Borgo times july august 2014

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BORGO TIMES The Midsummer Issue

Issue N°03 2014

July / August

MONTERIGGIONI MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL CROWNED WITH TOWERS, XXIV EDITION

Over the last two weekends of July, the famous Medieval Festival of Monteriggioni takes place inside the walls of the ancient fortress village overlooking the Chianti Hills.

The ancient castle of Monteriggioni has remained largely intact over the centuries and thus provides the natural backdrop for this historical event.

Inside the small old town, still enclosed by the ancient walls mentioned by Dante, the memory of the Middle Ages comes alive with amazing intensity during the days of the festival. Actors and entertainers dressed in costume, torchbearers, fire dancers and wandering poets all transport visitors far into the medieval era.

This is an unmissable annual event that attracts thousands of visitors every year.

This year sees the twenty-fourth edition of “Monteriggioni is crowned with towers” and features six days full of medieval inspired attractions, with impressive artistic performances, costumed characters, markets, arts and crafts in the streets and piazzas, jugglers, musicians, acrobats, sword swallowers, singers and so much more. Also re-enactments and reconstructions will be even more detailed and exciting, with knights, horses, battles and much sculduggery and tomfoolery.

Read more on page 2 >>>

BLANKET OF STARS The service was impeccable and the food was divine. Our room was so wonderful, and we loved the fireplace!

Charles & Jessica Lister

Culture is at the very heart of Tuscany and to reflect this boutique hotel Borgo Santo Pietro has created regular movie nights which will be hosted in the beautiful gardens of the hotel. Featuring classic cult films which have a synergy with Borgo, movie nights are atmospheric, entertaining and enjoyable. Why not relax as the sun goes down watching the unmistakable Audrey Hepburn in “Roman Holiday” or wind down with a glass of prosecco whilst indulging in a must-see screening of the Federico Fellini’s classic “La Dolce Vita”.

Dates for your diary

Medieval Festival in Monteriggioni on pg. 1-2

Need Anything?

Call the reception on nr 9

Vespa Rental

Call concierge on nr 871 to book one

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Continued from page 1 > Old Money To further immerse visitors within their medieval surroundings guests will have to exchange modern currency for old coins. To buy food and drink and other items within the castle walls you will need a good supply of the ‘Grosso’. The currency harks back to the old Sanese d’Oro and will be coined in three sizes this year: 1, 2 and 5 ‘Grossi’, worth their equivalent in Euros.

Visitors can exchange their cash at the Medieval bank counters located at the two ends of the main square of Monteriggioni.

All the fun of the Feast The Feast of Monteriggioni is more than just entertainment, music and re-enactments. It also offers the chance to sit down and enjoy some very good rustic Tuscan food. For the duration of the event, various eateries, taverns and inns offer local traditional dishes and medieval specialities. From soups, broths, local salamis and Tuscan sausages, through to whole game, spit roasts and home-made cakes and desserts, the village is filled with the aromas of bbq’s grills, open fires and traditional baking. Enjoy an authentic taste of Medieval Tuscany all washed down with a good glass of local wine, mead or ale.

Tickets and Transport can be arranged through our Concierge office.

WELLBEING WORKSHOPS WITH KATRINA LOVE SENN World-famous healer and yoga teacher, Katrina Love Senn, returns to Tuscany this summer for more healing and wellbeing sessions Earlier this year healer and yoga teacher, Katrina Love Senn, spent two weeks at Borgo Santo Pietro where she held workshops, meditation sessions and break-through healing events with guests. Such was the lasting impact of her visit, Katrina agreed to return and hold regular wellbeing weeks throughout the summer of 2014.

MONTALCINO

THE HOME OF BRUNELLO Tuscany is without a doubt the land of fine wine and good food and Borgo has created several tailor-made tours where guests can enjoy ‘behind the scenes’ tours of some of the region’s most exclusive, privately owned family-run vineyards.

Why not join us on a journey of discovery with a trip to an award-winning wine producer with an exceptional vineyard in Montalcino – home of Brunello.

Departing from Borgo Santo Pietro in the morning you will be driven to a family-run vineyard located within the famous wine growing area of Montalcino. Firstly, you will be given a tour of the vineyards and estate grounds, then you will enjoy a concise masterclass on the wines produced. A guided tasting session will include five wines such as the much admired Brunello di Montalcino as well as a Super Tuscan. A homecooked lunch will then be served in the cellars which will of course be accompanied by the estate’s own exceptional wines.

