Serre di Rapolano was an ancient castle founded by the Byzantines in the VIII century to halt the advance of the Lombards. Afterwards it became the headquarters of the grange of the Ospedale della Scala in Siena, currently the only one to have been restored and opened to the public. The granges were fortified barns where food was collected and preserved to provide refreshment for pilgrims from Northern Europe on their way to Rome.

From the top of Palazzo Bizzarri you can see Monte Amiata, an ancient and now inactive volcano, the Via Francigena, the ancient road followed by the pilgrims on their way to Rome, and the Crete Senesi, which were called the "Desert of Accona" in the Middle Ages because of their morphological appearance.

From Serre it is easy to reach the towns of Siena and Arezzo, which are around 30 kilometres away (while Florence and Perugia are 90 kilometres away). You can also discover small artistic towns such as Pienza, admire the landscape of the Val d'Orcia and the Crete Senesi; visit the farms of the Chianti area, as well as Montalcino to taste its Brunello and Montepulciano for its Nobile wine. But you can also relax in the two spa centres in Rapolano, open all year round, and enjoy mud baths, saunas and massages, or lazily soak in the 40-degree sulphurous water of the various swimming pools. A night-time dip is even more enjoyable.