Relais Borgo Santo Pietro, Tuscany

An archetypal Tuscan beauty, Borgo Santo Pietro is a 13th-century classic country villa, masterfully restored into an elegant boutique hideaway, set amongst a stunning 200-acre estate, including 13 acres of immaculate formal gardens. Draped in old-world romanticism and offering superb dining using fresh seasonal produce, sterling service and Michelin-starred cuisine courtesy of head chef Andrea Mattei. Add to that a cellar-full of the regions best wine and Borgo Santo Pietro is the perfect place for an undeniably luxurious Italian escape.

Location

Sun-drenched and sublime, Tuscany encapsulates the very best of Italian life with plenty of fascinating history, exquisite food, world-class wine, and rolling countryside for as far as the eye can see. Borgo Santo Pietro is positioned right in its heart, tucked away on a quiet hillside and just a short 30-minute drive to the coast. The villa is also perfectly positioned for taking in all the best of Tuscany’s sights with cultural beauties, Florence and Siena, in easy reach and the medieval cobbled villages of Palazzetto and Chuisdino just a short stroll away. There’s a charming church ruin about a half-hour’s walk from the Borgo – do make time to visit there one day, perhaps with a picnic.

Your room

Borgo Santo Pietro’s rooms are all remarkably elegant and designed to reflect authentic Italian luxury. Each is individually adorned with the finest antique furnishings and muted colours give a warm yet sophisticated air with ornate plaster-work, hand-painted murals and tapestries draped along the walls. Dotted amongst the baroque opulence are all of modernity’s mod-cons, including iPads and discretely concealed plasma TVs, as well as private seating areas, each with fantastic views over the grounds and valleys beyond.

Why we like it

For its perfect balance between classic luxury and warm intimacy; you can’t help but feel hopelessly at ease here. The rustic, open plan kitchen area is the perfect spot for breakfast and an afternoon by the villa’s stunning infinity pool is always an afternoon well spent, with endless views stretching down into the undulating hills beyond. Whether you’re relaxing in the spa (converted from an old bakery) or strolling through the fragrant rose garden, Borgo is sure to win you over as the embodiment of sweet, yet splendidly refined, Tuscan living.