PDF - Borgo Pignano

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THE ESTATE
Borgo Pignano is an elegant retreat in the heart of the Tuscan countryside
ideally positioned near the historic towns of Volterra and San Gimignano and
the medieval cities of Florence and Siena. This 750-acre private estate boasts
a borgo grown out of a rural hamlet dating back to the Etruscan times and a
magnificent 18th century villa built by the Marchese Ludovico Incontri. The
latter features original walls and ramparts from the Middle Ages, when the
property was once known as the Castello di Pignano and owned by the bishop
of Volterra.
Today, the beautifully restored estate offers warm and gracious hospitality set
amidst an enchanting natural environment. A certified organic farm and a
diverse biodynamic kitchen garden, olive groves and orchards, meadows and
woodlands, small lakes and vast expanses of cultivated fields can all be found
in Borgo Pignano’s grounds. This unmatched natural beauty invites guests to
engage in long scenic walks, bike rides, excursions on horseback or hikes to
Volterra. Bordering Pignano’s land you will find two natural reserves boasting
an abundance of flora and fauna.
Simply wind down and relax in the Tuscan countryside, soak up the sun and
enjoy the breath-taking views from the spectacular infinity pool carved out of
an ancient limestone quarry. On clear days one can even catch a glimpse of
Corsica’s outline in the distance beyond the vista of cypress strewn hills.
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THE LOCATION
Borgo Pignano is ideally located for those interested in authentic Italian
culture. The richness of art, architecture and archaeology found nearby is
commensurate with the natural beauty of the Tuscan countryside. One can
find noteworthy churches with frescoed cloisters and historic sites spanning
different historical periods – from Etruscan tombs to Roman baths to
Renaissance palaces all located in and around the medieval towns nearby.
Borgo Pignano lies a short distance from the most prominent of these towns:
Volterra and San Gimignano.
Once an Etruscan settlement, Volterra is known for its alabaster workshops, the
grand Piazza dei Priori, the town’s recently discovered Roman amphitheatre,
intact medieval walls and for its Etruscan Museum, and the bountiful
collections of artifacts crafted by these enchanting and mysterious people.
San Gimignano, a World Heritage site, is a picturesque Italian town with fifteen
medieval towers (one of which can be climbed for its stunning views) and a
cathedral. Its narrow streets are lined with small shops that sell locally made
Tuscan cheeses, meats and sausages, linens, ceramics, olive wood carvings
and of course San Gimignano’s world-famous gelato.
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Firenze
Pisa
San Gimignano
Volterra
Siena
By plane, via the closest airports of:
MILANO - Linate (approx. 358 Km) and Malpensa (approx. 412 Km)
ROMA - Fiumicino (approx. 306 Km) and Ciampino (approx. 289 Km)
FIRENZE - Amerigo Vespucci (approx. 75 Km)
BOLOGNA - Borgo Panigale (approx. 165 Km)
PISA - Galileo Galilei (approx. 74 Km)
Montalcino
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INTERIORS
Borgo Pignano’s main building is an 18th century villa surrounded by perfectly
manicured formal English gardens and pristine landscapes that remain
unchanged from Renaissance times.
Perched on a hilltop, the villa offers stunning views of rolling hills quilted with
olive groves, vineyards, fields and woods. There are fourteen elegant rooms
and suites –some with original frescoes- and all with en-suite white marble
and travertine bathrooms. A grand stone staircase leads to the upper stories
and an elevator serves all floors. There are also spacious common rooms that
complete the country estate atmosphere: the library, billiards room, music
room, ballroom and cinema room offer a variety of environments in which to
relax as well as the breakfast area and the Villa Pignano restaurant. Wi-Fi is
available throughout the villa.
Additionally, it is also possible to lodge in one of the hamlet’s elegant
maisonettes, only a short walk away, or in our romantic cottage Casa del Lago,
in the La Fonte farmhouse or the bohemian Artists’ House Caille.
