Situated in the heart of Tuscany near Siena, Borgo Santo Pietro sits amidst 13 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens. The 13th-century villa, conceived by Danish owners Jeanette and Carlos, epitomises rustic splendour.
Showcasing Italy’s best bits, Borgo Santo Pietro delivers sublime food, sumptuous surrounds, and the warmest of hosts, fusing nature and luxury to harmonious effect.
The Vibe
Tuscan tranquillity.
The Rooms
Comprising of 22 rooms and suites, each individual in style, sleeping quarters have been thoughtfully designed with rustic-luxe furnishings inspired by the villa’s rich history. Guests can choose to bed down in a classic suite in the main villa (which houses eight rooms), an exclusive suite with garden, or a more seclusive villa with private pool.
We stayed in La Mora Junior Garden Suite, an elegant, tranquil place to retreat to. Fitted with gilded mirrors, sparkling glass chandeliers, and fine rugs, stylings lean towards the Rococo. Ceilings are high and beamed; furnishing are largely French (note the bespoke hand-carved beds); hues are gentle and soothing; and curtains billowy. Mod cons are largely hidden in plain sight (flatscreen TVs are shrouded behind paintings and there’s a touch-sensitive sound system which plays a restful soundtrack to lull you to sleep).
Before you drift off to bed (turndown includes a sprig of lavender and a single chocolate placed pillow-side) draw yourself a relaxing bath in the claw foot tub, complete with a generous dosing of Seed to Skin’s ‘The Retreat’ bath salts (a blend of raw Sicilian sea salt and marine algae).
The Little Extras
The village in which Borgo Santo Pietro sits ‘once served as a healing sanctuary using the herbs and plants of the land to create remedies to cure weary travellers’. Continuing these traditions today, the holistic spa serves as a retreat for the modern-day, travel-weary pilgrim to relax, unwind, and be uplifted.
Open exclusively to guests, the on-site spa boasts four treatment rooms (two indoors, two in the garden), with an impressive range of treatments spanning Ayurveda to shiatsu. Treatments are tailored to each guest – we opted for their signature 60-minute facial treatment and back massage. Using a coterie of products from Seed to Skin alongside organic herbs, plants, and oils, the estate provides an endless bounty of salves. Post-treatment, kick back with a book on one of the iron daybeds plump with cushions and lounge amidst nature.
The Food + Drink
With a farm-to-plate philosophy, you can expect to feast on some of the freshest produce you’ve ever tasted (taken from the soil and surrounds of the 300-acre organically cultivated estate) for the duration of your stay.
Enjoy a gourmet seasonal breakfast of fruits from the farm, organic eggs any style, pastries, fresh juices, teas and coffees. For those who are gluten free, there’s a dedicated section for you to choose from. After plating up at the open-plan Tuscan kitchen buffet, dine out on the terrace (between 8.30AM to 11AM) where you’ll be spoilt with views of the undulating hills.
Much of the food you’ll enjoy here is estate-harvested; the farm includes free-range chickens, honeybees, alpacas, and extensive vineyards, and the farm-to-plate ethos permeates all menus. Executive Chef, Ariel Hagen oversees proceedings; the Michelin-starred Saporium – presented in painterly surrounds – is his jewel in the crown. For something more relaxed, try Sull’Albero Trattoria. Built around a giant oak, at Sull’Albero Trattoria it feels like you’re dining in an expansive treehouse. Tuck into wood-fired pizzas, in-house prosciutto ham, and Tuscan specialities. Oenophiles (of which Owner, Claus is one) will rejoice in the confines of the estate’s brick wine cellar which houses a boutique collection of 1,200 prestigious wine labels from Tuscany and around the world.
The To-Do List
Go wild swimming; cycle around the estate on a pistachio-hued bicycle; enjoy a yoga nidra and gong session; or chill by the pool. Whatever levels of exertion you’re interested in, Borgo Santo Pietro can cater to your every whim.
Beauty lovers should pay a visit to Borgo San Pietro’s state-of-the-art laboratory, which is located a stone’s throw from the Borgo farm. Here, you’ll discover how Owner and Creative Director, Jeanette Thottrup and Cosmetologist, Anna Buonocore worked to create a range of science-led skincare that harnesses the best of nature. Made from locally sourced ingredients, whilst you’re here, pick up Seed to Skin’s all-natural cult formulations: the Black Magic Mask, the Fermen’tonic, and the Midnight miracle… or the whole collection if your baggage allowance can withstand the weight.
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