300 YEARS OF HISTORY Villa Belpoggio was built at the end of the 17th century by the Fiorilli family, which owned vast amounts of land and properties near Castelfranco di Sopra and Loro Ciuffenna. The mansion, located at the center of a large estate, was bordered by the ancient Cassia Vetus, a Roman road built in the 2nd century B.C., known today as "Via dei Setteponti". In the 18th century, the abbot Silvio Fiorilli wanted a small chapel to be constructed next to the main residence. This place of prayer accentuated the beauty of the garden and gave completeness to the original architectural scheme.   In late 1700, the Fiorillis sold part of their property to the Rosi family. When Sir Francesco Luigi di Carlo, the last heir of the Fiorilli family, died around 1820, the Rosis became the sole owners of Belpoggio. From that time on the Villa became known as "Rosi Mansion".   In 1935 Gioconda Carresi Rosi bequeathed her house and the family chapel, together with two farms, to the "Serviti" friars. One year later the religious "House of Saint Joseph at Bel Poggio" was founded and the Villa is still named "the friary" by the people living in the neighborhood.   The House of Saint Joseph mainly became a place of spiritual retreat for the friars. In 1965 only two friars were living in Belpoggio and the Serviti Order decided to transfer them to other monasteries. For more than a decade or so, the House was occupied during the summer only.   At the beginning of the 1980s, however, the two farms were sold and in 1987, the friary was sold, too, so that Belpoggio once again became a private residence.    The current owners began the painstaking work of restoring the Villa in 2003. The challenges of restoring the 300 year-old-property initially tested the owners, tempering their enthusiasm. Steadily, however, as Belpoggio once again has recovered her past beauty and her essence, the restoration effort has become a deep passion.   Today this elegant period house has once again become what it was since the beginning - a small paradise - to be shared by those who seek rest and simple but elegant comfort in Tuscan hills.

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