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ROOM DESCRIPTIONS
Rooms with charm
Spacious and intimate rooms with queen or twin beds, opulent white marble
and travertine en-suite bathrooms, with a bath and shower. These rooms offer
views of the forests and the English aromatic herbs garden.
Rooms with a view
Comfortable rooms with queen beds and en-suite bathrooms with bath or
shower. These rooms offer sweeping views of the rolling Tuscan hills and fields
extending towards the coast with Volterra’s outline in the distance.
Suites with charm
One of these suites has two spacious double rooms with independent access
and a shared marble and travertine bathroom with a bath and shower.
The other suite consists of a large double room and an adjoining single
room that share a large bathroom with a bath and shower. These suites offer
enchanting views of the woods and the lovely English gardens.
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Suites with a view
The Music Room, which may be booked as a suite by those wishing for unique
accommodation, is an impressive room with high ceilings and gothic style
windows overlooking the sweeping western landscape. This spacious suite has
an antique Napoleonic sleigh bed accommodating two people and a unique
en-suite frescoed bathroom with a bath illuminated by a skylight. The Music
room also has its own private sitting area with comfortable couches, a working
fireplace and, naturally, a grand piano.
A second suite with spectacular views is located on the first floor of the villa.
The master bedroom features lovely light frescoed dove motifs, a canopied
queen bed and an en-suite bathroom with bath and shower. The adjoining
bedroom has beautiful frescos giving it a unique Arabian Nights atmosphere
and an antique Napoleonic sleigh bed suitable for one person.
Signature suites
Two impressive master suites with king or queen beds, a sitting room and
capacious luxurious en-suite bathrooms with freestanding baths and glass
enclosed showers. One suite features original period ceiling frescoes and
has a small balcony overlooking the lawned terrace. The other suite can
accommodate one or two couples and has privileged views over the swimming
pool and open countryside. Both suites have classical far-reaching views of the
Tuscan landscape.
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MAISONETTES & COTTAGES
Il Granaio
Located on the ground floor of the ancient hamlet just steps away from the
main villa, this elegant maisonette features a comfortable living and dining
room with kitchen facilities, a large master bedroom with a queen double bed
and a second bedroom with twin beds. Both bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms
with independent access. A private terrace with stunning views of the Tuscan
countryside and the medieval town of Volterra make this accommodation
unique. Il Granaio is ideal for families.
La Piccionaia
Located on the first floor of the ancient hamlet, this lovely maisonette offers
beautiful views of the rolling Tuscan hills and the medieval town of Volterra
in the distance. The first floor features a comfortable living and dining room
with a fully equipped kitchen and bathroom. The second floor has a large
master bedroom with a queen double bed and en-suite bathroom, a loft with
Japanese tatamis, a single bedroom and a charming pocket balcony. Guests in
La Piccionaia can also enjoy a shared al-fresco lounge and dining area.
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Il Pozzo
Located in front of the hamlet’s old well, this charming three-tiered maisonette
features a spacious and cosy living and dining room with a fully equipped
kitchen, a wood burning stove and a guest bathroom on the ground floor. Il
Pozzo has a twin bedroom with an en-suite bathroom on the second level and
a master bedroom with a queen bed and en-suite bathroom on the third level.
Guests at Il Pozzo can enjoy a shared al-fresco lounge and dining area.
Il Fienile
Il Fienile is located just in front of the imposing stone archway that leads to
Borgo Piganano’s main villa. This attractive maisonette features a spacious
master bedroom on a loft that overlooks a large living and dining room with
an original wood burning stove and a fully equipped kitchen. The master
bedroom is complete with a bathroom and a cosy, intimate balcony that looks
over Pignano’s grounds. There is also a separate bedroom with twin beds,
making Il Fienile ideal for families.
La Legnaia
As its name suggests, La Legnaia was originally used to store firewood and
can be found in a corner of the ancient hamlet. Built on two levels, it features
a comfortable living and dining room with a corner kitchen on the first level
and a bedroom with a queen French (140 cm) bed, an en-suite bathroom and
a small private terrace on the second level.
