Review of Borgo Santo Pietro, by Maggie Stack

Since opening in the spring of 2008, luxury hotel Borgo Santo Pietro in the sleepy town of Palazzetto in Tuscany, has fast become one of the region's top luxury retreats.

Borgo Santo Pietro is a lovingly-restored thirteenth-century villa surrounded by 13 acres of private grounds and perfectly located in the Valle Serena ('Valley of Serenity'), making it close enough for a day's shopping in Florence, but secluded enough to provide a welcome escape when you've tired of the crowds. Sienna, San Gimignano and countless other idyllic Tuscan hill towns are only a short drive away from the luxury hotel, while gourmands and wine connoisseurs can enjoy exploring nearby Chianti.

The luxury hotel's breathtaking surroundings are only a backdrop for this masterpiece of exclusivity and sheer indulgence. The Borgo Santo Pietro's elegant interiors have been designed to reflect an authentic, Italian luxury lifestyle - ancient stone floors, hand painted murals, antiques and tapestries blend seamlessly together to create a relaxed and intimate environment.

The facilities

The owners of the Borgo Santo Pietro are serious foodies and with plans for a chef's table in the kitchen, they are already striving to secure their first Michelin star. The chef is on hand to prepare breakfast how you want it, when you want it and lunch can be taken just about anywhere you'd like - by the pool, in the dining room or on the hotel's loggia or patio overlooking the beautiful valley.

Dinner at the luxury hotel is a real occasion. The a la carte menu offers gourmet dishes with a Tuscan twist and the luxury hotel's seven-course tasting menu is a tour de force which would dazzle even the most seasoned foodie. Most of the ingredients are grown on site in the herb and vegetable garden and the organic fruit orchard.

A fresh water pool offers guests some respite from the blazing Tuscan sun and the luxury hotel's 13 acres of gardens provide privacy and an idyllic, bucolic setting for a late afternoon stroll. Borgo Santo Pietro also has tennis courts, a basketball court and even a bocce pitch for the more active and guests can borrow a bike for free to explore the surrounding countryside.

The luxury hotel's spa offers local and more exotic treatments and is housed in a former bakery complete with an ancient pizza oven.

The rooms

Each of the seven rooms at Borgo Santo Pietro has been individually designed to be opulent yet comfortable with large sitting rooms that make them all feel like suites. Some have fireplaces and all come with a plasma screen television, DVD player, Wi-Fi and an i-pod with docking station.

The Via del Pellegrino room has gorgeous views overlooking the gardens and beautifully designed hand-carved bed and the Rinaldo Pievano and Valle Serena suites have freestanding, claw-foot baths. The Santo Pietro suite is the ultimate indulgence as it spans the entire first floor of the south wing and has its own dining area, lounge, separate bedroom and bathroom plus a private balcony.