Borgo Pignano — Hotel in Volterra

This place is truly stunning and luxurious. The grounds are intimate and well maintained, with every offering you could imagine - there are 2 restaurants, a pool with bar (and separate children’s pool area), day beds, gym, horseback riding, painting classes, cooking classes, on site wine tasting and plenty of areas for walking and exploring.

We stayed for 3 nights in Sala Musica which was an enormous suite with a full sitting area, towering ceilings, large washroom and even a grand piano! We had local day trips planned, so didn’t take part in as many of the on-site offerings and activities, but did enjoy a wonderful walk exploring the areas they cultivate nearby and the farm animals they raise (the front desk has maps with walking routes). The food is delicious, and most of the ingredients are produced on site. I had the best chicken I’ve ever had in my life (I cannot believe chicken could taste this good) at the more casual restaurant and also really enjoyed every pasta and pizza dish we had.

The views, inside and out, are beautiful and there are several areas to take advantage of them. There are a few stunning sitting areas inside, but it was very hot while we were there and without air conditioning in some areas, it was harder to enjoy being inside. Every morning, breakfast is served and you’re able to enjoy on the patio overlooking the Tuscany countryside. The pool also offers a stunning view - we were there during a massive heat wave, so the heated pool might have been ideal if it was in fact, not heated, but we enjoyed cold drinks in the pool to cool off when needed.

The Borgo is well located to visit spots in the region, but is also set up to provide an immersive stay if you simply want to remain on the campus as well.

Highlights: food at the Al Fresco restaurant, gorgeous views from all vantage points, delicious cocktails at the bar, wonderful service, lots of on-site activities

To consider: our room was quite large, and only seemed to be cooled by a single unit above the bed (please consider that we are Canadian and are used to air conditioning indoors), so during the heat wave (40+ degrees C or 104+ F), it was quite warm in our room and sometimes hard to get to sleep at night. We asked housekeeping if there was a way to make it cooler, but it seemed there wasn’t. The hotel is very focused on energy conservation, so this was understandable and we support their approach. The bar doesn’t open till 4:30, so if you are looking for afternoon drinks, the only option is to head to the pool bar or have wine/beer at the restaurant when it’s open (12:30 - 2). We really enjoyed exploring the grounds, but some of the routes we chose to take were likely dedicated to horseback riding as they were overgrown and we couldn’t...

We chose Borgo Pignano for a family vacation with my parents-in-law from Australia, whom we had not seen in person for over 2 years. We wanted a place that was uniquely picturesque, relaxing, and that would take care of all the details so we could focus on enjoying our time with one another. What I had not expected is the connections I would make with the people I met at Borgo Pignano and what an impression the story of how Borgo came to be would make on me.

There are many high-end villas in Italy and throughout Europe, but after a while, a hotel is still a hotel. What makes a place memorable are the moments you enjoy thanks to the place. The conversations you have with people, the beautiful sunsets you wish wouldn’t end, that delicious bite of food which reminds you—yes, food can taste that good, and the memories you create with your family because you’re somewhere beautiful, far from home. Our stay in Borgo gave us all these things, but what I am most grateful for are the many pleasant interactions I enjoyed with the people at the hamlet. Lavinia from the kids’ club who so patiently engaged my boys and encouraged them to make an entire chess set out of clay. The housekeeping team who so kindly changed the bedsheets, when yet another one of my kids had an unexpected accident in the night. And Francesco, the general manager, who gave us an amazing tour of the grounds and shared the story of the years of hard work and creativity Borgo Pignano has put into becoming the high-end, sustainability-focused, farm-to-table accommodation it is today.

Some details I appreciated: -A very intimate kids’ club (eg, 4 kids) with hikes and arts/crafts in the morning and games/dinner/movie in the evenings. -Super kid-friendly swimming pools. Our villa’s pool was huge and the kids could walk half the length. There are outdoor showers, foot showers, and housekeeping tends to the pool 2x/day. -Twice daily housekeeping. -Beautiful rugs and paintings that make you feel like you’re staying in a friend’s home rather than in a hotel. -Convenient restaurants on site with stunning sunset views. And delicious breakfast buffet. -Pretty much everything is made on site, from the bars of soap and lavender shampoo to the bacon you eat at breakfast and olive oil you dip your bread in. (Yes, Borgo actually has an olive tree grove to grow olives for their olive oil. Wow.) -Extended activities like horseback riding, private painting lessons, and tours of the farm and the grounds. -Basically everything about Borgo Pignano screams high-end and understated luxury, so if that’s your thing, you will enjoy the many touches that make things a uniquely comfortable home...

So far we have never been further south than Florence, but now we have spent our first "real" Tuscany vacation. We ended up in Volterra on a recommendation and from there it wasn't far to Borgo Pignano. We immediately fell in love with this place from the photos, and to say it up front: once you're there, it's even better. A beautiful old country estate with roots dating back to the 15th century is surrounded and complemented by separate old country houses with 2-5 bedrooms and pools. We were accommodated directly in the main house and had a wonderful view of Volterra on the horizon from our room on the 1st floor. It is difficult to describe the magic of this place, you just have to experience it. From the very first moment you feel welcome and not at all like in a hotel. The rooms are historic and individually decorated. I don't think you could spend a better time in Tuscany. There are two restaurants on site, one of which has a Green Star Michelin rating. Both are highly recommended, but especially the excellent breakfast. We would like to emphasize the very attentive and incredibly helpful service, whether at the reception, in the restaurant, and the bar, in the garden, everywhere. The soul of the hotel is the Guest Relations Manager Gigi, who offered us a guided tour of the grounds. We highly recommend this, as it allows you to get to know all the special corners and special places on the extensive grounds. It's worth mentioning that Borgo Pignano grows its own organic vegetables and you can even visit the fields and greenhouses. This is very impressive and explains the excellent quality of the food. Borgo Pignano is perfectly located for day trips to Volterra, Florence, Siena or Pisa, for example. But the best thing is the sundowner in the Borgo Pignano garden. We often just sat there and enjoyed this special place. A little tip: Gigi can show you the small herb store in the courtyard below the gym. Among other things, you can buy the Borgo's homemade soaps, honey from its own bees and the Borgo room fragrance. So you can take a little piece of Tuscany home with you. See you next time,...