On leaving the vineyard you will be taken to the ancient and breathtakingly beautiful village of Pienza which was originally created by Pope Pio II to be the ‘perfect’ town. You will have plenty of time to walk off your lunch and soak up the atmosphere of this historic Tuscan village.

To arrange a wine tour at Montalcino or one of our other wine-tasting excursions in Chianti, Bolgheri or Siena please speak to our Concierge about the options available.

Borgo’s owner Jeanette Thottrup explained “Katrina is truly gifted.

Having her at Borgo was such a fantastic experience that had a positive and enlightening effect on both guests and staff. The morning yoga classes were so popular with guests who enjoyed her gentle approach to wellbeing. Also, many guests booked breakthrough healing sessions and the feedback was amazing – clients actually asked us when she would be here again so they could book another stay with us. Katrina’s outlook and healing philosophy sits so beautifully alongside the lifestyle and ethos here at Borgo. We want to offer our guests the chance to really and truly relax and leave Borgo feeling restored and rejuvenated. Katrina’s presence adds an extra dimension to the experience we offer at Borgo Santo Pietro.”

This summer Katrina has added 4 more weeks of wellbeing where she will be staying at the hotel and offering sessions to both guests and non-residents. She will also be working closely with the hotel spa manager, Tracey Mallalieu, who has designed several unique holistic wellbeing treatments that perfectly compliment Katrina’s healing sessions. Tracey explains “Borgo is a very special place where we give our guests the opportunity to totally wind-down and recharge their batteries on every level, emotionally, physically and spiritually. It is wonderful having Katrina here as we can work in-sync helping our guests to achieve a higher level of pure relaxation and wellbeing”.

Katrina Love Senn will be holding regular yoga, meditation and healing sessions this summer and her wellbeing weeks are being held at Borgo Santo Pietro on: July: 12th -18th August: 30th - 5th September September: 27th September - 3rd October October: 25th - 31st October* * Book a session during this week and automatically take 30% off any 2-night or more stay & book a second session at a 30% discount. Restrictions may apply. Please contact us for terms and conditins.

Contact the Concierge to book a session or course of classes with Katrina at Borgo Santo Pietro. Morning yoga at Borgo will be complimentary to guests, whilst individual sessions of yoga start at €80.

Private guided meditation sessions start at €80 whilst the private Breakthrough Healing sessions are priced at €175. For more information check out www.katrinalovesenn.com

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Sourcing plants from specialists in Pistoia and from nurseries around Tuscany, the gardens have an international flavour. There are references to many diverse styles at Borgo Santo Pietro with influences drawn from many sources such as Italian formal gardens, Provençal Country Gardens, Moroccan and English Courtyard Gardens, you can even sense a touch of contemporary design in parts. Key elements remain consistent within all areas with a sense of relaxed elegance being universally achieved.

One of the first projects was to create a large terrace and several courtyard gardens around the main villa. The terrace overlooks a panoramic vista of the Tuscan hilltops, forests and distant mountains. In the spring and summer months, the terrace plays host to numerous antique terra-cotta pots housing heritage varieties of lemons.

Just beyond the terrace you are greeted by a series of charming courtyard gardens each leading on to another. Low box hedges have been used to contain beds of antique and classic Tuscan roses. These ornamental beds literally overflow with colour and scent and the pure number of roses is impressive to say the least. As a backdrop to the rose gardens and ornate water gardens are the climbing roses that envelop numerous arches, wrought iron pergolas, timber loggias and natural stone walls and pillars. Jeanette explains, “Roses are one of my passions and at Borgo we have created more and more beds every year.

I love the look of cascading blooms drifting from the pergolas and rose arches. Also, we have an in-house florist who uses these gorgeous flowers for displays in the villa, restaurant and bedrooms which, once again, naturally links the house with the garden. We have a combination of classic English Roses from David Austin such as Rosa Crocus, Winchester Cathedral and Darcy Bussel alongside many old Tuscan roses. We do have to be careful in our plant selection of course, as some of the more sensitive antique roses simply would not cope with our changeable climate.”

TAKING ROOT AT VALLE SERENA BORGO SANTO PIETRO’S GARDENS COME OF AGE Located in the very heart of Tuscany, Borgo Santo Pietro has some of the most beautifully designed hotel gardens in Europe. The meticulously kept gardens are not only aesthetically breathtaking, but also serve a very important purpose – supplying the hotel’s three restaurants with year-round fruit and vegetables.

