Minutes away from the center of Siena, in the beating heart of Tuscany there is a place where time has stopped and relaxation is guaranteed. It is the Certosa di Maggiano, an antique monastery where beauty, design, tradition and nature co-exist in total harmony.

Vieri Michelangioli and Gaia Marconi are the new managers of La Certosa – partners in life who blend his lifetime of experience in the hotellerie business with her creativity and unique approach to hospitality in order to create a colorful and passionate atmosphere for those who pass through their doors.

A fairytale two steps away from the busteling city. Refuge from daily life immersed in shades of green. A place where beauty is found in every corner, including our imperfection. Our cloister is the heart of La Certosa, the perfect place to take a sit and embrace the energy harnessed within these walls.

THE HISTORY
The history of La Certosa di Maggiano is as eclectic as its interiors. This 14th century monastary captivated men and women from all walks of life in search of reflection, spirituality and knowledge in a refuge of tranquility and comfort.

Riccardo Petroni, a profetic noble who granted miracles, opened our doors to welcome these wayfaring strangers, a concept which was embraced for centuries to come.

In 1969, Oscar-nominated scenographer and architect Renzo Mongiardino harnessed its precedented tenor and created a mondern sanctuary, using brilliant colors, eclectic patterns and a touch of eccentricity. The Certosa was famed for offering a haven to the wealthy and affluent from the eccentricities of the outside world.

Today, you will find a colorful oasis located close to Siena offering a service much like our approach to hospitality – diverse, warm and at times wonderfully imperfect.

ROOMS & SUITES
La Certosa features 19 rooms and luxury suites, combining contemporary details with whimsical elegance. Each room is unique, featuring a careful selection of warm woods, cool stone, textile and color to create an eclectic yet relaxing identity while constituting an unforgettable backdrop during your stay in Tuscany.

The fascinating details our guests will find in this suite their home away from home atmosphere for everyone to enjoy every moment of their vacation. In classic Tuscan tradition, we have created a bright space overlooking the picturesque landscapes surrounding La Certosa.

Our prestige rooms are indivudual in design, yet have refined and bright spaces, comfortable furnishings and beautiful views. Adorned with vintage tapestries, warm woods and impeccable details, these rooms are the epitome of comfort and luxury for any special occasion.

The ample space overlooking gardens and olive groves perfectly combine comfort and design with a beautiful landscape. The perfect combination of the soft linens and cool floors will be sure to satisfy even the most progressive traveller.

THE CLOISTER
Candle light flickers as you savor a colorfun and creative revisitation of traditional tuscan dishes by chef Maicol Mencarelli. Inventive and playful, we use only the best in local organic produce, either from our garden or a stones throw away from the Certosa.

THE LIMONAIA
Perfectly positioned between the olive groves you will find the new addition to our family, la Limonaia. Open every day for lunch, afternoon drinks or private affairs, this restaurant features delicious eats and libations, perfect for a break from the pool or a late afternoon repose with gorgeous views of Siena.

MAGNOLIA BAR
The Certosa cocktail bar represents another small corner of discovery and pleasure in our home. We offer our guests both traditional cocktails, and surprising experimentations by our bartenders. Don’t be afraid to request an herbal tea under the shade of our magnolia tree.

In the evening, be sure not to deny yourself one of our special aperitifs, each escape is something new and different and cap off your evening with one of our exquisite local or international distilled liquors, the perfect end to the perfect day.

BREAKFAST NOOK
The most important meal of the day- our breakfast is no joke. Enjoy a selection of savory and sweet dishes in front of a roaring fire in our dining room, or underneath the hanging wister blossoms and ivy on a warm day.

WINE TASTING
“It takes the hundred fathoms of Briareus to tirelessly pour the wine”. On requst, we can organize a sommelier in house who will transport you around the world of wine in just one hour (or more if you should desire!) time.

THE IMPERIAL SITTING ROOM
Plush sofas, ornate wall decorations and touches of gold and crystal envoke rest and relaxation, perfect for a glass of wine or a game of chess. The colors of the pavement and design reflect the spirit of the past which can allow present to drift into feelings of tranquility and creativity.

THE LIBRARY
This intoxicating red-hued room will make you feel playful. Enjoy a spinning record while shooting a game of pool, or peruse a book from our extensive collection with one hand and enjoy the scent of an aged scotch with the other. They say that devil is in the details, and in this room, there is more than meets the eye.

THE CHURCH
With its ancient charm and timeless beauty, our church is the backbone of La Certosa di Maggiano. Private tours can be organized in advance to visit the ornate chapel so that you, too, can revel in the wonders of this magnificent edifice.

THE CHAPEL
Just steps away from our vine ladened walkway, you will find an wonderfully unique chapel adorned with an installation by the renowned sculptor Massimo Lippi. A wonderfully unique touch to our park and the perfect place to sit and embrace the tranquility of your surroundings.

GARDEN
We practice a “green” life style in which luxury and comfort are embraced while minimizing our impact on the surrounding environment. Our team works to preserve the preexisting flora and fauna while cultivating a sustainable garden to provide our guests the best in local and seasonal produce.

POOL
A refreshing drink, your favorite book and the shade of the olive groves, find your perfect combination poolside to relax and rejuvinate your spirit just steps away from our entrance in the ancient “pescaia” of the Certosa monks.

TENNIS COURT
Go ahead and let your balls fly on our turfed tennis court, located just steps away from the main garden entrance.

MASSAGES
Forget the past! Let our masseurs transport and pamper you, leaving you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, ready to take on the day!

EBIKE
Explore the famous Francigena and Strade Bianche, passing through vineyards and hills with our E-Bikes that, with little effort, allow you to discover the breath taking corners of Tuscany.

Rooms: 9

Price: from 130 EUR per night

Source: www.lacertosadimaggiano.com

Only 4 Luxury Suites, each of them different. In San Sanino, where you will find a romantic refuge with relaxing ambience, calm rhythms and a personal welcome. A place where everyone can feel at home.

In the ancient farmhouse, built between the 17th and the 18th century, the four masterfully renovated suites emanate harmony and sense of place, giving the possibility to enjoy an extraordinarily wonderful area.

San Sanino, small Charme Country Relais, stands in one of the most ancient and enchanting place in Tuscany, heart of the Renaissance, land of harmony and equilibrium, in the wine producing area of the Brunello di Montalcino, Nobile di Montepulciano and Chianti Classico.

Ubaldo and Laura, the owners, bumped by chance into this eighteenth-century Tuscan neglected farmhouse, and immediately felt a spiritual connection with this peculiar place.

San Sanino is born from the passion and the desire of creating and sharing a simple but welcoming Boutique Hotel in the countryside, where the nature meets the luxury. So, Ubaldo and Laura have started a long path of renovation which develops even now.

This is the project of the owners, who dedicate themselves to this job with extreme passion, helped by their sons Giacomo and Bianca. Family run and exclusive, San Sanino makes you feel at home.

ROOMS & SUITES
Only 4 exclusive suites, each of them extremely different from one other and furnished with refined elegance and simplicity. Luxury accommodations, exposed wooden beams, cozy corners, modern comforts and ultimate technologies. Terraces, pergolas and picturesque views full of green.

IL FALCO SUITE
Antique furniture and stones of deep red create a warm and friendly ambience. There is a large bathroom on two levels comprising a fireplace, a travertine and crystal glass tropical rain shower, a large whirlpool tub with chromotherapy, which overlooks vineyards and wheat fields.

LA LIMONAIA
The Limonaia is the corner for a convivial meeting and can be used exclusively by our guests; it includes a wood fire oven and a decorated with strawberry vine pergola, which faces the wonderful valley. At San Sanino you can have lunch or dinner. You just need to book during the breakfast time.

In this rustic and informal atmosphere, the chef Laura uses only the best local products: the well-known meet “Chianina”, fresh fish, handmade pasta, season products from our organic garden and San Sanino Extra Virgin Olive Oil, to create simple dishes according to the Tuscan and Mediterranean traditions.

Every morning, the day starts with a superb breakfast, served at your table inside the ancient Limonaia or outside, under the strawberry vine pergola.

Typical and organic products, jams, yogurts, handmade cakes, salami, selections of cheese, eggs, fresh orange juice, season fruits: all to wish our guests a very “good morning”.

TUSCAN COOKING SCHOOL
Our cooking school allows guests to learn how to cook the traditional dishes in the original Tuscan style, including homemade pasta and Chianina meat.

Usually organized in the evening from 4:30 pm, the class will introduce participants to the traditional Tuscan cooking techniques, enabling them to recreate at home what learnt.

