exit the freeway heading towards Tuscany, turbocharged supercars “cruising” at well over 100 mph give way to a quiet that separates the countryside from the hustle of Italy’s capital. Two hours away, and you might as well be on a different planet.

As you leave the smooth tarmac of the highway, you’ll test the real mettle of your ride on the bumpy trails leading up to Castiglion del Bosco, a historic hamlet on the southern fringe of Tuscany dating back to 100 A.D. The SP103 winds its way up a hill, framed by Mediterranean cypress trees known to have been planted to lead pilgrims to Rome. After about 45 minutes, the road opens up and the seemingly modest reception of the Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco sends out a concierge to take welcome you.

It is then you will realise that this is no ordinary five-star resort.

Since 2023, Massimo and Chiara Ferragamo have transformed this quiet Italian enclave into one of the most premium resorts in the world. The Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco is currently ranked No.1 by T + L magazine (100 Best Hotels in the World), and with its private golf club, is surely one of the most exclusive places on the planet to play the game.

The entire 2,000-hectare estate offers panoramic views across the Val d’Orcia, and many of the Rosewood’s 42 suites share this vantage. Bathed in the warm glow of a Tuscan dusk, the ambience encourages a prolonged stare into the beyond if only to soak in the magic of the moment.