Tuscany Chapter Chianti opens June 2026
South African designer Tristan Du Plessis has transformed an historic 16th century medieval hamlet in Tuscany, Italy, into the Chapter Chianti hotel, which opens in June 2026.
For his Studio A, it was a challenge to reinvent the hamlet of Tavarnelle Val di Pesa to meet modern expectations, while respecting heritage.
Instead of terracotta and antiques, Tristan has gone for clean lines, exposed stone, sculptural lighting and modern Italian design pieces.
The aim is for an urban lifestyle hotel rather than a traditional countryside retreat.
But, in mind always is the connection to Tuscany landscape and history.
For Chapter Chianti, the second property in the Chapter Italia portfolio, is set in those classic rolling hills of Tuscany. The Chianti region of Tuscany is between Florence and Siena.
As the new heart of the medieval village, 45 minutes from Florence, the 82-room hotel is owned by boutique hotelier Marco Cilia, who was born and raised in Rome until the age of 12, when he began living and studying abroad, mainly in the US but later in Spain and Germany.
He was a young investment banker until his father asked him to help run a hotel he still owns in Viareggio, Tuscany. He has never turned back from this shift into hospitality.
A spokesperson for Chapter Chianti explains: “The property features three restaurants and three bars celebrating both Tuscan tradition and international flavours, alongside a 500sqm spa that reimagines wellness as a communal experience.
“Curated activities immerse guests in authentic Tuscan life through truffle hunting, olive oil harvesting, and mountain biking, hiking, stargazing.
“The Mansion, a five-bedroom villa with a private pool, outdoor entertainment space offers the ultimate secluded escape.”
+ It is too early to have room rates and more details, but they will be coming soon on Chapter Italia’s website, chapter-italia.com
+ As an insight into prices, Chapter Roma (the boutique hotel group’s hotel in Rome) has single rooms of 17sqm, with wooden flooring and a “single French bed”. This Solo Pad is from $210 to about $400 a night. Its “Baby Double” is 22sqm and $210 to about $630 a night, with lots in between.
+ More images of Chapter Chianti at tristanduplessis.com/projects/boutique-hotel/
WHY A SOUTH AFRICAN?
. . . it all begs one question, of course.
Why would a hotel project in Italy, in a region known for taste, design and elegance, turn to the talents of a South African?
Tristan du Plessis’s previous hotel projects are impressive.
They include Cape Town’s Gorgeous George (Design Hotels’ first hotel in the city) and Morea House.
His design studio worked on Rome’s Chapter Roma and Miami’s Giselle Miami.
They are known for drawing on (and drawing in) local culture, to produce rich and enriched hospitality experiences.
The studio’s clients include Accor, Four Seasons, Belmond Hotels, Raffles Luxury Hotels and Resorts, and Mondrian Hotels.
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