Thanks to the use of local types of cheese and meat, combined with fresh herbs and season vegetables from our organic garden, you will learn to transform these ingredients into delicious and authentic Tuscan dishes.

The limited number of participants, a maximum of 6 per class, gives everyone the possibility to be engaged and to fully handle the taught techniques and the preparation method of recipes.

At the end of the class you could taste the dishes cooked and you will be given, as a memory of the event, the full recipe book, an essential guide to reproduce on your own what you have learnt.

ORGANIC KITCHEN GARDEN
Not so far from the ancient farmhouse, our organic vegetable garden with rectangular flowerbeds, offers the inspiration for many recipes. The flowerbeds include a lot of different varieties of vegetables and aromatic herbs.

It is right here that the connection between the earth and the kitchen becomes more natural, highlighting the importance of simplicity and genuine flavors.

WINE TASTING
The wine tasting is a guided tour inside the Tuscan wine-making tradition, in order to introduce the guests to the history of the area and that of each different wine.

THE WINES OF TUSCANY
Brunello di Montalcino, Nobile di Montepulciano, Chianti Classico and Bolgheri Superiore, an accurate selection of four Tuscan wines, will be served with typical salami and local cheese under the strawberry vine pergola, the whole surrounded by the extraordinary beauty of the place.

EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is an essential element in the healthy Mediterranean diet. Our Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a superb, limited available product that carries within itself all the history, tradition and excellence of Tuscany.

It is a cold-pressed natural oil produced with the best hand-picked Tuscan Cultivar olives. All the olive trees are planted in San Sanino’s land. A very rich Tuscan Oil.

INTIMATE WELLBEING IN THE ROOM
In every suite, you will meet your intimate wellness in the comfort of your room, thanks to marvelous hydromassage bathtubs with chromotherapy function and ready to be filled with “Ortigia” bath salts.

If you desire to experience a total relax, you could choose the treatment that best suits you and your exigencies, to find balance, inner harmony and profound relaxation.

Unique massages, treatments with natural products and essential oils, harmonized by a pleasant musical background or even relaxing infusions, fresh fruit and prosecco.

You just need to book in advance and the expert will come in your room.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL REBIRTH MASSAGE
It is a massage with essential oils for the pure relaxation of the body. It focuses on three points: body, mind and soul, to create peace of mind.

AYURVEDIC MASSAGE
It is a soft therapy, a massage technique that helps to relax body and mind. It has ancient Indian origins and can be a valid treatment to restore the physical and psychic balance.

FULL BODY RELAXING MASSAGE
It is a type of massage that aims at psycho-physical relaxation and has a long list of benefits: it reactivates blood and lymphatic circulation and gives relief from muscle stiffness that affects neck, back and abdomen. It has anti-stress properties and stimulates the energy of the body.

THE INFINITY POOL
The large infinity salt water pool, situated in the verdant olive grove, overlooks the Valley and offers an amazing view over the medieval village of Montefollonico.

It is an ideal place where you can relax reading a good book or simply sipping an excellent wine while gazing at the gentle slopes of the Tuscan landscape. Free Wi-Fi

DISCOVER THE TUSCANY
San Sanino represents the ideal starting point to get in touch with this fabulous region, the masterpiece of its culture, the tradition of its kitchen and the myth of its extraordinary wines. Our guests can spend time in wine and food tours, leisure activities and cultural itineraries.

We can organize for you a great tasting of wines from Montepulciano and Montalcino, hot air balloon morning rides, horseback rides and much else besides. We will help you achieve everything you wish.

Tuscany is a magic land that invites you to its discovery. San Sanino represents the ideal starting point to get in touch with this fabulous region, the masterpiece of its culture, the tradition of its kitchen and the myth of its extraordinary wines.

Our guests can spend time in wine and food tours, leisure activities and cultural itineraries. We can organize for you a great tasting of wines from Montepulciano and Montalcino, hot air balloon morning rides, horseback rides and much else besides. We will help you achieve everything you wish.

MONTEPULCIANO
At a very short distance stands Montepulciano, a small town well-known for its prestigious red wine “Nobile” and also for its historical palaces, music festivals and theatre season.

MONTALCINO & THE VAL D’ORCIA
Not so far you will find Montalcino, a medieval village, famous all over the world for its high-quality wine “Brunello”. You can also visit the enchanting Val D’Orcia with its thermal spots in Bagno Vignoni and Pienza, small Renaissance jewel, shining as it was long time ago.

SIENA & SAN GIMIGNANO
If you want to dive into art and architecture, move to the fascinating city of Siena, a 35 minute drive from here. You will find the untouched beauty of the Middle Age and the Renaissance in a path full of traditions, starting from Piazza del Campo with its Torre Del Mangia to Palazzo Pubblico, where it is possible to admire the paintings of Ambrogio Lorenzetti.

Traditional horse race since 1656 and euphoric event, the “Palio”. Every year it is held on 2 July and 16 August. Ten of the seventeen contrade (districts) of the city join the competition.

Few minutes far from Siena you will meet San Gimignano, ready to present the great Italian painters, such as Simone Martini, Ambrogio Lorenzetti and Piero della Francesca.

FLORENCE
About one hour by car and you can reach Florence, city of the Italian Renaissance. The cultural heritage you will discover, makes it one of the most visited cities of the world.

Its breath-taking beauty will leave you mesmerized together with the majestic cupola of the Santa Maria del Fiore dome, the romantic Ponte Vecchio, the magic of the Boboli Gardens, the evocative Uffizi Gallery, and much else besides.

THE CONCIERGE
Our reception can help you with the airport transfers to and from San Sanino, provide car rental service, concert tickets, arrange visits to museums and shopping with personal assistants.

The concierge service can also organize open air activities, such as hot air balloon rides over the Tuscan fields, horseback riding, mountain bike excursions, golf matches and truffle hunting.

It is possible to plan wine tastings and guided tours in the best wine cellars of Montepulciano, Montalcino and of the Chianti Classico area. These are only few of the extra services that we can organize for you for free.

Rooms: 4

Price: from 550 EUR per night

Source: www.sansanino.it

Situated in the heart of Tuscany, Relais Borgo Santo Pietro was once a healing stopover for medieval pilgrims. Today it continues to provide a sanctuary for modern souls, merging a 5 star luxury hotel and spa concept with a ‘farm to plate’ philosophy on a 300-acre estate.

A sumptuous feeling of home pervades the 800-year-old luxury farmhouse hotel, with its worn leather armchairs pulled up around open fires, fresh flower arrangements picked straight from the garden, and weathered brick wine cellar lined with boutique labels.

Each of the boutique hotel’s 20 rooms has been singularly designed down to the utmost thoughtful detail, with custom-sought antique pieces, bespoke beds and frescoes executed by hand.

Our rooms combine this intimate luxury with ultimate seclusion, as light-filled, airy interiors open onto Mediterranean courtyards dotted with sun lounges and fragrant citrus trees, or leafy private terraces with outdoor fireplaces beside private pools, lounge areas and entirely private gardens. Adjoining suites can also be connected internally to create an intimate shared interior for families or friends.

THE ESTATE
A philosophy of nurture via nature and a spirit of collaboration are tangibly felt at Borgo Santo Pietro, where a teamwork of farmers, culinary gardeners and chefs work together to bring the fruits of organic cultivation to the table.

Borgo’s 300-acre organically cultivated estate includes market gardens, nut fields, herb gardens, extensive vineyards and forests, some of which house the estate’s drove of pigs. Each day the farmers collect milk from Borgo’s sheep which is then transformed into artisan cheese and yogurt at the on-site dairy.

The farm includes free-range chickens, honey bees, alpacas and extensive vineyards and supplies both the inspiration and ingredients for its two Michelin-starred restaurants, Meo Modo and La Bottega del Buon Caffè, as well as Trattoria Sull’Albero. The freshwater River Merse, famous throughout the region, runs through the outskirts of the estate.

ROOMS & SUITES
Every suite at Borgo Santo Pietro conveys its signature luxury experience of exquisite furnishings and chandeliers, antique art, bespoke beds, well-appointed bathrooms and a propinquity with nature.

Whether the choice be a classic suite in the main 12th century villa, a more exclusive suite with garden, or a seclusive villa with pool, the ethereal experience is designed for 5 star gratification and service.

THE VILLA 
Located within the original 13th century villa, our eight rooms and themed suites are individually furnished with antiques, fireplaces, paintings and rich textiles and have spectacular views over the formal gardens or surrounding countryside.

