REVIEWS


BORGO SANTO PIETRO Chiusdino, Italy


LOCATION: It’s easy to believe Borgo Santo Pietro was once a healing stopover for medieval pilgrims. Encased in 300 acres of gardens and vineyards, this 12th-century villa exudes tranquillity. The property is an-hour-and-a-half’s drive from Florence airport and 45 minutes from Siena.


FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Tall, slender cypress trees and buzzing borders of lavender line the road into the estate – and the beauty of Borgo Santo Pietro is instantly apparent. Honey-hued stone buildings are dotted between abundant foliage, with neat gravel paths winding between trickling water features, grand stone statues, terracotta potted «l>nÌà >n` `À>}onyÞ-wlli` hiÀL }>À`inð n Ìhi m>in Ûill>] interiors evoke a palatial country house of the past: think «>Ûi` ÃÌoni yooÀà ÜiÌh «lÕÃh ÀÕ}Ã] hÕ}i Vh>n`iliiÀà >n` o>k >n` m>ho}>nÞ vÕÀniÌÕÀi°


À>Vklin} wÀià >n` }loÜin} candelabras make the atmosphere enchanting.


THE FACTS: The estate of Borgo Santo Pietro was derelict when Danish couple Jeanette and Claus Thottrup stumbled upon it in 2001. They spent seven years renovating it – carving out 13 acres of garden for some 300,000 plants and carefully restoring the ancient stone villa. Despite the estate’s size, Borgo Santo Pietro only has 22 rooms, suites and villas, with seven in the main villa and 15 dotted across the grounds. Facilities are so well woven into the property, they feel as though they’ve always been there. A freshwater pool has been designed as a natural lagoon, set underneath the shade of a tree and framed by boulders and natural greenery. Across the «Ào«iÀÌÞ ÞoÕ½ll wn` «linÌÞ ov VoÃÞ VoÀniÀÃ Ìo ÕnÜin` in\ > pair of cushioned wicker chairs overlooking the vineyard, perfect for an aperitivo; a wrought-iron table and chairs in a quiet courtyard; a Moroccan daybed set beneath a grand stone arch. The Borgo Spa feels somewhere between a French châteaux and country farmhouse, and offers a sumptuous facial among other treatments using the brand’s own skincare line. Elsewhere, Michelin-starred restaurant Saporium is an excellent culmination of the


estate’s soil-to-plate ethos. Guests dine here for breakfast and lunch but it’s in the evening when it really shines, ÜiÌh yiVkiÀin} V>n`lià >n` Û>Ãià ov yoÜiÀà ÃiÌÌin} Ìhi scene for a knock-out tasting menu. Rustic treehouse-style eatery Trattoria Sull’albero – which is fashioned around the trunk of an oak tree – offers a slightly more relaxed meal, but is equally as charming. Encourage clients to try the pop-up garden dinner, where they’ll dine beneath a ceiling of fairy lights in the estate’s vegetable garden.


IDEAL FOR: Borgo Santo Pietro was mainly populated with couples and young families during our visit.


EXPLORE: Encourage clients to do the guided estate tour to get an understanding of the breadth of operations here. The tour includes a visit to the quaint neighbouring village of Palazzetto, where guests can see the brand’s skincare shop and fermentation lab. Mint green bikes with baskets can be found dotted across the estate for guests who wish to explore the grounds. The cooking class in the on-site kitchen is also a must.


WOW: Not only have the Thottrup’s created a world-class hotel but they’ve invested in other areas of business that feel authentic to them, leading to a natural and organic evolution of the brand. Indeed, Borgo Santo Pietro is far more than a hotel – as well as housing a working farm, the estate produces more than 100 herbs for the brand’s skincare range, Seed to Skin Tuscany, as well as red and white grapes for Borgo Santo Pietro Wines. The group also owns a luxury yacht, Satori, which is moored in Bodrum out of season. It’s a small but perfectly formed empire that feels entirely deserving of its success.


BOOK IT: Nightly rates start from €875 per room, per night on a B&B basis based on double occupancy.


BORGOSANTOPIETRO.COM Erica Rich


110 ASPIRE NOVEMBER 2024


aspiretravelclub.co.uk


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