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Casa del Lago
Casa del Lago is a peaceful cottage with a covered porch where guests can
relax and indulge in the view of gently sloping fields and a small natural
lake surrounded by poplars and alders. The cottage features a fully equipped
kitchen and dining room, a comfortable living room with a fireplace and a
bathroom on the ground floor. Two double bedrooms with queen beds share a
bathroom and an intimate balcony on the first floor. Casa del Lago is ideal for
honeymoons and couples or for families yearning a tranquil, secluded setting.
La Fonte Farmhouse
La Fonte Farmhouse is surrounded by Mediterranean aromatic gardens,
orchards and fields and sits by one of the estate’s natural lakes. One can step
out onto an ample covered porch with views of the lake and feel nature’s gentle
embrace while making use of a traditional outdoor wood-fired brick oven. This
picturesque farmhouse has seven comfortable bedrooms with queen beds and
five of these also feature a loft with Japanese tatamis. There are seven full
bathrooms, a spacious dining and living room with a wood-burning stove, a
large state-of-the-art kitchen and a small adjacent annex. La Fonte is suitable
for couples, families and groups of friends or colleagues. It is ideal for courses,
workshops, retreats or conferences –yoga, painting, music, cooking and cycling
enthusiasts have all lodged here. This farmhouse can either be rented in its
entirety or divided into four separate spaces.
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The Artists’ House Caille
Sir Michael Moritz and his wife Harriet Heyman, distinguished collectors
of twentieth century British art and frequent visitors at Borgo Pignano, offer
up-and-coming artists the opportunity to lodge at Caille as their guests.
These travel and study scholarships are awarded to serious artists by a panel
of judges organized by the Royal Drawing School in London. The Artists’
Studio and house is a beautifully bohemian large stone farmhouse nestled in
an oak and beech copse only a short walk away from the main villa. Caille
offers guests a natural connection with the world of art and is available for
rental when not occupied by artist residencies. The ground floor features a
spacious studio space with a wood-burning stove, a fully equipped kitchen, a
dining area and a bedroom with a double pull-out sofa bed and bathroom. A
short flight of stairs leads to the master bedroom with a queen bed, en-suite
bathroom and terrace. Caille also offers guests the opportunity to enjoy its
outside private lounging area.
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HOSPITALITY & LEISURE
Borgo Pignano’s authentic character is such that guests not only enjoy the
utmost intimacy, but also have the opportunity to experience the varied
atmosphere offered by its different common rooms. Guests are welcome to
enjoy an aperitivo held by the fireplace in a large sitting room before dinner.
This is an excellent opportunity to meet other guests, to get to know Pignano’s
team or to simply have a convivial glass of wine or a cocktail prior to dinner.
On the culinary front, a luminous breakfast room is the ideal place to begin
the day whereas Villa Pignano restaurant, an elegant, softly-lit banquet room
in the original 200-year-old kitchen, provides a great ambience to wind-down
and enjoy exquisitely presented home-grown Tuscan food.
One can delve into the library on the second floor and immerse oneself in a
vast collection of books all of which can be read by a cozy fireplace flanked
by inviting couches. The first floor also features additional common rooms that
can provide the ideal setting for taking time out including: a grand two-storey
ballroom with a terrazzo floor and a balcony, a music room with an antique
Bechstein grand piano, a billiards room and a cinema room.
Those guests who may wish to release some energy can visit the estate’s small
state-of-the-art gym or the beautiful yoga and pilates room, which features an
antique wood floor and a wood-burning stove.
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The stunning infinity pool at Borgo Pignano is, without a doubt, truly
unique. It was carved from an ancient limestone quarry, which supplied
most of the stone used to build Porta dell’Arco, one of the principal
gateways of Volterra. The pool is nested on the slope of a hill beneath the
villa, offering unparalleled views of the Tuscan countryside.