SANTO PIETRO GRAND SUITE
Presiding over the full south wing of Borgo Santo Pietro’s thirteenth-century villa, the Santo Pietro offers a magnificent expanse of the countryside with uninterrupted views over the fields and vineyards of Valle Serena from its sweeping private terrace, stately windows and French doors. Nature and meditation merge as one here.

A sumptuous living area with high beamed Cathedral ceilings, furnished with antiques, chandeliers and rich upholstered drapes, invites elegant repose by the blazing fire or curled up on a chaise longue whilst looking over the valley.

Up its stone carved stairs awaits a secluded mezzanine equipped with massage facilities enabling guests to enjoy a holistic therapy session without leaving the room. This grand salon with the hand painted motifs evokes its own magical aura. Guests may never want to move out.

The suite’s separate bedroom offers its own a haven for the senses, with a monumental four-poster bed, grand open fireplace, French doors leading onto the terrace, and an opulent bathroom with freestanding bath and Roman-style shower.

BASILICO GARDEN SUITE
Greeted by the ornate French chandelier hanging from the wood beamed ceiling and layers of earthy texture, this private garden suite defines relaxed sumptuousness. With its exposed stone walls, flagstone floors, carved wooden furniture and rich upholstery, the corner suite exudes all things real.

Whether it be gazing at the fire from the red velvet chaise lounge, or soaking in the clawed bath reflecting upon its chandelier above, the suite delivers the opportunity of authentic repose.

Outside the double French doors of this suite, the covered terrace and private garden provide a contained sanctuary of their own, with a lounge suite pulled up snugly to an open fireplace, an outdoor breakfast table and a well-crafted Moroccan day bed offering a cushioned haven in the midst of the garden.

The stone-wall and layered hedge borders allow for the completely private setting with the fields beyond providing ultimate quietude.

DINA FERRI POOL HOUSE
Arriving at the private garden suite with its two sets of gates opening into a secluded courtyard and its own magnificent and entirely private 36 m2 saltwater pool, Dina Ferri proffers complete solitude.

Named in honour of renowned local ‘shepherdess poet’ Dina Ferri (1908–1930), whose powerful words still evoke the spirit of place surrounding Borgo Santo Pietro and its Tuscan environs.

Its four sets of French doors allow the luminous energy of nature to blend seamlessly with the spacious interior landscape of calming green and soft blue hues, a sweeping painted pastoral setting of the fields, a stone carved fireplace and creamy stone floors throughout.

The private gardens on two sides envelop the suite in total privacy and silence. Harmonious living extends to the enormous bathroom that is designed for pure indulgence, featuring an elegant sofa, a walk-in stone shower and double vanity, and a hand-painted claw-foot bath that invites sated repose by the open French doors leading onto the private terrace.

The lush scented garden provides many places in which to unwind and reflect, be it sipping morning coffee on the eastern private patio, sprawling on a luxurious curtained daybed tucked away on its own lawn, lazing on the sunbeds or imbibing fire-side terrace tranquility at night under the stars. This is an oasis that is difficult to leave.

DINING
Our absolute farm-to-table dedication to organic and zero kilometre produce and sustainable living is fully embraced at Borgo – we have termed it beyond organic.

With our top-notch team of Michelin star chefs, gardeners, local farmers and producers, we aim to deliver the best of Tuscan cuisine to your table. Our boutique wine selection embodies the same traditional principles of quality and discernment.

LA BOTTEGA DEL BUON CAFFE’ RESTAURANT 
Michelin-starred La Bottega Del Buon Caffè takes Borgo Santo Pietro’s ‘farm-to-plate’ philosophy into the heart of Florence. Situated alongside the river Arno with wonderful views overlooking the breathtaking Florentine architecture, La Bottega del Buon Caffè is a cultural and gastronomic destination.

From growing and harvesting the raw ingredients from the Borgo Santo Pietro estate, through to preparing and presenting innovative seasonal menus, each dish celebrates simplicity at its finest with fresh and flavourful food.

Our head chef incorporates his Florentine heritage into each dish to reflect the region’s gastronomic heritage and vibrant culinary culture in unique ways. La Bottega del Buon Caffè combines classic Florentine architecture with a sense of contemporary cool urban elegance.

Designed by renowned international designer, Jeanette Thottrup, the restaurant interiors seamlessly combine the very finest elements of both classic and contemporary design. Exposed brick and natural stone sit beautifully alongside soft furnishings, original artwork and oversized chandeliers.

With a vibrant atmosphere, La Bottega del Buon Caffè offers an exceptional michelin dining experience in a relaxed city environment just a few minutes from the centre of Florence. The restaurant also features a private dining room, set within the extensive wine cellar, allowing clients to enjoy outstanding wines in the most comfortable and intimate of surroundings.

MEO MODO RESTAURANT
Housed in the main villa, Meo Modo is a Michelin-starred restaurant offering innovative farm-to-plate dining experiences. Our menus always reflect the season and are guided by what is available on our organically cultivated farm.

We carefully monitor the journey of all of our ingredients, whereby the meat is sourced locally on free-range farms and the fish that we serve such as turbot, red mullet, octopus and lobster, arrives directly from the morning’s catch, with certified organic ingredients.

TRATTORIA SULL’ALBERO
Designed around a large spreading oak tree with rustic interiors that evoke an elegant expansive tree house, our Trattoria Sull’Albero offers a laid-back lounge and dining ambience overlooking the fields and forests of the Valle Serena.

The classic Tuscan menu of our ‘farm to plate’ fare showcases our organically cultivated ingredients sourced from our farm: freshly picked vegetables, artisanal cheeses, free-range eggs, in-house prosciutto ham and zero-kilometer sourced meat.

Guests can enjoy a delicious drink either inside by the cosy fire or outside at the large wooden bar or in the shady courtyard that borders the freshwater infinity pool.

GOURMET FARMERS’ MARKET 
With our open-plan kitchen, you can watch our pizzaiolo make and twirl a pizza from scratch before sliding it into the wood-fired oven and serving it, still sizzling, onto your plate.

Every Monday evening, Sull’Albero plays host to our gourmet Farmers’ Market, where guests are invited to take their pick from a range of fresh meat, fish, cheese and seasonal produce on offer, watch it being cooked on the spot, and dine outdoors in a convivial atmosphere of live music.

Sull’Albero is open all day to hotel guests and the public alike, offering a range of snacks and meals from late morning until closing, including lunch, dinner and aperitifs.

SULL’ALBERO BAR
Drinks are served all day and night at the long outdoor wooden bar at the Trattoria Sull’Albero or at its inside bar with relaxed fire-side seating. Guests can also imbibe in something cool at the freshwater infinity pool or in the shady green seating area being serenaded by the soft sounds of the waterfall.

THE BREAKFAST
At Borgo Santo Pietro, the day starts with a delicious, seasonal breakfast that has become a favorite among our hotel guests. Served daily from 8.30 am to 11 am, it features an extensive buffet of farm-fresh dishes.

Organic cheeses, eggs and fruits from our organic farm are part of the daily offering on our breakfast table. Breakfast is served in the open-plan Tuscan kitchen on the ground floor.

SEASONAL BOUNTY
Besides the buffet, guests can also order breakfast á la carte. Our chefs will prepare their signature farm-to-table dishes using fresh eggs from our chickens, artisan cheeses from our dairy and vegetables from our organic kitchen gardens.

THE WINE CELLAR
Borgo Santo Pietro’s cavernous cellar, situated below our thirteenth-century villa, plays host to nearly 1250 prestigious and boutique labels which line its walls. Years of ‘walking the vineyards’ and sampling various wines have guided us to build a wine list that is greatly inspired by Borgo’s commitment to authentic production.

This is why you won’t find many mainstream wines or winemakers on our list, as we choose what we love and, most importantly, those that uphold the traditions, history and culture of winemaking.

Several of our chosen wines are produced using organic or biodynamic methods, showing utmost respect for the natural process from the vineyard to the selected bottle at your table.

Our many years dedicated to research, seeing the terroir and speaking with the winemakers is our fundamental approach to understanding wine and valuing its production. At the wine-tasting sessions on offer, our expert sommelier is on hand to provide knowledge, suggestions and insights.

Each glass can also be thoughtfully matched with locally produced meats and cheeses to further enhance flavour notes. During your stay, we welcome wine-enthusiasts of any level and invite you to explore our carefully chosen wine-list and are more than happy to answer any queries.

