The beauty of Borgo Santo Pietro is that it’s one of those rare hotels that looks perfect. There’s not a bulb, shrub, or hellebore out of place, nor will you find a blemish in the paint work or a scuff on the furniture. It is annoyingly perfect. I could just end the review here, but for the sake of paid wordage, one must continue. Perhaps the most bizarre and unique thing about this Tuscan Borgo is that it feels a little bit out of place. It’s more French chateau break than it is Italian castello, and that’s part of the charm. You feel infinitely European here: there’s a dash of the French Provençal; a smidge of English eccentricity, and a splattering of Danish cool. The latter is thanks to its owners, Danes Claus and Jeanette Thottrup. Jeanette personally oversaw every inkling of the Borgo’s interior design. The main house takes its style cues from the French. Think a spluttering of candles, rich earthy colour palettes, leather chairs, baroque florals, and outside, ornamental gardens that scream odes to Aix.
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Book With Us For Perks
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant and via in-room dining (already included in property rates)
- $100 USD equivalent Food & Beverage credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
- Early check-in / Late check-out, subject to availability
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
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The rooms and suites are just as bougie. All 22 rooms and suites are decorated in their unique style, but the ones that rule the roost come courtesy of the fine and secluded pool chambres. Mine for the night was huge. Named after the renowned local ‘shepherdess poet’ Dina Ferri, it’s dually elegiac as its namesake. Walls are draped in Monet-esque frescoes, and around them, a curio of antiques gives the whole thing that extra punch of character. Enveloping four poster beds are kitted out in Egyptian cotton sheets, feather duvets and piles of soft pillows, and thanks to a medley of cushty couches, there are a plenty of spots to snooze the afternoon away. Outside, a cabana adds to the R&R aesthetic alongside love seats and a chandelier crowned snug. Biggest perk? The pool. It's a good size and big enough for a good few laps to work up a sweat. If the sun glares too bright, skip it for the clawfoot tub in the bathroom – excellent and nourishing Seed to Skin amenities included. This is a memorable suite, and one worthy of the price tag.
Beyond all the pretty and fabulous, however, there is a vision. The Thottrup Borgo footprint is to create an estate that is fully self-sufficient. Because of its luxe doing good approach, it’s a place that’s always in a state of ecological fruition. The 300-acre estate has its own organically cultivate vineyards and orchards, alongside animal farms (including sheep that produce the cheese and alpacas), fermentation labs, and restaurants that follow a locavore cuisine philosophy: fresh and seasonal sprouts that honour Tuscan traditions. While so many brands these days spout a load of meaningless eco marketing jargon, here it feels genuine, and everyone from the bell boys to the kitchen staff are loyal devotees to the cause, too.
As for the grub, it’s all prepared under the watchful eye of Florentine chef Ariel Hagen. The farm-to-table ethos is all based strictly on what the estate produces with fresh eggs, fruit, veggies, honey, cheese, and meat (from fallow deer to rabbit) on the menu. Everything else is sourced locally. The casual Trattoria sull’Albero, a treehouse built around the massive trunk of an ancient oak tree, is your one-way stop for excellent wood-fired pizza, carpaccio and ricotta, and spinach-stuffed agnolotti. The secret is in the quality of the ingredients. While you eat carbs, they are good carbs, and you do not feel any of the nasty effects from bloating to lethargy afterwards. Service is exceptional, though the kitchen a little slow, but as with anything in Italy, it’s worth the wait. Fantastic Chablis and walnut gelato, too.
If you are looking to escape, do not bother. This is very much a destination hotel. You go here to relax, eat, and swim in the pool. If you get itchy feet, there’s a spa (due for a huge upgrade later this year) to relax in, along with guided estate tours, hikes, and picnics to the hidden Blue Lagoon, and Vespas and a vintage Cinquecento car to rent. Summed up, Borgo Santo Pietro is the epitome of country house hotel chic, and it’s one of the very few in Italy that gets it right.
Top Takeaways
Location: Chiusdino, Tuscany, Italy
Rating: Five-star
The vibe: Hygge estate chic, with odes to France and England in between. It is, without a single doubt, country house hotel perfection.
Food + Drink: Eco-conscious grub plucked straight from the estate. They also have their own rose wine, and the buffet breakfast is exceptional, too.
Amenities: Bar, restaurant, pool, spa, tennis court
Our Favourite Thing About the Hotel: There’s no BS here. The place has a clear eco-luxe mission without the need to puff it up in the name of marketing.
What’s Nearby? Chiusdino. It’s a cute village worth a peek at with local shops and restaurants. You will also find the Seed to Skin boutique here, too.
Any personal neighbourhood recs? No, you go here to stay here.
Rooms: 22
Pricing: From about 840 USD per night, including breakfast.
Closest Airport: Florence or Pisa international airports. Transfers can be arranged on request.
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