La Monastica - Resort & Spa

In the quiet heart of a Tuscan village, Platek illuminates the soul of a timeless place

Nestled among the gentle hills of Valdinievole, just a few kilometers from Lucca, Pistoia and Florence, La Monastica Resort & Spa stands where the ancient Monastery of Santa Scolastica once rose. It is an integral part of the medieval village of Buggiano Castello, a place suspended in time, enclosed by ancient stone walls, where the peace of a contemplative past can still be felt. Its origins date back to around the year 1000, when the building was a castle before becoming a Benedictine monastery in the sixteenth century. Today, following a long and meticulous restoration led by the Arrighetti family, it has been transformed into an elegant and rarefied retreat, where silence, nature, and history come together to offer guests an experience of authentic well-being. Every space – from the valley-facing rooms to the tiered garden terraces, from the deconsecrated church now home to the restaurant to the spa carved into the ancient towers—has been designed to preserve both memory and harmony.

In a setting so rich in meaning, light is not merely functional, it becomes part of the story. Platek contributed to shaping the luminous soul of the project through a subtle yet deeply evocative intervention. The outdoor paths winding between the stone walls, the garden terraces and the walkways connecting the historic buildings were illuminated with carefully selected fixtures designed to respect the delicacy of the setting and enhance the architecture without overpowering it. The essential lines of Flamingo, designed by Sara Moroni, create poetic and measured points of light; the Mini collection guides movement across the different levels of the village; Micro, a recessed fixture nearly invisible when off, casts precise and calibrated beams, transforming darkness into a play of light and shadow.

The light gently reveals the stone textures, the edges of centuries- old stairways and the outlines of the citrus trees that make the microclimate of the "Village of Citrus" so unique. It makes the invisible visible, like the stillness beneath the loggias or the slow breath of the garden at night. It is a respectful light, designed not to disturb the balance between nature and architecture, but to elevate it. In this way, Platek’s lighting tells the story of the monastery’s new life, highlighting its essence as an intimate, regenerative and timeless sanctuary.