WINE TASTING
Discover wine descriptions ranging from a visual that is ‘star-bright’ and ‘luminous’ to the more precise ‘leather’ and ‘toast’ aroma, learn to notice the different hues from the rim to the core, use your nose to identify a wine’s age and savour its rich aroma, find out how to judge a wine by its ‘tears and legs’, and explore the varied flavours each regional grape retains.

Our program ranges anywhere from a wine seminar to masterclasses and comprises:

WINE SEMINAR
A discussion of different methods of wine production, the importance of terroir and of Tuscany in particular, varietals found in Italy and Tuscany, and instruction on how to taste and rate the wine.

THE MONTALCINO MASTERCLASS
A detailed overview that celebrates Brunello one of Italy’s most renowned wines, together with its sibling Rosso di Montalcino. In this masterclass, the place, the history, the grape, the land will be explored to further understand this fascinating growing zone producing world-class wine of stunning depth, flavour and complexity.

THE SUPER TUSCAN & CHIANTI CLASSICO MASTERCLASS
The Super Tuscan phenomena begins in the Chianti Classico wine region. We will investigate the history, grapes and development that underlie a Super Tuscan and compare it to the historic Chianti Classico.

ITALIAN MASTERPIECES
An unforgettable opportunity for the ardent wine lover, Italian Masterpieces decants some of Italy’s most prestigious labels and invites guests to discover what makes a wine truly sublime.

THE ROMANTIC GROTTO
An enchanting candle-lit table will await you in the grotto area bordering the infinity pool, the sound of the fountain offering background music. Your own exclusive waiter will be there to provide for your every whim, so you are allowed to truly soak in the beauty of the Borgo Santo Pietro setting, unruffled by other diners.

Whatever the special event – engagement, birthday, anniversary — the Grotto Dining Experience provides a beguiling environment for intimate dining in exclusive environs. Minimum 2 people. Maximum 4 people.

GOURMET PICNIC
Relaxation takes all forms here at Borgo Santo Pietro. Turn a sight-seeing day into a gourmet picnic event with one of our seasonal picnic hampers, or choose a private spot to relax within the grounds and we’ll spread out a blanket and provide you with everything you need to enjoy the season’s fresh gourmet harvest al fresco, surrounded by 13 blissful acres of gardens.

Those who would like to experience the true Tuscan countryside can also pick a spot by the River Merse or stretch out on the sunny slopes of the estate looking over vineyards back towards Borgo.

MICHELIN STARRED DINNER IN THE TUSCAN COUNTRYSIDE 
Immersed in 13 acres of landscaped gardens, Meo Modo is a Michelin-starred restaurant offering farm-to-plate dishes created with the ingredients grown and foraged on the Borgo Santo Pietro estate. Enjoy a gourmet dining experience in the heart of Tuscany!

SPA & WELLNESS
Resonating with its healing origins of medieval times, Borgo Santo Pietro once again renders its curative therapies within its flagship Seed to Skin spa, offering a discerning selection of classic spa treatments.

At this luxury spa resort in Tuscany, every day is a ritual which ensures a total five sense immersion of health and well-being for the mind, the body and the spirit. Our Spa’s opening hours are from 10:00 to 20:00.

Enfolded within the Borgo estate, this luxury wellness retreat is a haven of healing. From beginning to end, the client is encouraged to unwind, to luxuriate in the treatments and to savour its cathartic ambience.

Upon arrival, clients are offered a fresh tea infusion, created daily from therapeutic herbs such as mint, melissa or lemon thyme freshly–picked from the garden outside its doors.

Every session begins with a private consultation, followed by an oil ritual where the client selects an essence from the organic oils which take inspiration from the signature flowers at Borgo: lavender, neroli, rose, jasmine.

Each private wellness spa room is equipped with its own shower and toilet facilities and heated therapy table to ensure exclusive privacy and comfort.

A tranquil ambience is created with a controlled room temperature and music to ensure perfect relaxation and therapy. Curtained therapy beds are also set in the spa gardens should the guest want a treatment within nature’s embrace.

Our luxury wellness spa and signature Seed to Skin treatments offer the ultimate pampering for mind and body. Therapists are carefully chosen for their professionalism and are dedicated to the healing process of the body and to the health benefits derived from natural skincare.

Clients are encouraged to either choose from the impressive spa menu on offer or have a need-specific tailor-made treatment.

Often using fresh herbs and raw ingredients from the gardens, the holistic therapies offered include Ayurvedic massages, bespoke facials, relaxing bodywork and classic beauty treatments utilising products from the Seed to Skin by Borgo Santo Pietro natural skincare line which suits an array of needs for both cosmetic and body treatments.

The line’s natural ingredients used within the luxury wellness retreat are organic and chosen for their health properties. After their spa treatments, clients are encouraged to rest and laze either in the luxurious spa surroundings or in the sumptuous Tuscan gardens — heavily scented with seasonal bloom, the music of nature abounding or the cascading water of the fountains trickling on the spa’s terrace.

Guests are invited to sprawl on the large curtained Moroccan beds in the spa garden or laze in the different lounge areas for as long as they wish.

At Borgo Santo Pietro we’re so passionate about wellness that we built a custom-made lab to develop our own line of entirely natural skincare, Seed to Skin, where our modern, scientific approach is firmly rooted in nature and a curative tradition dating back beyond 1129.

Situated a stone’s throw from the Borgo farm, where we draw key ingredients such as fresh sheep’s milk and raw honey, our state-of-the-art laboratory is the creative cauldron where owner and creative director Jeanette Thottrup (who is also a naturalist) and pharmacist and cosmetologist Anna Buonocore unite their two different systems of knowledge, producing a range of skincare that takes a 360-degree approach to beauty and wellness.

Available to guests as our in-house amenity set, our body range contains sheep’s milk from our very own Borgo flock, an ingredient that has been used since ancient times for its rich and skin-nourishing content of butterfat, vitamins and minerals, and gently exfoliating lactic acid that leaves skin soft and radiant.

Nature’s perennial cure-all, raw honey has likewise been used for millennia for its intensely moisturising, soothing and healing properties, gathered from our Borgo bees who rove far and wide over our 300-acre organically cultivated estate.

We also harness the natural healing properties of thermal water and cultivate organic herbs for the extraction of essential oils that we blend into various healing formulas to uplift, ground and relax the mind and body.

HEALING GARDENS
The harvest from our ever-expanding medicinal gardens is an integral part of life at Borgo. In the spa, we use only natural essential oils pressed from the plants in our skin-care treatments and a fresh cup of tea made from their herbs welcomes guests at any time of the day.

We hope that being immersed in the gentle embrace of our gardens acts as a healing salve in itself. The sound of honey bees with their silent hum of summer — as they forage from one lavender bush to another — becomes a meditation in itself, the air heavily scented with bloom encourages us to breath in its essence a little more deeply, the bird-song gives delight.

The serenade of crickets may be the last thing you hear before lulling off to sleep at night.

EVENTS
Whether you are celebrating wedding nuptials, an auspicious occasion, a weekend getaway or a grand tour, we propose a thoughtful array of excursions, settings, seasonal ventures, and novel opportunities for deeper immersion into Borgo life, the Tuscan countryside, and onwards to the sea. A full custom-made occasion can be created to satisfy your every whim.

CELEBRATIONS & PRIVATE EVENTS
We are at your disposal to offer inspiration and guidance in planning your wedding or special event, with our rooms, suites, spa, restaurant, pool, gardens and grounds available for use.

Whether you’d like to perform a blessing in the gardens amidst the fountains, under a cupola overlooking the Valle Serena or host an intimate gathering on the island in the middle of our lake, we are more than happy to accommodate your requests.

We can also recommend spectacular local sites for legal civil weddings such as the neighbouring medieval Abbey of San Galgano, whose soaring arches are open to the sky, or the round church of Montesiepi with its famous ‘sword in the stone’, which is available for Catholic blessings and ceremonies.

For weddings, anniversaries, private parties and any other special occasion, please contact us to discuss options so that we can tailor the celebration to your requirements.

THE GARDENS
Stepping into Borgo Santo Pietro’s exquisitely groomed gardens is a surrender of the senses. Thirteen acres of uplifting aromas and blissful vistas is a potent tonic for wellbeing.

The gardens and relax areas at Borgo Santo Pietro are a myriad of hidden gems, each with their splendid display of blooms which capture the senses, both with their exquisite scents and their unbounded beauty. These magical gardens are a wonder to visit and once you set off you cannot but continue in your journey until each has been revealed!