Designed by owners Claus and Jeanette Thottrup, the gardens have evolved over time and now extend to over 13 acres of formal flower gardens, traditional kitchen gardens, classic water gardens, rolling meadows, spring water lakes, courtyard gardens and panoramic terraces.

The extensive building and sensitive landscaping work at Borgo Santo Pietro started in 2001 with the hotel first opening its doors to guests in 2008. “We always had a vision of how the gardens would look and have gradually extended out from the villa creating unique spaces linked to together with entwined walkways, covered paths and intriguing passageways,” explains Jeanette.

“We wanted the gardens to feel like they had always been there, a natural extension of the house itself. In fact, we have used lots of local stone and sculpture which also reflects the architectural style of the villa. We spent months researching what plants would work here which was pretty complex as the climate is extremely variable. In the winter, temperatures can plummet to minus 15° whilst in the peak of summer the heat can rise to 40° or more. Therefore, everything we have planted is relatively hardy and low maintenance. We wanted to retain a classic appearance, however we did not want to over formalise the land-

scape and have tried to keep things relaxed yet elegant.”

After several years of very hard work the gardens are looking as if they have actually been in place for decades. The Thottrups have spared no expense when purchasing trees and larger plants and have personally selected mature trees such as Holm Oaks, Acacias, ancient Olives and mature Cypresses which all sit alongside hardy shrubs and formal hedge plants. On arriving at Borgo Santo Pietro you are greeted with sweeping avenues of Cypress Trees. Meticulously placed hedges of Bay, Elaeagnus and Box break up the undulating lawns into smaller areas and give privacy and interest. Swathes of Lavender Spica fill the air with a nostalgic heady perfume, border plants such as Oleanders give colour and you can detect the perfume of rosemary, sage and thyme amongst the roses.

Jeanette’s eye for detail and ability to foresee how a garden will develop has given Borgo Santo Pietro an established and classic feel in a relatively short time.

“At one time we had thousands of plants wilting in the sun just waiting to go in, we knew we were stretching ourselves to the limit, but it felt right.”

Climbing plants are a key element at Borgo Santo Pietro and have been successfully used to create outdoor ‘rooms’ and enchanting private areas. ‘Piante Rampicanti’ can be seen in every corner of Borgo’s extensive gardens. Climbing roses, jasmines and perfumed honeysuckles have been introduced to create a natural canopy over a romantic private dining ‘grotto’. Virginia creepers and weeping willows entwine to give a magical feel to the area around the fresh water ponds. Both the villa and garden cottages are also swathed in perfumed climbers including varieties of wisteria, jasmines and climbing hydrangeas.

Borgo Santo Pietro has developed extensive kitchen gardens that require a team of designated and knowledgeable gardeners. The kitchen and herb gardens have been designed to provide a large percentage of the produce needed by the hotel’s three restaurants.

“We are investing time, energy and money in the kitchen gardens as we feel they pay a crucial role at Borgo. Organic vegetables feature highly on our seasonal menus and we are also re-introducing some older heritage varieties of fruit and vegetables such as tomatoes, salad leaves, squashes, courgettes and potatoes. Growing varieties that have always been harvested in the region makes perfect sense to us, we are so proud of Borgo’s history.”

Along the gravelled path leading to the vegetable gardens (or ‘orti’ as they are known in Tuscany), you pass beneath wrought iron arches festooned with roses and soft fruits such as raspberries, black-currants and gooseberries. The soft fruits are underplanted with forest and Alpine strawberries and the path winds alongside the vegetable gardens that also feature formal rows of espalier fruit trees including pears, apples, plums and apricots. “We produce enough fruit and vegetables to supply the kitchens and still have enough left over to make Borgo ‘marmalate’ jams, jellies, preserves and sauces”. The herb garden also provides numerous flavours and perfumes for use in the kitchen. Even the lavender flowers are harvested once the season has passed and used within accessories for the Borgo interiors range. Plans are also in place for the creation of a range of Borgo remedies and beauty products and essences for use in the hotel spa.

The soil at Borgo Santo Pietro is actually heavy clay and the team of gardeners is dedicated to improving its quality. Head Gardener Peter Mountford comments “We are bringing in regular truckloads of sheep manure which is then dug into the soil. Over time, the structure is changing and gaining a higher nutrient level, but it is an ongoing job. The local sheep farmers, famous for their ‘Pecorino’ cheeses, are proving most obliging and this year we are hoping to introduce our own livestock in the meadows and paddocks adjacent to the kitchen gardens. We have a menagerie lined up including alpacas, pigs, deer and chickens which will mean that we will have our own source of Borgo ‘muck’ which will also help enormously.”

