Hotel Review: Il Borro Hotel, Tuscany, Italy

Amy McPherson finds herself staying in a medieval village and being pampered by modern luxuries in the Il Borro Hotel, a sustainable Tuscan retreat.

It’s not every day you get to stay in a medieval village. Less of a chance for the said village to have updated plumbing and soft as-feather bedding. In this way, my stay at Il Borro Hotel felt a bit like being in a fairy-tale, because looking out of the window of my suite on the second floor of an ancient house, I couldn’t feel more far away from our time yet still so close to modern indulgence.

Some might define luxury with style and aesthetics, some with measures of quality in material, effort and service. There are others whose definition of luxury goes beyond the visuals and wish for a sense of isolation without the loss of modernity.

Il Borro Hotel is all of the above. Located south of Florence closer to the mountains of Tuscany than the famous rolling hills, Il Borro is surrounded by a rugged wilderness very different to the familiar landscape of gentle hills punctured with cypress trees, but the hospitality and experience is very much a Tuscan affair.

The resort is part of the Relais & Châteaux collection, which suits the philosophy of the property perfectly. While the association demands a level of quality, the hotels are free to maintain their individual characters. For the Ferragamo family who owns Il Borro,hotel who had spent years in transforming the land and the village into a luxury resort, the idea of this individuality is certainly a priority.

Ferruccio Ferragamo, yes, the Ferragamo of Italian fashion house Salvatore Ferragamo, purchased the estate from Prince Amedeo, Duke of Savoy-Aosta, one of Italy’s last royal families back in 1993. He had called the decision “a timeless act of faith”. He didn’t know then how things will turn out but having fallen in love with the historic property. With over 1000 years of history, the estate was scarred by years of deterioration and war, and its medieval village abandoned and in ruins, but that didn’t stop him and his family with the restoration project of their lives.

“There were a thousand and one things he wanted to do!” Vittoria Ferragamo, daughter of Ferruccio Ferragamo and current co-owner of the resort explained. “But we first begin with the restoration, of all the buildings, the main house and the village, as a starting point.”

The restoration of Il Borro Hotel was conducted with attention to historical detail. A team of artisans, stonemasons and local craftsmen were tasked to ensure the estate retained much of its ancient past, integrating with modern techniques to ensure the estate is environmentally sustainable for the future.

Today, the resort has 58 suites across the main building and the medieval village, as well as an exclusive villa that is built upon an ancient water mill. While the exterior of the buildings maintain their authentic historical flair, the interior offers graceful modern comfort. Each suite is individually decorated, and guests are treated to luxury Salvatore Ferragamo-branded amenities.

While guests can enjoy the indulgence of being very well taken care of, I became aware of the vast farmland that stretches from the reception door to the nearby mountain. I am told the resort is on 1100 organic hectares of land (that’s roughly 2718 acres) and the organic conversion process took three painstaking years.

“My father loves wine,” said Vittoria as she accompanies me on a tour around the estate, “so we began with making our own organic wines here.”

Vineyards that stretch for a mile beyond the eye, a vegetable farm that is tended carefully by the resident gardeners and a stretch of olive grove lines the foot of the mountain in a silvery hue. In the valley around the village there is a large chicken coop and hidden among the trees are 30 hives of the resort’s bee population. All of these supply the kitchen with year-round organically grown ingredients.

In fact, the estate produces so much of the fresh produce that they are able to sell them as vegetable boxes to local villages as well.

Vittoria believes that being organic is aligned to the commitment of being a sustainable business. The resort currently boasts zero carbon emissions from continuing sustainability projects.

“I think being organic is not just a marketing thing,” Vittoria further explained. “If our land is without chemical contamination, it’s good for the wildlife, for the chickens and bees, for the quality of our fruits and vegetables and when we eat it, it’s good for us too!”

There isn’t anything that Il Borro is not equipped to offer, that includes ensuring the guests have sufficient things to do. Being a wine lover, I join a tour of the estate’s historical cellars, however for the non-oenophiles, there are plenty of other activities for all ages and preferences.

From horseback riding, and cooking classes to truffle hunting and jewellery workshops, all the experiences aim to give guests a taste of local culture and will give you a different insight into Il Borro Hotel’s heritage as well.

After a day of exploring, it is always a good idea to enjoy a treatment at the resort’s excellent Spa.

If there is one thing that differentiates between Relais & Châteaux and other hotel associations’ properties, is the focus on great cuisine.

And with Il Borro hotel’s philosophy in producing the freshest organic produce and providing a true farm-to-table experience, I was not surprised to be impressed by the performance of the kitchens.

There are two dining venues onsite. The Tuscan Bistro is an informal restaurant serving light Tuscan flavours on a terrace looking over the valley. Osteria del Borro, the signature restaurant is where guests breakfast each morning, but it’s the dinner menu that really shines.

The seasonal menu features not only the estate’s product but also sourced from small Tuscan producers to make up the gaps. This makes a true Tuscan gastronomy experience that is coupled with creativity in presentation and attentive service. It is also the best opportunity to sample the wine collection with wine pairing options.