Lavender buzzing with busy bees, sweet scented jasmine, hydrangeas and roses are just a sample of the flowers to be found flourishing amongst the aged olive trees, tall cypresses and scented lemons.

GARDEN TOURS
Enjoy our vast 200-acre grounds and 13-acre gardens with a personal tour from our head gardener and learn to infuse your own tea with freshly picked herbs. Our organically cultivated harvest lies the heart of our ‘farm to plate’ philosophy, a symbiotic relationship between the gardens and kitchens that nurtures the body and tastebuds alike.

Whether you’re looking to waken your senses or succumb to them entirely, Borgo Santo Pietro’s gardens offer an Eden in the heart of Tuscany, complete with paradise of a cinematic kind, as ‘Cinema Paradiso’, Italian-themed film nights, are held outside beneath a fairy-lit firmament each week.

The courtyards, terraces and gardens at Borgo Santo Pietro offer havens of tranquility, with the drifting scent of roses and meditative flow of fountains. As you wander, each turn reveals a new micro-ambience to explore or relax in.

Sink into a sun lounge by the freshwater infinity pool, lulled by the gentle buzz of conversation and sound of lapping water, or seek out peaceful solitude on a Moroccan day bed hidden amongst healing herbs in the spa garden, or simply curl up in good company with a glass of wine while drinking-in a sky-full of blazing stars overhead.

Lose yourself on the richly scented rose-lined walk and you may stumble across an open-air art lesson taking place beside the lake or encounter our ‘green thumbs’ as they turn over the soil in the culinary garden, working to the rhythms of nature.

Whether looking to waken the senses or succumb to them entirely, Borgo Santo Pietro’s gardens offer an Eden in the heart of Tuscany, complete with paradise of a cinematic kind, as the campo di bocce (or bowling pitch) is transformed into the ‘Cinema Paradiso’, Italian-themed film nights, which are held outside beneath a fairy-lit firmament each week.

The Music Room opens out onto the rippling sound of running water, twittering birds and the beautiful Rose Garden with its ‘Maiden and the Rose’ fountain statue at its center.

The roses in this garden have been carefully selected to ensure a continued renewal of blooms throughout the spring, summer and autumn as well as for their delicious scents and variety of color.

The delicate scent of roses continues down the Pilgrim’s path or rose pergola which stretches across the heart of the Borgo Santo Pietro estate with its various species of climbing and rambling roses.

Step off the path and you could encounter our in-house florist who will enchant you with a stroll through the Flower Garden to gather seasonal blooms before returning to her cottage where she lovingly shares her art of flower-arranging.

Not far away, the sweet-scented Lemon Garden offers privacy – it is a place of great peace and tranquility where you can curl up on a sun lounge, close your eyes and let your senses take over.

The sound of flowing water is ever present at Borgo Santo Pietro. Whether it’s the bubbling streams, the ducks bobbing in the lake, the splashing of the fountains in the formal gardens, or the trickle of a waterway – the fresh sound of water keeps you cool on the warmest day while soothing the senses and inspiring you to wander further in your exploration of Borgo Santo Pietro’s extensive gardens.

Explore the beauty of our manicured water gardens by taking a guided tour that will lead you through the most intimate green corners of Borgo – your guide will share stories and insider information on the local history and flora.

INTO THE WILD
Beyond the gates of Borgo Santo Pietro the Tuscan landscape rolls out in a boundless vista of gently undulating hills sloping down to the Valle Serena, clad in forest and criss-crossed by the River Merse. We invite our guests to go out on foot or with a bike and explore the wider horizons of the forest and fields in our 100 acres of pure wilderness.

Guests can venture over to our dairy farm and out into the Valle Serena to hike forest trails, meander along the River Merse and scale the rises to enjoy panoramic views looking back towards Borgo Santo Pietro. Here you can free the mind and just be present to the beauty of nature as it is.

CULINARY GARDENS
Our organically cultivated orto, or culinary garden lies at the core of our ‘farm to plate’ philosophy, where fruit, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers are sown and harvested for use both on the estate and at our Michelin Starred restaurant in Florence, La Bottega del Buon Caffè, and the Satori Yacht.

Cultivated using ancient techniques such as lunar planting together with biodynamic principles, the orto enables our chefs to design their plates from the source providing infinite possibilities for the creation of original dishes that range from the Michelin-starred degustations at Meo Modo and La Bottega del Buon Caffè to traditional Tuscan fare at the Sull’Albero Trattoria, Brasserie & Bar.

ACTIVITIES AT BORGO
Immerse yourself in the steady rhythm of daily life on the Borgo Santo Pietro estate and experience Tuscan culture hands-on.

BORGO COOKING SCHOOL
Roll up your sleeves and discover the secrets of the Tuscan kitchen at the Borgo Cooking School with fun and interactive classes for beginners, families and would-be chefs.

Twirl a pizza with our pizzaiolo, make and fill your own ravioli with our local Italian mamma, indulge a sweet tooth with our chocolatier and pastry chef, discover how to make traditional Italian preserves or learn some of the secrets behind our Michelin-starred head chef’s dishes.

CHEESEMAKING
Learn about the art of cheesemaking at our artisan dairy, where we transform fresh milk from our sheep into exquisitely soft and fresh ravaggiolo, primo sale, ricotta and pecorino.

FLORISTRY 
Learn the art of flower-arranging with our in-house florist, beginning with a stroll through our 13-acre gardens to gather seasonal blooms before returning to create floral displays at the florist’s cottage hidden away amongst the gardens.

BEEKEEPING DEMONSTRATION
Slip on a beekeeper’s outfit and meet our Borgo bees up close with our resident beekeeper. You’ll learn all about the rules of the colony and the process of making honey, and discover just why these little workers are essential to the estate’s ecosystem.

FALCONRY DISPALY
Experience a touch of Borgo Santo Pietro’s medieval past with a spectacular falconry display. Used for centuries to hunt quarry, these magnificent birds of prey are brought to Borgo by expert handlers, who introduce guests to each avian personality and teach the basics of falconry.

ARCHERY & BOCCE
Learn to fire an arrow with an archery instructor or test your skills with a traditional game of bocce at the custom-made court in the grounds.

VESPA EXCURSIONS
What better way to experience the romance of the Tuscan countryside than on the back of a Vespa? Our concierge can provide you with a pair of classic wheels and a pre-programmed satellite navigator, so that if the local beauty lures you off-track you’ll soon find your way back.

ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE
Each month we welcome a new resident artist to set up a canvas or workbench in the grounds and offer art lessons to our guests. With heavenly gardens and an extensive estate to inspire that ‘inner artist’, why not stop by the art pavilion next to the lake for a chat or sign up for customised lessons? All supplies are included in the fee.

ACTIVITIES BEYON THE BORGO
We love getting under the skin of Tuscan culture, which is why we offer our guests opportunities to experience Tuscany authentically, meeting the characters and participating in the activities that make this corner of Italy so justifiably renowned.

True to our lifestyle concept of merging nature and luxury at the highest level, our concierge activities are tailored to each guest and range from the grounded simplicity of learning to make fresh pasta with our local Italian mamma to private helicopter flights to shopping and dining destinations.

We use local guides wherever possible and road-test each concierge experience before we offer it to our guests to ensure uncompromising safety and excellence.

SATORI YACHT
Inspired by the understated elegance of 1920s and ‘30s-era sailing and oozing a bygone era of teak-and-mahogany elegance whilst also offering state-of-the-art modernity, Satori is no ordinary yacht.

At 41.5 metres, the yacht was built and designed in Bodrum, Turkey by owners Claus and Jeanette Thottrup who have a background in property development and fashion design.

With the shape of a traditional schooner but all the amenities of a world-class racing yacht, Satori’s uncompromised attention to detail – from a free-standing walnut bathtub in the master bedroom to a hidden wine cellar beneath the stairs – make it one of the most elegant and unique charter yachts on the market.

SATORI BEDROOMS
Satori accommodates as many as ten passengers in three double bedrooms, a spa suite with en-suite steam room that can convert to a queen-size bedroom, and a master suite that spans the width of the ship.

Each bedroom offers ultimate comfort, with walnut panelling, orthopedic matresses, sepia-tinted marble en-suite bathrooms and expansive views out over the ocean.

Stone coloured linen gowns, Pierre Frey linen fabrics, smart storage, Sonos surround-sound and Apple entertainment systems in each room further add to the sense of ultimate exclusivity on-board.

SATORI SAILING
Satori’s real beauty is in its ability to truly sail whilst still offering ultimate on-board luxury. With custom North Sails of over 700 mq when set for full sail, Satori easily reaches 10 knots on open water.