Borgo’s gardens incorporate many natural or traditional gardening techniques such as composting, mulching, seed collection, growing from cuttings and regeneration. The garden team is also working towards biodynamic methods of propagation, planting and harvesting. Encouraging natural wellbeing in the garden whenever possible, Borgo has also introduced its own bees which assist in the pollination of the plants and, of course, supply delicious Tuscan honey for the kitchen too.

Dotted around the estate are discreetly constructed garden buildings such as timber summerhouses and pavilions which provide shelter from the summer sun and also allow guests to partake in artisan activities such as flower arranging, photography and painting. Peter explains more about the lifestyle at Borgo, “We encourage guests to enjoy time in the garden and we are delighted to accompany them on garden walks where we explain what is growing where and how things work here. Also, some guests want to help us harvest fruit for the kitchens or cut flowers for the florist which is wonderful as they really get a feel for the Borgo experience. Everyday, something new is happening in the garden and we want guests to feel part of that.”

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The incredible views across the medieval city of Siena are enough to put you off your game, an unforgettable experience.

- Gary Kilby

SPA SENSATIONS

TEE TIME IN TUSCANY GOLF AT PELAGONE AND LA BAGNAIA There are several excellent golf courses in the region and should you wish to organise a round or two why not consider one of the following award winning courses.

Golf Club Toscana at Pelagone was designed by Keith Preston and offers a stunning 18 Hole, par 71 course. It was elected amongst the top 10 New Golf Courses in Italy by Italian journalists. Experienced players can enjoy the natural course which offers panoramic views of the sea as far as the island of Elba. This is a challenging golf course that fits perfectly within the Tuscan landscape. The course is internationally recognised and features a golf school, large driving range and 2 putting greens.

Alternatively, La Bagnaia overlooks the medieval towers of

Siena and is only half an hour by car from Borgo. La Bagnaia is the first Tuscan, 18 hole course designed by renowned architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. A Par 71, it covers an area of 1300 hectares, located within the gently rolling hills near Siena. The course is enhanced by beautiful lakes and a majestic Club House, where you can enjoy a unique view of all 18 holes and the towers of Siena. Playing on this course is made unique and exciting not just thanks to the mastery of Trent Jones, but also to the incredible views across the medieval city of Siena that are available from every hole.

THE GIRLS ARE IN TOWN One of the most exciting developments at Palazzetto this summer is the arrival of our trio of gorgeous girls, our little family of alpacas.

The girls arrived at the end of June and have been busily exploring their new surroundings ever since. The arrival of the alpacas is a special landmark at Borgo Santo Pietro as it signifies the official opening of our farm. Whilst the three female alpacas are here to bring a little fun and entertainment to our younger guests, they will also soon become members of a much larger farmyard family which we hope will include pigs, chickens, deer, ducks and hens.

We are running a competition this month to find names for the three alpacas. They are only 9 months old and at an age when they are starting to be trained and we really must find names that suit their characters. Why not pop over to the Alpaca meadow and introduce yourself and spend some time thinking about suitable and memorable names for our rather beautiful trio. Leave your ideas at reception and if your suggested name is chosen you will receive regular photos and updates on the Alpacas progress.

MINI-MASTER CHEFS Let your bambini master the art of pizza-making

The aromas of Tuscan cooking can be found in every piazza, market place and street corner. In fact, at the very heart of life in Italy is the simple pizza, a staple in every young Italian’s childhood.

Who doesn’t love a good pizza?

You may have simple tastes and prefer to go for a classic Margherita or even a traditional Napolitana, however, if you are a pizza aficionado you might choose to indulge in a delicious stone-baked pizza topped with burrata and artichokes. Whatever your pizza preferences, this classic streetfood forms the backbone of day to day life here in Tuscany.

At Borgo, our chefs love to share their passion for good food and our pizza-making classes are popular with kids of all ages. These morn-

ing sessions are fun-filled, messy, creative and a great way to entertain younger children who need some time out of the summer sun.

Kids learn how to make traditional pizza dough from scratch and then create their very own pizza toppings. With colour and flavour galore, the pizza-making sessions are also informative and encourage children to expand their love of fresh and seasonal foods and challenge their taste-buds. A relaxed cooking experience for younger guests these sessions are held in the Treehouse Bar where the pizzas are then cooked in the traditional outdoor oven.

