Borgo Pignano

Rooms

The main villa houses a selection of rooms and suites, all elegantly dressed in antiques and Italian linens. Some have frescoed walls, others ornate fireplaces or terracotta floors, and a few come with additional beds for children. All are spacious and sumptuous, with marble- or travertine-clad ensuites, though it’s worth choosing one with a tub so you can wallow in the fragrant bath soak made on site using home-grown herbs and lavender.

We were lucky enough to bag one of the Signature Suites - a sprawling set of rooms gazing out over the countryside. We slept blissfully in our canopied bed, and awoke to a magical view of mist shrouding the hills.

The maisonettes and villas are simpler in style but just as beautiful. Some sit in outhouses next to the main hotel, others in the meadows a few minutes’ walk away. Our favourites were Il Granaio, a 2-bedroom apartment with soaring ceilings and a roof terrace, and Villa Casa del Lago, a romantic lakeside hideaway for 2-4. There’s also a large villa called La Fonte, which has five ensuite bedrooms and a heated swimming pool, so is well suited to bigger families or groups. The other stunning villa, La Lavandaia, has its own infinity pool with sweeping views across the valley.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• WiFi

Eating

Meals at Borgo Pignano are all about their home-grown or locally sourced ingredients. Fruits and vegetables are harvested at their peak; the bakery produces its own sourdough; pastries and pasta are created from heritage wheat grains grown on property. The estate boasts its own bees and honey, free-range pigs and hens, olive groves and vineyards - the quintessential farm to fork experience.

Gastronomic Villa Pignano restaurant is a serene, vaulted space overlooking the garden. We were treated to fresh, zingy flavours at every meal - for breakfast, a buffet of lavender-infused honey, homemade jams, juices and just-baked bread; for lunch, pasta with a medley of tomatoes, followed by silky olive-oil ice-cream. The Tuscan wines served are biodynamic and organic. There's also a dining room known as the Medieval Fireplace where you can feast on traditional fare at a communal table (open evenings spring and autumn only). Here we gorged ourselves on flame-grilled pork while chatting to other guests by a blazing hearth.

In summer months Restaurant Al Fresco has a more informal dining experience in the garden. Expect traditional Tuscan recipes such as grilled meat, Mediterranean Sea catch of the day, stone-baked pizza.

Head to the Belvedere terrace for bespoke sunset cocktails garnished with herbs from the garden created by the Mixologist. On clear evenings the view stretches across the Tuscan hills to the coast and Corsica beyond.

If you’re staying in a maisonette or cottage, you can self-cater in your fully equipped kitchen, or wander up to the restaurant; breakfast is included in the rates.

Features include:

• Bar
• Chef on request
• Kids' meals
• Organic produce
• Restaurant
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Stroll or cycle around the estate (there are bikes for hire), play boules, then loll by the pool with a book from the library and a tipple from the bar
  
• Tour the biodynamic garden, then visit the lab to see how its produce is turned into honey, aromatic soaps and more (make your very own bar of soap if you like!)
  
• Ride Borgo Pignano’s horses (lessons and guided treks are available), book a yoga or Pilates session, or head to the kitchen to learn how to make pasta and bread with the chef
  
• Art classes, in-room massages, wine-tasting, truffle hunting (in season) can all be arranged, too
  
• Drive a few km to the walled town of Volterra. Wander its atmospheric ramparts and cobbled alleys, then linger over lunch in the alabaster-clad piazza
  
• Or head in the opposite direction to San Gimignano, famous for its 14 towers (its skyline has been likened to a ‘medieval Manhattan’). It attracts swarms of tourists in summer, so visit after dusk to avoid the worst of the crowds
  
• Siena, Florence and Pisa are also within easy day-tripping distance

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Art classes
• Cooking classes
• Cycling
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Mountain biking
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Pool table
• Private guided tours
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Well being
• Wine tasting
• Yoga

Kids

Despite the air of romance that pervades Borgo Pignano, children are warmly welcomed. Accommodation options suit all shapes and sizes of family, with plenty of space for kids to roam without disturbing other guests (and they have their own swimming pool). What’s more, the friendly multilingual staff go out of their way to make sure parents and their offspring feel at home, and an early-evening babysitting service is available.

There are great organised activities, with an emphasis on freedom of expression and creativity inspired by Steiner and Montessori. These include guided nature walks introducing children to the flora and fauna of the estate (there are beehives, a waterfall, meadows and woodland), pizza-making, and arts and crafts sessions.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Many of the rooms and suites in the main villa have additional bedrooms, space for extra beds, or sofabeds for 1-2 children. If you want a bit more flexibility, choose one of the maisonettes or villas. They come in a range of sizes and bedroom configurations, and most have a combination of twin and double rooms that work well for those travelling with kids. La Fonte is good for those staying with another family or grandparents, and many rooms have kids’ sleeping areas on mezzanines.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

Distances:

• Airport: 1 hour's drive (Florence or Pisa)
• Shop: 15 minutes' drive (Volterra or San Gimignano)
• Hospital: 15 minutes' drive (Volterra)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Borgo Pignano sits in the Tuscan countryside, halfway between the historic towns of Volterra and San Gimignano. It’s around an hour’s drive from Pisa and Florence, and 40 minutes from Siena.

By Air:
Pisa (75km) is Tuscany’s main airport and is served by numerous airlines - click on the links below for a list. There are also some flights to Florence (70km away). Transfers from either airport can be arranged, but we recommend hiring a car so you can explore the area (see below).

By Car:
For car-hire recommendations, click here. Bear in mind that Borgo Pignano is reached via a rather bumpy 1km track, but it’s nothing a normal vehicle can’t handle. Free parking is available on site.

Detailed directions will be provided when you book through i-escape.

More on getting to Tuscany and getting around