By Claudia Stocchi and Asia Caldelli
There are places that seem suspended in time, where every stone tells a story and every corner seems to hold a secret. In the heart of Montevarchi, among alleys and buildings steeped in memory, Casa Cennano was born, a project that combines challenge, innovation and connection with its roots. This is where the story began: a love for his homeland and a past that did not want to be forgotten.
In 2019, Daniele and his partner Camilla decided to give new life to a dream: to transform abandoned buildings in the historic centre into places that combined the charm of the past with a modern and sustainable vision. In a period of global uncertainty, Daniele saw the possibility of realizing a project that speaks of belonging and projects that are realized.
The first jewel of Casa Cennano is ‘Rinaldi’, a tribute to the family that has lived within these walls for generations and an embrace of its history. Every detail has been designed to tell its soul and built to welcome visitors within a place capable of combining modern comfort with tradition. Its two independent rooms, each with a private bathroom, offer an oasis of peace and intimacy: immersed in the colours of the Tuscan tradition – warm red, sage green, baby blue – these evoke the warmth, tranquillity and charm of a past time to be brought back to light. These, named after the hamlets of Montevarchi, are a further tribute to the city by also presenting objects that indelibly recall the magic of this valley.
Of particular importance are the common area of the kitchen, enriched with Tuscan cement tiles, and its majestic roof: sandblasted and restored, it allows a glimpse of the signs of time and a worm feeling that can give the environment an evocative atmosphere that only authentic places can offer. Here, past and present blend harmoniously, giving those who stay there a true and intimate experience.
In addition to beauty, what makes Rinaldi truly special is the ecological approach that Daniele and Camilla have adopted: it is a concrete example of how love for one’s land can be translated into concrete actions to preserve and innovate it. Casa Cennano is a zero-emission project, where respect for the environment goes perfectly with design: from the lime quarry of Trentino Region to the sustainable plants, every choice has been made with the heart and mind, thinking about the future of the planet and the generations to come to create a totally eco-green hospitality without compromise. Thanks to the collaboration with the architect Veronica Vasarri and the work of local artisans, they have managed to preserve the ancient soul of the building and to give life to spaces that speak of Montevarchi, its people and its traditions.
Casa Cennano thus becomes a gift from Daniele to the city of Montevarchi to give life back to the historic centre and regain the centrality it deserves: to return to being a living and pulsating place, capable of attracting tourists and its own citizens. Convinced that the future of this city passes through projects capable of awakening pride and interest in his land, he signed an agreement for the maintenance of the fountain located in front of the building, one of the few that remained active. With him, this has returned to being a resource for the community and an example of citizen love for all the inhabitants.
Casa Cennano’s journey, however, has only just begun. In 2025, Daniele and Camilla are ready to write another chapter in their story with the opening of ‘Torre’, a second seventeenth-century building that promises to be even more fascinating. With its three bedrooms and three bathrooms, the building will represent a new level of hospitality: a place enveloped in the magic typical of Tuscan homes and enriched by a touch of modernity that does not compromise its historical integrity. As for Rinaldi, Torre will also be renovated following the principles of sustainability: ventilated roofs, natural materials and a careful choice of furnishings and decorations will make this property an example of how the past can be revisited in a contemporary key, without losing its essence. A perfect “zero emissions” philosophy because for Daniele taking care of his land also means respecting and protecting it.
Casa Cennano is therefore transformed into a residence where you can stay and live an authentic experience of Montevarchi, with a green residence that is friendly to the area. Daniele has created a system of services that allows guests to discover the city in an authentic and sustainable way, to explore the surrounding valley and be enchanted by its hidden wonders. In fact, Montevarchi is a city that deserves to be explored slowly, capturing every nuance that Casa Cennano intends to illuminate. By going to discover its beauties and its stories, the zero-km service card will thus invite guests to experience the area fully and without haste, enjoying its restaurants, and its small realities, without ever leaving the city reality of Montevarchi.
Behind every restored stone, there is the passion and determination of an entrepreneur who, as a citizen who loves his land, has decided to commit himself to preserving it and making it shine. Casa Cennano is the symbol of a vision that looks to the future without forgetting the past, a story of resilience and dedication. Casa Cennano invites all of us to believe that we can revive even the most forgotten places because, as Daniele himself says, the motivation to move forward lies in the challenge to build something new and beautiful.