The best part of making your very own pizza, of course, is in the final ‘tasting’ and all young chefs get to enjoy their finished creations – anchovies and nutella anyone?

This Summer we highlight the ‘must try’ spa treatments on offer at Borgo’s intimate centre for holistic wellbeing. The menu reflects the spirit of Tuscany and includes many unique therapies which have been designed specifically to benefit Borgo’s guests.

Spa Manager, Tracey Mallalieu, has developed a range of treatments that treat the body mind and soul. “Bespoke therapies address the needs of the individual client and combine healing and rejuvenating techniques alongside classic and contemporary massage methods. When a guest comes to my spa I like to offer something unique, personal and tailor-made. Of course we have an extensive menu of traditional treatments, but our one-off sessions are becoming more and more popular, especially with guests trying to ‘switch-off’ from busy and exhausting lifestyles” Treatments are available at the 800 year old spa building or outside overlooking the gardens or indeed elsewhere in the estate on request. Using organic healing herbs and raw ingredients, the collection of holistic therapies include massage, bespoke facials, relaxing bodywork and beauty treatments.

Offering a unique fusion of ancient Eastern techniques and contemporary Western therapies, Borgo Santo Pietro’s therapists offer an exceptional spa experience.

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ARTIST IN RESIDENCE During the month of July, celebrated British artist, Liz Polunin, will be hosting classes and sharing her creative intuition and artistic skills with guests at Borgo Santo Pietro.

Born in Petersfield UK, Liz first exhibited in a national schools’ exhibition at the age of 11. She then went on to train as a chamber musician playing in a string trio with Jaqueline du Pre, spending 25 years in international chamber orchestras in Holland and the USSR. Following her successful musical career she then specialised in Chiropractic, Applied Kinesiology and Musicians’ Injuries writing four books on the subject under her married name of Andrews.

Yehudi Menuhin wrote the forward for her ‘Healthy practice for Musicians’ book and this lead to a very extensive lecture tour of New Zealand and a subsequent London practice.

In 2000, she returned to her true love of painting - mainly studying with Robin Child and David Tress. Liz is fascinated by colour, movement and intuitive feel. Her work has been exhibited extensively and she has held four solo exhibitions in Haslemere and, in 2004, she was Highly Commended as runner-up for the James Hockey Prize for Painting at the Surrey Institute for Art and Design.

Since then she has exhibited in London at Highgate Fine Art four times, at Llewellyn Alexander ‘Salon des Refusee’, at The Mall Galleries with NEAC, at the Twentieth Century Theatre in Notting Hill,

West Dean and at The Oxmarket Gallery Chichester.

Liz enlightens us about her unique style “I paint not what I see but what I feel about what I see, over time, its underlying structure and rhythm. A highly tactile reaction to landscape, conveys a passionate immediacy in my painting and graphite drawing, I am awed by the majesty of mountains and the weight of ‘ancient’ stones, the light scintillating and changing with the weather, of spaciousness and water, of being mid-performance rather than observing from the outside.

In the same way I am fascinated by what happens to paint and colour on the canvas, paper or board; the integrity and risk of a fiercely applied mark or juicy slash of paint, the tactile overlays or scrape through; translucent colour singing against subtle adjacent opacities. Succulent paint over paint in simple planes, carves out the enormous grandeur, space and height. The splendid variety available in a severely limited palette applied in a free manner, gives glow, density and richness. I am entranced by the shimmering that occurs as the emitted light bounces off the painting surface.”

Out and About…

Just half an hour from Palazzeto in the old town of Colle Di Val D’elsa you will find Arnolfo, an award-winning Michelin-starred restaurant which boasts a stunning terrace overlooking the valley and elegant formal dining with a variety of creative and artistic tasting menus featuring local produce. The menu includes scallops, red mullet ravioli and pigeon cooked three ways all of which are presented exquisitely.

This is the perfect choice if you are looking for fine dining experience when in Tuscany.

To book a table at Arnolfo, please contact our Concierge.

+39 0577 75 1222

www.borgosantopietro.com

To contact Editor We would love to hear from you if you have any news or views that you would like featured in Borgo Times. Also, If you have any images from your stay with us at Borgo we would love see them, so please do get in touch. press@borgosantopietro.com +39 055 232 1583 Grazie Mille, Sharon Kilby

info@borgosantopietro.com