The Vivo Estate has ancient origins. In the second half of the 1400s Ricciardo Cervini di Motepulciano owned large plots of land in the Val D’Orcia, in the foothills of Mount Amiata. In 1537 his son Marcello, a cardinal, bought from Pope Paul 3^rd, Alessandro Farnese, the Eremo del Vivo Estate, a Camaldolese monastery founded by Saint Romuald in the 11^th century, whose land adjoined the Cervini family estate in Castiglione di Val d’Orcia.

The cardinal, a fine art and architecture enthusiast, appointed several architects of the time, among them, the young Antonio da Sangallo  was chosen for the realisation of the castle resting on the ruins of the monastery, uninhabited since the 14^th century.

In 1555, once elected as Pope, cardinal Cervini affirmed his property of the Vivo to his brother Alessandro as a “signoria” with feudal priviledges that were officially recognised in 1559 by the Grand duke Cosimo 1^st, later reconfirmed as County by Cosimo 3^rd de Medici.  Alessandro continued the colonisation operation started by his brother, building farms and factories, including a paper factory which remained active until the beginning of the 18^th century. Up to this day, the Cervini family owns the Vivo County.

Count Tommaso Cervini, named “Contemaso” by the farmers, had managed the Montamiata estate with great passion, knowledge and farming competence. A heritage and a challenge that his grandson Alessandro has accepted with renewed commitment and enthusiasm.