Borgo di Solomeo

Solomeo is a hilltop hamlet in the municipality of Corciano. Medieval buildings and lanes stand alongside modern cultural spaces developed through the restoration project associated with Brunello Cucinelli and his family.

Why it matters

The hamlet connects the history of a fortified rural settlement with a later relationship between craft, business and cultural patronage. Its restoration and additions form a modern interpretation of village life rather than an untouched medieval scene.

What to notice

The castle and closely grouped houses preserve the compact structure of the older settlement. San Bartolomeo adds a religious landmark. The Foro delle Arti introduces a different architectural layer, with the Teatro Cucinelli, an amphitheatre and the Giardino dei Filosofi. Terraces and planted spaces connect these buildings with the surrounding agricultural landscape.

Context and history

Solomeo is recorded as Villa Solomei in 1361 and was fortified in 1391. The Cucinelli family's restoration began in the mid-1980s. Later projects added the arts complex and a school of contemporary craftsmanship, founded in 2013. These interventions gave new uses to historic spaces while extending the hamlet's architectural story.