Borgo Santo Pietro
New and unique and very very special. Previously a medieval monastery, Borgo Santo Pietro is now a fabulous boutique hotel following a major restoration project by the owners Jeanette and Claus Thottrup. There are only eight bedrooms yet with facilities that would be the envy of much larger five star hotels throughout Italy.
Located south of Siena, on the outskirts of the village of Palazzetto, Borgo Santo Pietro boasts uninterrupted views of the Tuscan countryside whilst being a short drive from the medieval city of Siena and other well known hill towns.
The hotel is designed to resemble an extremely comfortable private house, there is no reception area and this just adds to the house-party ambience. On arrival we were welcomed with a delicious glass of Chianti and told to relax by the roaring log fire as our luggage was taken to our rooms.
All the bedrooms are unique and very special. The San Pietro Suite must be one of the most luxurious suites in existence with a vast terrace that takes over an entire wing of the hotel replete with a stone fire place – the perfect place to relax with a good book, a rug and a mug of hot chocolate on a crisp autumnal afternoon. Despite the general décor keeping faithful to its Renaissance roots there is a plethora of gadgetry including a large plasma screen hidden behind an oil painting, an ipod for each guest including the San Pietro music list, ipod docks in all the rooms including the bathroom. The other bedrooms share the same level of comfort with customized beds, original antiques, well stocked bathrooms which even come with the owners own designed monk like bathrobes.
The restaurant is top class and veering swiftly towards a Michelin star – using ingredients from the hotels vast organic garden, the menus are beautifully constructed and sure to attract diners from outside. A informal grill next to the pool area will be ready in time for 2009 and will offer simple Tuscan dishes including home made pastas and a Chianina burger .
The fresh water swimming pool is soon to be joined by a vast natural swimming lake in the grounds and the spa is to be expanded from its current location in a tranquil candle lit stone barn next to the hotel to a spanking new building offering all the latest treatments. Other facilities include a tennis court, large children’s play area, a bocce pitch, bicycles, hiking boots and equipment to explore the nearby abbey of San Galgano and much more.
‘We want our guests to experience lazy luxury in our small hotel - service on such a personalised level combined with exceptional facilities in stylish and comfortable surroundings, together with innovative fine dining so that guests can have what they want, when they want it and where they want it on the estate,’ says co-owner Jeanette. You won’t be disappointed.