Adventure & Exploration

Thrilling Experiences at Castello del Monsignore

Table of Contents

When the Tuscan sun climbs high over Mugello's rolling hills, Castello del Monsignore transforms into a playground for adventure and discovery.

This is when the estate’s 200 hectares burst with life, when the winding roads of the Apennines call to those with a passion for exploration, and when Tuscany reveals itself from perspectives few travellers ever experience.

The castello’s location in the heart of Mugello makes it the perfect base for adventures that range from earth to sky, from forest floors to mountain passes, each offering an unforgettable way to experience the region’s dramatic landscapes.

The Mille Miglia Experience

Poetry in Motion

The Mille Miglia, ‘Thousand Miles’, was once the world’s most prestigious open-road endurance race. Though the original event ended in 1957, its legendary route through the Italian Apennines remains a pilgrimage for automotive enthusiasts.

Castello del Monsignore offers something beyond mere nostalgia. You select your supercar: a Ferrari with its characteristic scream, a Lamborghini’s aggressive growl, perhaps even the rare and exotic Pagani. The difference between this and other supercar experiences is immediately apparent.

This isn’t a test track or a predetermined loop; this is the actual Mille Miglia route, threading through cypress-lined avenues, medieval villages, and mountain passes that challenge both driver and machine.

Your guide knows every curve, every vista, every hidden osteria where you might stop for espresso. The experience blends adrenaline with appreciation, not just for the engineering beneath your hands but for the landscape that has inspired artists and poets for centuries.

As you navigate hairpin turns with the Apennines stretching endlessly in every direction, you understand why this route has become legendary. The roads are perfect for this experience, allowing you to fully appreciate both the supercar’s capabilities and the stunning Tuscan countryside that unfolds with every turn.

Soaring Over Florence

A Renaissance from Above

Dawn arrives early for hot-air balloon passengers, but the reward justifies the hour. As your balloon lifts from its launch site and drifts towards Florence, the city unfolds beneath you like a living museum. The Duomo’s terracotta dome dominates the skyline, Brunelleschi’s engineering marvel catching the first rays of sun.

The Arno River snakes silver through the city centre, spanned by the medieval Ponte Vecchio. From this height, you trace the footsteps of the Medici, the patrons who transformed Florence into the cradle of the Renaissance, the same family whose influence shaped Mugello and, indeed, Castello del Monsignore itself.

The silence at altitude creates a meditative quality. Your pilot provides historical context, but much of the hour-long flight passes in contemplative quiet, interrupted only by the periodic roar of the burner. You’re not simply observing Florence; you’re experiencing it as few ever do, suspended between earth and sky, between past and present.

The Hunt

In Pursuit of Tuscany’s Black Gold

During truffle season, the surrounding Mugello region holds both black and white varieties in abundance. Your morning begins early, as dawn is when truffles release their most potent aroma and when the truffle dogs are most alert.

Your guide, a third-generation truffle hunter, arrives with his trained Lagotto Romagnolo, a breed developed specifically for truffle detection. As you walk through the estate’s truffle grounds, he explains the symbiotic relationship between truffles and the oak, hazel, and poplar trees beneath which they grow.

The dog works methodically, nose to the ground, until suddenly she freezes, then begins to dig with focused intensity.

What emerges from the earth, carefully extracted by your guide’s practised hands, is a knobbly treasure worth its weight in gold. If you’re fortunate enough to visit between November and December, you may uncover the white truffle (Tuber magnatum), the most prized variety in the world. The black truffle, available throughout the season, offers its own earthy complexity.

The morning’s harvest becomes the afternoon’s meal. In the castello’s kitchen, you join the chef for a cooking class devoted entirely to showcasing your findings. You learn the cardinal rule: truffles should never be cooked, only gently warmed, their aroma released over simple dishes such as fresh pasta with butter, eggs, or risotto.

The shavings fall like edible snowflakes over your plate, each slice releasing waves of umami-rich perfume.

Living the Tuscan Adventure

At Castello del Monsignore, adventure takes many forms – the thrill of a supercar on legendary roads, the serenity of floating above Renaissance masterpieces, the excitement of hunting for nature’s most elusive treasure. Each experience offers a different perspective on Tuscany’s dramatic beauty and rich heritage.

Whether you’re negotiating Apennine curves in a Lamborghini, drifting silently over Florence’s terracotta rooftops, or walking the estate’s forests with a truffle dog, you’re discovering Tuscany through immersive, unforgettable adventures.