Immersed in the Maremma countryside, in the heart of Tuscany a few km from Grosseto and the beautiful beaches of the Tuscan coast.

The ancient convent of Montepozzali offers its guests the opportunity to spend relaxing and regenerating holidays in a beautiful Maremma resort far away from the hustle and bustle of the city but close to the most important art cities and the most evocative medieval villages such as Massa Marittima and Castiglione della Pescaia.

History of the Antique Convent

The Convent of Monte Pozzali stood in ancient times within the possessions belonging to the Castle of “Monte Bozaio” (Monte Pozzali) of the Pannocchieschi family, an important Tuscan family whose heritage was particularly linked to mining. The story recalls Paganello (called Nello) Pannocchieschi, owner of the surrounding mines and husband of Pia De ‘Tolomei, as mentioned by Dante in the Divine Comedy among those who died a violent death:

“ Please remember me, who am La Pia.

Siena made me, in Maremma I was undone.

He knows how, the one who, to marry me,

first gave the ring that held his stone”

The Divine Comedy – Purgatorio: canto V – verses 130-133.

The legend narrates that Pia, who became uncomfortable for her husband, was locked up in the Castel di Pietra, which stands on a hill not far away and overlooking Monte Pozzali, a fortress in which she died in 1289, was found lifeless at the foot of the tower.

Her death has always been shrouded in mystery: the official version is suicide caused because of her immense unhappiness, but even in ancient times a criminal action was feared by her husband.

Even today, every year in August, in the nearby town of Gavorrano, is celebrated the “leap of the countess”, in memory of Pia de’ Tolomei’s the tragic end.

Only later, the old castle became a convent, for some sources it was a convent of Benedictine nuns, for others a convent of friars.

The legend narrates that, in more recent times, it was transformed into a prison, and later, according to testimonies of the locals, the ancient convent became a refuge for partisans during the Second World War (the signs of the bombings are still evident on the facade of the main complex) and then farm of local farmers.