Below deck in sound-proofed engine rooms the yacht has back-up systems of everything from fresh water generators to engines, allowing you to safely sail to even the most remote islands without the need to dock.

SATORI AESTHETIC
While Satori’s clever layout might be modern, the yacht’s aesthetic is undeniably vintage. The silverware is from the Italian navy, circa 1920, and the dining chairs on-deck are the same ones found at Harry’s Bar in Venice.

Custom-made Pieter Adam lights are complemented by large-scale black-and-white photos from Greek photographers of the 1920s and ’30s – reproduced from the National Archives in Athens – and spread throughout the ship, capturing fishermen and sponge divers.

SATORI LIVING & DINING
The expansive indoor living area has panoramic views of the sea and features a large, open-plan space with plush sofas, a writing desk area and a library. On the main deck, a professional kitchen overlooks the large mahogany bar and dining table which is situated in the centre of the yacht.

Reflective of the Thottrups intention to create a sailing yacht that has at its heart a focus on the dining experience itself, the large mahogany tables proximity to the kitchen allows guests to see the food being prepared, interact with the chefs, and have an all-together more immersive experience.

Chefs are trained at Michelin restaurants Meo Modo and La Bottega del Buon Caffè and prepare all on-board meals, from fresh breakfasts to gourmet dinners. An air-conditioned wine cellar with a 250-bottle capacity enables guests to store their own wine or enjoy a full wine-pairing service on board.

SATORI SPORTS & CREW
Entertainment isn’t just limited to the cabins, with water toys and sports on-board including jet skis, canoes, ringoes, seabobs, wakeboards, an optimist sailor, McClaren GoCycles, snorkels and a jet tender all at the guests disposal.

With a crew area carefully designed to provide air-conditioned cabins for up to nine staff, on-board hospitality is comprehensive, ensuring that if a number of the crew are hosting an excursion or assisting with water toys, there will always be full service capacity on deck.

In 2019 Satori is available for charter from mid-May with charter locations including: Malta, e Mediterranean, Italy, Ibiza, French Riviera, France, Greece, Cote D’Azur, Corsica, Antibes, Amalfi Coast, Italian Riviera, and the Caribbean.

Rooms: 20

Price: from 719 EUR per night

Source: www.borgosantopietro.com

Siena House is essentially a modernized villa in a panoramic position. Lawns circle the house, olive trees and saffron cover the terraced land below. A large, private pool and garden, and an independent kitchen are provided exclusively to our guests. Original art, designer double beds and furnishing and a generous naturally lit bathroom with open shower are common to all rooms. Some rooms have king-sized beds and large soaking tubs.

All have flat-screen TV +Netflix, high speed Wi-Fi, individual A/C, luxury linens and views. Situated between Cortona and Pienza, Florence and Rome; the location is strategic for exploring and offers excellent local services, wine and dining.

INSIDE
Modern might be too harsh a term to describe our interiors – particularly the bedrooms which are only softly modern, playful and atmospheric compositions that are beautiful and comfortable to spend time in.

Bathrooms are simple and luminous, in soft ‘whites’, with handmade stone vessel sinks Travertine floors and showers, and natural washstands, cut from a huge, splendid, slab of Oak, that we begged our carpenter to part with.

The large interior socializing areas are lighter, brighter and more art gallery-esque but throughout the property spirited, contemporary design, real art, and discreetly added technology, bring harmony and life to the spaces.

Historic items—like the lovely old farm chairs from the house’s former life, might be beautiful in their Artempo, time-altered states. They make wonderful pictures, but we don’t romanticize the artefacts from the houses’ heyday: Comfort was not a feature of the lives of the people who made or used them.

A MIX OF OLD & NEW
It was drive and passion (and of course money and time) that were required to bring light and comfort to the property. Opening windows, whitewashing dark ceilings, replacing dark floors and plastering the dark stony rooms that were the reality of the house.

THE TOWER LOUNGE
What a privilege and an adventure it was working on such a property! Decorated by an artist, the discerning eye will detect the quality of the interior at a glance—seeing beyond the image into the sensation of being here.

Conceived as a live-in Gallery; a place to experience Tuscany, to paint and to enjoy views and art, our vision was realized by local architect Marcello Bartolozzi, who was able to bring to life the dramatic opening of space that we desired.

Image showing a tuscan country house restored to boutique hotel with white interior decoration on walls ceiling and floor long low steel topped black kitchen units and large steel extraction hood there are several large window doors and one rich siena red arch over a dining table with sculpted ceramic base and eight chairs there is a black modern italian chair in the bottom right of the image and a murano chandelier over the table

EX GRANARY: THE MAIN KITCHEN 
A big part was to open the whole of the ground floor—uniting the two main rooms (ex cow stalls + Granary on the ground floor) to make a huge open space. Upstairs, to achieve additional light and drama, the dovecot floor was removed, to give huge height to the central space.

Within the dovecot, we created a viewing gallery in glass and iron, with views over the hills and villages. The Gallery was the work of Roberto Cini, Local Master Carpenter, from Sinalunga. In 2016 the house was featured on the Christmas Special of France 5’s ‘La Maison’, Interior design and lifestyle show. In 2017 the house was the location for an episode of the U.K. reality T.V. show ‘Made in Chelsea’.

Word Of Mouth: Unpretentious, understated luxury, Contemporary Tuscan country house, light and spacious, decorated impeccably, fabulous pad in Tuscany, uniquely luxurious and relaxing place to stay

OUTSIDE
We have a large Saltwater Swimming Pool-almost 100m2, secluded from the house in a sheltered, scenic spot. The garden is simple; being outside is all about the views. Outdoors is rustic; the garden is simple with grass and woody herbs immediately around the villa, olive terraces and saffron, below, cypress trees upon entrance and rosemary framing the pool.

Shade over the South lawn, where we serve breakfast, at poolside and over the water is provided by Shade Sails that filter the U.V. light and are wind-proof. All Summer long, guests return home in time for sunset, when the best place to be is in the garden. There are many choice spots. For new arrivals to the house, the golden light of late afternoon – the final hour before the sun is gone – is unmissable. Try to get here in time to enjoy it.

BREAKFAST
The star of breakfast are our pastured eggs. Provided for us by mute ducks and bantam chickens, who enjoy a very high quality of life.

TUSCAN HERITAGE BREED BANTAMS
Fried in butter or Tallow, accompanied by Malvin’s home-smoked bacon, an ‘English Breakfast’ might be an unexpected offer, but certainly makes a great start to the day. More traditional for the area, pâtisserie fresh from the oven and an Italian coffee is, of course, available.

Breakfast is served from 9am on the lawns around the villa. Breakfast is accompanied by gourmet tea or 100% Arabica Coffee, locally roasted and expertly prepared on a full sized bar machine.

THE SPECIALITIES
Malvin began making his own bread back in 2007, and his interest grew from there through jam making, bread and cake baking, and beyond. Recently, Malvin has begun to salt cure and oak smoke high quality high welfare pancetta at the house, making an English style smoked bacon.

Magnificent served with butter or tallow fried grass fed eggs. Making many kinds of home baked bread and home produce fruit jams for years, often using our own fruit bottled, at its best, he has gradually become an excellent pastry chef, mastering several local specialities.

He makes his own live unsweetened yogurt and mascarpone, as well as chutneys and pickles. Above all, as the local bread is generally unsalted, Malvin’s salted bread is greatly appreciated: He has developed his skill in many styles of bread making including Celiac bread and pâtisserie.

THE PRODUCTS
The Agriturismo or farming aspect of the house is principally derived from our saffron and olive oil production. We have about 10,000 Saffron plants and around 150 Olive trees, all planted into the mediaeval terracing on the South and West sides of the bluff the house sits on.

In addition, we grow a few vegetables: Tomatoes and potatoes and a few Mediterranean vegetables (capsicum, aubergine, zucchini) onion, pumpkin, and cucumber. We enjoy freshly picked Basil [and other herbs] and keep a good amount of herbs around the villa.

Fruit-wise we have a small orchard with Apricot, Apple, Cherry, Fig Peach, Pear, Plum, and Quince as well as currents and a few melons. Our fruit is picked at its absolute best and transformed into preserves, which you’ll taste at breakfast.

THE SUMMER KITCHEN
A pretty, independent, double-equipped modern kitchen is available to guests. The Summer Kitchen, as we call it, is set a little away from the Villa, within an ex Pig Sty. Excellent for families, those following a special diet, and those who love to shop for local ingredients and cook in, this amenity gives a real ‘at home’ feel.

