In the heart of Chianti, just twenty kilometres from Siena, Castel Monastero is a five-star retreat set amid Tuscany's rolling hills. We spoke with Graziella Arba, the resort's director, about the idea behind serving artisanal gelato poolside—and how a seemingly simple touch can become one of the most enduring memories guests take home from their stay.

In the world of luxury hospitality, the value of a stay is no longer measured solely by the quality of the rooms or wellness services. What makes the difference are those moments capable of telling the story of a place and its culture, turning a service into an authentic experience. The properties that manage to stand out are those that tend to every detail of the day, creating opportunities for discovery and pleasure that stay with guests long after they leave.

Castel Monastero has made this philosophy one of its strengths. Each year it welcomes travellers from the United States, South America, Italy and many other countries, offering a hospitality that is deeply rooted in Tuscan identity. "The values that guide us are welcome, availability and flexibility," says Graziella, "but above all we want our guests to truly savour what Italy represents: our culture and our cuisine."

GELATO AS A GESTURE OF AUTHENTICITY
This vision is what gave rise to the gelato cart. Not a product sourced externally, but an artisanal gelato prepared every morning within the property itself. The choice, Graziella explains, responds to the desire to offer guests "something even more authentic": a product that represents Italian tradition and that, especially for international guests, immediately evokes the imagery of our country.
In a setting like Castel Monastero, a detail of this kind goes beyond simple service. The gelato arrives poolside at that moment in the day when guests are most inclined to slow down, transforming an everyday ritual into an experience that feels entirely in harmony with its surroundings. Knowing it was crafted just hours earlier in the resort's own kitchen lends an added sense of authenticity to an otherwise simple indulgence - one that often becomes a lasting memory of the stay.

A FLEXIBLE AND SCENOGRAPHIC TOOL
The choice of a gelato cart also addresses a practical need. Unlike a fixed station, it can be moved easily and used at different moments of the day, following the rhythm of the property. Poolside during the hottest hours, in the garden for an aperitivo or an evening event, or at the entrance to welcome arriving guests: the same solution finds different applications without altering the spaces.
Aesthetics matter too. In a resort where every detail contributes to the atmosphere, a cart with a considered design fits discreetly into the environment, becoming part of the visual experience as much as the service itself. It is one of the elements that led Castel Monastero to choose StreetFoody's model, designed to combine functionality, mobility and an aesthetic in keeping with high-end hospitality contexts.

HOSPITALITY EVOLVES, EVEN IN THE DETAILS
The Castel Monastero story reflects a growing need across the hospitality sector: to offer services that are flexible, distinctive and perfectly integrated into the guest experience. Mobile equipment allows hotels to enhance their spaces without permanent interventions, adapting their offering to the different moments of the day and the needs of the property.
This is precisely the direction in which StreetFoody develops its carts: solutions designed to combine practicality, build quality and design, helping hotels, resorts and hospitality venues create dynamic services that are coherent with their own identity. Because in contemporary hospitality, the way a service is presented is itself part of what defines its value.