A Tuscan Dream - Chiusure

Sometimes, you hit the jackpot, and this quaint Tuscan hamlet, Chiusure in Italy, was it!

We stumbled on Borgo Santo, a newly launched group of boutique luxury residences designed with the guests in mind for comfort and pure enjoyment, and to top it off, mind-blowing views. Crete Senese is famous for its distinctive clay and limestone rock formations, formed over 2.5 million years ago. We were sold!

Chiusure is a small hamlet about halfway between Buonconvento and Asciano on a road that winds through the Crete Senese in the province of Siena. The area around Chiusure is filled with majestic cypresses and has arguably one of the finest views in all of Tuscany; little did we know at the time of booking. The main excitement over summer is the new Amant program, wherein artists take up residency in this tiny hamlet. Chiusure and Monte Oliveto border the Val d'Orcia National Park, a region that became part of the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004; the landscape, which has remained largely untouched, continues to inspire artists today.

After our short one-hour drive from Montalcino, whisking through the hills of Tuscany, we arrived in this petite village. As we went deeper in, we wondered if there would be a way to manoeuvre our tiny car out; we could nearly touch the bricks from the homes on either side, so we quickly jumped out and found the reception and were assured all was fine. We discovered parking just beyond the square, one of the smallest piazzas we had encountered; we were already in love!

After checking in and a quick tour of the stay, including the quintessential Tuscan villa-style pool, our short walk was also a tour of the village, with only 120 residents, and 30 were monks in the local monastery, and 20 of the much-loved residents were all shacked up and cosy in the aged care home on the hill. After strolling past three restaurants, a bar and the local grocery store, also a bar, cafe and restaurant all in one, we knew we had to stay longer! We immediately booked another night!

Lunch was enjoyed before siesta time at Osteria Il Pozzo, the restaurant belonging to our residence, which provided the perfect introduction to Chiusure, a small village in Asciano. The restaurant is located in Piazza Del Pozzo, a small piazza full of authenticity, untold tales, and charm.

Lunch was followed by an afternoon at the majestic Tuscan pool, savouring the views and the crisp, fresh water for some much-needed exercise!

As dinner time approached, we strolled around the village (literally a few minutes walk and we were familiar), enjoying the sunset over the Crete Senesi and a pre-dinner cocktail at Il Bar Di Borgo Santo, admittedly feeling very chuffed and super impressed with the quality of such cocktails, Aviation and Margaritas in a quaint little village, Grazie Mille!

Dinner was booked in the other local trattoria, Locanda II Paradiso, owned by a lovely young couple; we were warmly greeted and loved sharing travel and life stories as we sampled one of the best meals we have had throughout the region, think Mama's kitchen with a daily changing menu, based on the freshest purchases from the market for the day! We dined our way through doubling down on some dishes: the perfectly lightly fried zucchini flowers and the butter and sage ravioli, which were mouthwatering! Our dinner was followed by homemade tiramisu and a local Amaro made by monks nearby. Amaro is an Italian bittersweet herbal liqueur commonly consumed as an after-dinner digestif, and it was delish! We quickly booked for the following night, as we wanted to take advantage of it; it was a popular spot for dinner!

As we wandered up the cobblestone alley home past all the locals sitting outside their homes, chatting away, the night was filled with laughter, a quiet sense of warmth, and a family atmosphere.

The morning was soon upon us, and we couldn't wait to visit the lovely couple, Licia and her hubby, who owned the little jewel of a grocery store called Bar Alimentari - La Bottega di Licia. We sat out with the locals and enjoyed our morning coffee, chatting away in our very limited Italian but full of warmth and smiles; they all filled our hearts with pure joy. We left with a bounce in our step, feeling we had spent the morning with our Nonna and her friends, all wanting to take care of us. 

It is a day of relaxation to take advantage of the incredible pool again with endless views over Crete Senesi; this place is genuinely Tuscany in its most truest form. We loved the afternoons as the quietness came over the village during Siesta, whereby everything closes from mid-afternoon.

Following another mesmerising sunset over the endless views from our apartment, we couldn't wait to sample more local Tuscan dishes at Locanda II Paradiso again. This time, we sat outside with front-row seats to the golden sun, leaving us for the day over this otherworldly landscape where you feel an instant calmness.

The evening was spent trying more delicious dishes and hearing the stories behind them, taking recommendations from the owners. As the darkness of the night was upon us, the lights provided rustic hues over the restaurant, providing us yet again with satisfaction and admiration for this tiny little village of Chiusure.

Sunday started out with coffee with our lovely Licia and crew at Bar Alimentari - La Bottega di Licia. Then we were able to squeeze in more food and were all about sharing the love, so we dined back at Osteria Il Pozzo to enjoy a slow, lazy lunch, and were super impressed with our choices. The wine was also a treat, one of the best chardonnays we have enjoyed for a while, all served by a loving and warm team.

Borgo Santo was our ideal accommodation in this charming and enchanting village. Not only are you spoiled by the comforts of luxury and beautiful build quality, but the space and furnishings deliver the feeling of being home. You have a selection of excellent restaurants, dining establishments and an incredible bar to enjoy your aperitifs, local wines and proseccos, or a specialty cocktail, along with being on the foothills of one of the most magical views in Italy; what more can you want?

We fell in love with this enchanting hamlet called Chiusure; it truly is where you discover Tuscany in its purest form.

Date visited: 17 September 2023