The Summer Kitchen is situated just a few steps from the main door of the villa, on the East corner of the garden. There will be shade from lunchtime for dining at the tables on the North lawn.

The kitchen is big enough for two couples to cook simultaneously, and is fitted with two full sets of equipment, including two entire kitchens. Two Weber BBQ and an illuminated private terrace are available, away from the bedrooms, for BBQ and dining after dark.

ABOUT THE VILLA
The structure is externally a fine and somewhat unusual example of a historic Tuscan farmhouse style, the Leopoldina. Named after Leopoldo, Grand Duke of Tuscany, whose design it was, the Leopoldina was conceived to be a new type of farmhouse, intended to provide a better quality of life to the farmworkers of the day.

Leopoldo’s innovation was to bring the housing of the Chianine, the Ox stalls, within the walls of the structure, that the first floor accommodations would benefit from the warming effect of the animals below.

Residing on the upper levels also brought some relief from the Mal Aria or Bad Air to the farmworkers, at least overnight. Bad air, during the time of Leopoldo, was the presumed cause of the disease that we now call Malaria, a problem in Tuscany at the time.

To complete the design, a handsome central tower or Colombaio was built into the roof. The idea was to attract the Colombacce or Collared Doves into residence within, as a source of food.

Leopoldo’s design is considered to have brought significantly better living conditions to the farmworkers from its inception in the 1750s. The building type is found principally within the Valdichiana Aretino but with a good number present, including this one, within the territory of the Valdichiana Senese.

Instantly recognizable, when touring this area, look for an imposing, often square structure with large, Oxen-sized doorways, pleasing symmetry, and a small tower built into the roof, and you’re probably looking at a Leopoldina.

THE HISTORY OF THIS LEOPOLDINA
This house would have been occupied by roughly 5 families/20 or so individuals, all working the surrounding land, all housed by and crop sharing with a landlord, a system that continued until the 1950s.

Back in the day, when the house was part of the Tenuta La Fratta, the organically farmed estate that surrounds us, several heads of Oxen or Chianine occupied the stalls at this property. The Chianine were ‘dressed’ for work in what is now the entrance hall.

They were also bred here:There was a nursery room on the south-west corner of the house where the calves were born. Following the end of the Mezzadria or sharecropping ere, in more recent times, the house was abandoned and fell into disrepair.

During the 70s and 80s it was used as a vantage point from which to observe the hunt and at the end of the 80s it was purchased by a gold trader from Arezzo who proceeded immediately to build a brick and stone wall that enclosed the entire hill, securely. With the collapse in gold prices a few years later, he was forced to sell his project, and the rest is our history.

ORNELIA’S STORY
Recently we have had the pleasure of meeting Ornelia Boscagli, who knows this house well since her childhood, and has told us of the people and animals that once lived here, the work of the house and surrounding fields.

Ornelia told us a story of wartime; during an oncoming air-raid German soldiers went out to collect the farm children, who were working away from their parents, and the Oxen, abandoned by their handlers in panic. The soldiers led the children, with chocolate, to cover in the forest nearby. Ornelia was about four years old and had never tasted chocolate before.

THE RESTORATION
At our arrival, the house was something of a started project and a bit of a mess. We removed all the recent additions, modifications made since the 1950s, leaving only the bare bones of the original rooms and divisions of the Leopoldina design, to contemplate and plan around.

We sat with the pared back structure, and eventually intervened very little division-wise, being rather taken by the glorious open spaces: The first floor of the house remains somewhat faithful to its original use, with a large open-plan living zone and a fireplace, central to 4 private corner accommodations.

At ground level, the granary and stalls we united, bringing the majority of volume at ground level into one continuous space. The house is not only a Leopoldina, but also a casa colonica meaning colonized dwelling, or a house that grew with its occupants.

More volume was constructed as more living space was required. The Leopoldina we see today was likely a reworking of a smaller, ancient property that is now the central part of the house.

ETRUSCAN ROOTS
Riccardo the Guardia Caccia (Gamekeeper) at Tenuta La Fratta, our neighbour, is a great source of local history and lore. He recently told us that the original dwelling place at this site predates the fall of the Roman Empire, and that the original name of this property Pietrabianca which means ‘white stone’.

It is thought locally that the name referred to the presence at this location of a site sacred to the Etruscans, built in white stone. Certainly, the central room of the house (shown in the image below) is the oldest ‘visible’ part of the building. Riccardo is convinced that there is something magnificent beneath!

The smaller, original dwelling was most likely surrounded by water on three sides, judging by Leonardo da Vinci’s maps of this area. In paintings dating from the 12-1300s we can see the house shown as a group of barn like structures.

The surrounding land is extremely fertile. At the time of the Etruscans, large parts of Tuscany were underwater, under a vast lagoon that was later drained by the Romans. But the waters rose over again in the Middle Ages, when a pope dammed a river near Orvieto for defensive purposes.

And so over the following 300 years the waters rose. Indeed, close by to our location, large areas were still wetlands until the time of Leonardo da Vinci—who drained the waters as the engineer to the Medici family, revealing vast areas of fertile land.

Our area is a historic centre for beef production and the zoological origin of the Chianina. The animals are visible from the windows looking out to the North, at La Fratta, where you will find the largest herd in Tuscany, grazing in the valley below. For those who love beef, or simply local specialities, dining at the local Toraia or bull house during your stay, comes highly recommended.

STRATEGIC LOCATION
Ours is a close-to away-from it all or strategic location: Central for Tuscany’s most wanted wines, landscapes and hilltowns, yet idyllic for staying home. From here, you can tour in earnest for several days and still not see all of our favourite local sights. But that’s the point: A strategic location means that you can be spontaneous.

Malvin spent 10 years scouring Tuscany and Umbria before buying here. The countryside is beautiful in this area, as are the hilltop towns, and hamlets, that circle us—we see seven from the house. Local towns include: Cortona, Lucignano, Montisi, Montepulciano, Montefollonico, and Pienza. Arezzo and Siena cities are each just over half an hour’s drive away.

Our location is also strategic for wine: we are at a hub point for 5 wine producing zones Chianti Classico, Nobile di Montepulciano, Orcia, Syrah of Cortona – and Brunello di Montalcino. Indeed, we welcome many wine lovers to the house (and have installed a professional wine refrigerator for bottles you bring home).

In this area, it’s still ‘real’ Tuscany: You can still enjoy authentic dishes at good prices in restaurants full of Italian diners—and very close by, too. We have 5 super places to dine out within 2 km of the house.

Some of the most photographed and filmed parts of Tuscany are within the Province of Siena and easy to reach: Gladiator, Quantum of Solace, The English Patient, Master of None, Made in Chelsea, and The Medicis have all included footage of the Province of Siena towns and countryside which is indeed varied and beautiful. Much of the new [2019] ‘Pinocchio’ was filmed at our ‘home farm’ La Fratta. Siena City on Palio Day

SIENA
A province as well as a city—the capital city is named Siena—often spelled Sienna. We’re part of the Commune of TORRITA DI SIENA within the Province of Siena. Siena City is about 35 minutes away. Siena is an unmissable visit whilst in the area but there are many visits much closer: Read about our favourite visits in our Tuscany Guide

FLORENCE & ROME
Florence is one hour North (without traffic delays) and Rome is 2 hours South (ditto) It’s a 10 minute drive to the motorway. This location has been an important stop for North-South travelers for centuries, and has a very interesting history but international tourism has not really arrived in number yet. Here at this location we’re also not too far from the province of Arezzo, including some gorgeous Chianti towns well worth visiting.

ITINERARIES
For guests spending 3-4 nights with us there is much, indeed too much, to see in terms of hill top villages, wineries, and landmarks within a short 25-25 minute journey. Local destinations are cited at our Tuscany Guide Pages After day 4-5, travelling further afield, beyond the immediate environs, might attract.

From this location you can also see Umbria with relative ease: Starting at 20+ minutes away you can get deep into UMBRIA with a 45 /+ minute drive. PERUGIA (useful airport location at 55 mins) Perugia is both a province and City.

The City of Perugia is the capital of Umbria is about an hour away. Beyond Perugia, at about 80 minutes drive is ASSISI. Starting at 20+ minutes away, you can get deep into CHIANTI in an hour. A drive to SAN GIMIGNANO, beyond Siena City, will take about 80 minutes.

