This September, we’re inviting a small group of supporters to a special six-night stay at Potentino (27 September–4 October) — a chance to enjoy delicious food and wine, scenic walks, and the area’s rich history, while helping us reach our $25,000 fundraising goal for this Potentino Exploration Project × Dartmouth College project.

Meet the Convento del Colombaio

In southern Tuscany, an 11th-century castle and a 13th-century convent near Mount Amiata—both closely connected to Dartmouth—are at the heart of an exciting new archaeological initiative. For years, Castello di Potentino has hosted Dartmouth students and researchers exploring archaeology, history, and cultural heritage, and it will now serve as the base for an interdisciplinary excavation led by Prof. Nick Camerlenghi at the nearby Convento del Colombaio, where recent surveys have uncovered significant remains. Once a thriving spiritual and agricultural center shaped by Franciscan traditions, the convent is now at risk after centuries of decline, making this a rare and urgent opportunity to study and preserve the site for the first time. The project gains special significance in 2026, the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’s death, and promises to deepen understanding of the region’s history while raising Dartmouth’s global profile.

Learn more about the Colombaio and project to save it.

What guests will enjoy:

• Accommodation in the castle for up to 14 guests across 9 unique rooms (Explore our rooms)

• Breakfast in the guest kitchen, with lunch and dinner served either al fresco under the loggia or in the grand dining hall, paired with estate wines

• Artisan food experiences, including cheese tastings, pasta-making workshops, and a wine tasting with Charlotte

• Guided ecology and archaeology tours of Potentino’s valley, including the site of the Franciscan monastery

• Talks and lectures from project members and invited specialists

• Harvest-time experiences, with the chance to press grapes by foot in the castle’s ancient wine stones

NB: Guests are required to match the cost of their stay with a donation to Friends of Potentino. For pricing see below.

With a full group of around 14 guests, this gathering would allow us to meet our fundraising goal while offering participants a rich, relaxing, hands-on experience of Potentino’s landscape, history, food, and harvest traditions.