General Information
Castello di Spannocchia is the central complex of the multi-faceted agricultural estate, the Tenuta di Spannocchia, located 12 miles southwest of Siena. The Castello area includes the Villa and Fattoria buildings, and the surrounding gardens, as well as additional outbuildings, which house internship participants and provide studio/meeting space. The Italian non-profit Associazione Castello di Spannocchia leases the Castello complex and operates it as an educational center, hosting student and adult educational programs, research projects, and internships. The Spannocchia Foundation is the U.S.-based sister organization of the Associazione, and supports the activities at the Castello by developing programs, sponsoring internships and research projects, and providing administrative support to the Associazione. Billing and payments are handled by Spannocchia Reservation Services, which has been contracted by the Spannocchia Foundation to handle all of the U.S. program payments.
Castello di Spannocchia offers accommodations, use of the property and facilities, and meals for groups. There are two guest-housing facilities--the Villa and the Fattoria. Each facility has distinct characteristics that appeal to a wide range of program needs and objectives. Over the years, Castello di Spannocchia has hosted a variety of groups: archeology, architecture, hiking, art history, cooking, writing, ceramics, and landscape painting.
All group participants are required to become members of the Spannocchia Foundation, thus helping to contribute to the non-profit educational and cultural goals of the Associazione Castello di Spannocchia and the Spannocchia Foundation. We like to think of participants in the programs at Spannocchia as being our collaborators in the fundamental conservation mission of the Foundation. Accommodations, facilities, and services at the Castello are designed for comfort and convenience but are not luxurious. The primary goal of the entire estate of Tenuta di Spannocchia is the preservation of its historic and rustic character; as a consequence, visitors will enjoy one of the most beautiful and tranquil spots on earth, but should understand that Spannocchia is truly rural and not a vacation resort--it is a working historic farm, a wildlife preserve, and an educational center.
Groups are hosted in the Castello from March 1 Ð December 1. Most educational program groups come to Spannocchia for 1-2 weeks, while some student programs last as long as 4-6 weeks.