You could get to VOLTERRA in an hour and a half. PISA & LUCCA are just over 2 hours. ORVIETO, roughly one hour is an oft missed but splendid visit, convenient for those going to or coming from Rome. A day trip to FLORENCE (just over an hour away) is certainly not out of the question, either.

Those are the Big Name visits, but we suggest that spending time exploring in a half hour radius from the house is wonderful, and we would not encourage driving much further away unless on a 4-5 night’s stay at least.

We are always happy to help you with your planning and to put the brakes on your ambition; in this area the journey is generally equal to the destination in terms of enjoyment and so don’t plan in too much.

HOW TO GET AROUND
Without question, the best way to enjoy the Tuscan Countryside is by car—your ‘own’ car. Roads are mostly very quiet and driving can be very enjoyable. Nothing beats the spontaneity and independence offered by a rental car, and we will help with parking spots and journey plans or in any way we can.

For the frequent wine question, ‘Do we need a driver when going wine tasting’, oft asked, possibly the best way to wine taste in this area is to go ‘pro’ and go slow: Mix one winery into each day of your stay, don’t drink but sip-and-spit, and bring something back to the house to enjoy.

In this area wine tastings are often conducted by the maker, accompanied by plenty of insight and can be quite personal. You are not expected to actually drink the wine in the winery!

Rooms: 23

Price: from 329 EUR per night

Source: www.sienahouse.net

The Relais Della Rovere is a charming location created from the conversion of an ancient Benedictine abbey and a papal villa of the Renaissance period. It owes its name to its most illustrious owner: Cardinal Giuliano Della Rovere, who later became Pope Julius II, remembered as the patron of artists of the calibre of Michelangelo and Raphael.

Set in Colle Val d’Elsa, in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, close to the renowned Chianti region, it is strategically located among Siena, Florence, San Gimignano and Volterra. An ideally convenient starting point to visit the most interesting cultural tourism sites in Tuscany.

At Relais Della Rovere you will find a very harmonious and discreet ambiance and atmosphere, where the beautiful rooms obtained from a careful and meticulous restoration create a feeling of warm hospitality.

The facility results from the conversion of a monastery of Benedictine monks built in the 1100’s and the 15th century residence of Cardinal Della Rovere, handed down to history as Pope Julius II, the great patron of artists of the calibre of Michelangelo and Raphael.

A history that remains visible to the present day owing to the coats of arms, untouched by time, of the cardinal and pope after whom the hotel is named.

The Relais Della Rovere offers 30 rooms of different types (Classic, Farmhouse Superior, Convent Superior, De Luxe, Junior Suite, Suite), featuring refined colours and furniture, and outfitted with the most modern amenities: whirlpool bath or hydro-massage shower, air conditioning, LCD satellite TV, minibar, WI-FI, telephone, safe.

An extensive park surrounds the entire facility and features a large and intimate travertine marble pool where guests can relax after a day of recreational activities or work, enjoying the charming view of Colle Val d’Elsa, the Town of Crystal.

ROOMS & SUITES
All the rooms differ in size, colour and decor, and keep the true essence of the original structure intact, enhancing each historical aspect.

The rooms are located in the different buildings of the facility. The furniture, fabrics and colours used result from the effort to keep the original features of the buildings as intact as possible.

The Convent building has rooms furnished with custom-made furniture with a somewhat more modern design, which nicely blends with the beamed ceilings and parquet flooring, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

In the Farmhouse, the wrought iron beds decorated with original draperies are a lovely complement to the terracotta floors and beamed ceilings. The pieces of furniture are Tuscan 1800’s antiques.

The Villa is beyond doubt the richer and more luxurious building, with its pink marble bathrooms, antique furniture and prints, precious tapestries, and beamed ceilings.

SUITE
One Suite is on the first floor of the Benedictine Convent (43 m2) and comprises an entrance hall with living room and two small sofa beds, a double bedroom, and a wardrobe leading to one of the two bathrooms. Linear decor with modern, solid oak furniture. Beamed ceilings and parquet flooring.

One Suite Luxury is in the Villa (51 m2) and features antique furniture and prints, and precious tapestries. Ceilings with encased beams and parquet flooring. Entrance hall/living room with sofa bed and a large French window opening onto a small balcony with an ample view on the park.

The large window in the double bedroom offers a view on the historical centre of Colle Val D’Elsa. Two bathrooms, one with shower and the other with whirlpool bath, and courtesy kit. Bathrobe and slippers on request.

IL CARDINALE RESTAURANT
“Il Cardinale” Restaurant and Wine Bar, run by an external caterer, was converted from the ancient cellars of the Villa.

The cuisine is closely linked to the territory, with traditional Tuscan dishes paired with a wide selection of local and national wines. All Relais Hotel residents enjoy special rates at the “Il Cardinale” Restaurant. The restaurant is also open to non-residents.

THE BREAKFAST
A buffet breakfast is served every morning in the halls of the Renaissance Villa. A careful and rich selection of the products, combined with wise and traditional preparation methods, enhance the choice ingredients, maintaining their original flavour and creating dishes prepared in harmony with the seasons.

The bar within the facility is at your full disposal. During the summer season, service at the pool is also available.

THE COURTYARD
On summer evenings, lovely dinners are served by candlelight in the courtyard. The setting is ideal for wedding receptions, birthday parties, banquets, business lunches and dinners, and all types of food and wine events.

THE FACILITY
The Relais Della Rovere welcomes its guests in a refined and exclusive ambiance that nevertheless offers the warmth of a family-run facility. The Relais Hotel comprises 3 buildings having different origins and thus representing a real journey through time, starting from the 1100’s up to the mid-1800’s:

• Benedictine convent of the 1100’s
• Renaissance villa of the 1400’s
• farmhouse and outhouse of the 1800’s
• courtyard between the villa and the convent

The large halls of the hotel are both in the former convent and in the villa, and are connected by a bright corridor that looks onto the internal courtyard.

MEETINGS
Guida Meeting & CongressiThe Relais Hotel Della Rovere is the perfect setting for events and business meetings of great impact, organised with the utmost professionalism. Our competent staff is at your disposal to support you in every phase of your:

• Company meetings
• Congresses
• Conventions
• Conferences
• Promotional events

THE PARK
A marvellous, secular park, rich in vegetation typical of the Tuscan maquis, stretches over approximately 2 hectares of land and surrounds the Relais Hotel, creating a peaceful and intimate atmosphere.

Guests can enjoy pleasant walks through nature and history, read a good book in the ancient courtyard or admire the century-old panorama of Colle Val d’Elsa.

THE SWIMMING POOL
During your sojourn, indulge in relaxation and enjoy the outdoor swimming pool, entirely made from the renowned Sienese travertine marble. The pool area is outfitted with sunbeds and umbrellas. Bar service available in summer.

THINGS TO DO 
The territory is perfect for myriad activities focusing on nature, art, history and sports.

• Wine, cheese and oil tastings – Tours of wine and farming estates
• Historical – landscape trekking
• Cultural itineraries: art galleries and the Chianti Sculpture Park, museums, music, works of art and historical-artistic monuments.
• Local crafts itinerary: “Crystal”, chocolate, leather, ceramic and terracotta items
• MTB (mountain bike) cycling tours on the via Francigena and in the Chianti region
• Horseback and scooter excursions in the Chianti region
• Hot air ballooning
• Painting and drawing courses
• Cooking courses
• Special rate agreements with Spas and Adventure Parks
• Grape harvesting, olive picking and “truffle hunting”
• Car rental and driver service

YOGA & MASSAGES
Contact us. Based on your requests, we will personalise your stay so as to satisfy your every need.

A sports facility is located at a stone’s throw from the Relais Della Rovere, and is easily reachable on foot. It includes:

• tennis courts (outdoor and covered)
• roller skating rink
• five-a-side football field
• beach volley court
• golf field (practice)
• shooting range
• pedestrian and cycling path connecting Colle Val d’Elsa to Poggibonsi

VAL D’ELSA
The Relais Della Rovere is located in an area that offers guests a charming view over the town of Colle Val d’Elsa. Owing to its strategic position between Siena and Florence, it is an ideal starting point from which to visit all the tourist and cultural interest sites in the area, which are located conveniently close.

Distance from:

• Florence, 35 km
  Florence Airport, 45 km
• Pisa, 80 km
• Siena, 18 km
• San Gimignano, 11 km
• Monteriggioni, 6 km
• Volterra, 30 km
  Montalcino, 45 km
• Castellina in Chianti, 10 km

Rooms: 30

Price: from 135 EUR per night

Source: www.relaisdellarovere.it