The pool’s unusual angles and unique features, makes it a one-of-its-kind
creation in keeping with the spectacular views and surrounding lush
greenery.
The pool’s depth varies from 0.75 to 2.40 meters with a total surface area of
141 sq. meters and is surrounded by a limestone terrace with chaise lounges
and parasols. Adjacent to the pool area there are an outdoor pool bar and
a beautifully manicured lawn, ideal for those guests who looks for
tranquillity.
The infinity pool is open from May to early October.
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CUISINE
Savor the fruits harvested from the organically farmed land when dining at
Pignano. Here the chefs passionately prepare three healthy delicious meals
every day using only the freshest local and organic seasonal ingredients
available. The hearty breakfast offers homemade breads, pies, cakes, granola,
yoghurt, cured hams, pecorino cheese and farm-fresh eggs. Lunch is a relaxed
occasion served buffet style in the outdoor gazebo and dinner is an understated
yet elegant fine dining affair in the Villa Pignano restaurant.
We like to keep things interesting at Pignano so Tuesday evenings are pizza
evenings and guests can enjoy traditional wood-oven baked pizzas. On
Thursdays, there is a BBQ night with a selection of meats grilled to perfection
on the outdoor grill and accompanied by a wide selection of side dishes, salads
and desserts. These special evenings take place at the Al Fresco restaurant
located on the lower garden terrace.
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ACTIVITIES
Visitors at Borgo Pignano are spoilt for choice when it comes to leisure
activities. Some guests find themselves seduced by the serenity of the estate
and don’t wander far: they swim in the infinity pool, sunbathe with views,
paint the scenery or stroll among the orchards, gardens and woodland paths
and sometimes even help in the kitchen garden. Others inclined towards more
activity pursue a little yoga practice, horseback riding or mountain biking.
Borgo Pignano often plays host to groups of enthusiastic cyclists who enjoy the
rigor of 30 to 120 km rides along Tuscany’s winding country roads. Runners
and those with athletic interests also find that Borgo Pignano perfectly suits
their adventurous needs.
Yoga Classes
Yoga sessions combine classes in relaxation and meditation techniques and
are held in the indoor yoga room, the large open hall at the La Fonte farmhouse
or on the lawned terrace of the main villa. It is often possible to join a retreat
should you wish to immerse yourself in a more holistic holiday experience.
Yoga students find Borgo Pignano’s idyllic setting to be therapeutic and the
regular yoga sessions are very popular with guests.
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Fitness
At Borgo Pignano we have a small state-of-the-art, purpose built gym featuring
the essential fitness equipment. Our gym is housed in the ancient hamlet and
sessions can be reserved at our reception. We can also arrange a personal
fitness instructor on request.
Pilates
For those guests wishing to maintain their fitness programme whilst on holiday,
Pilates sessions can be arranged. Private or group sessions take place in the
indoor yoga room or on the lawned terrace.
Painting
Pignano is a hub for up-and-coming artists who draw inspiration from the unique
landscapes and exceptional Tuscan light. Often these magical surroundings
also tempt visitors with no previous artistic experience to pick up a brush or
pencil. We frequently host group and individual art classes and the villa is
well equipped with artist’s supplies for guests to enjoy.
For Children
Borgo Pignano is an award winning family friendly country house and the
villa and grounds offer the perfect backdrop to a stress free family holiday.
There are many things for children to do such as swimming, riding, art
classes, cooking classes, nature walks, cycling and trekking. Our farm has
many animals to welcome younger guests including goats, chickens and horses
and our friendly staff are always happy to involve children in the day to day
activities on the estate. Babysitting is available on request with one of our
experienced babysitters.
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Cooking Classes
Our cooking classes are authentic and focus on traditional food derived from
the old Tuscan ways, sessions feature Tuscan bread, focaccia and pizza making.
Borgo Pignano welcomes you to our cooking classes to unveil the secrets of the
rising and cooking times of our typical and simple yet healthy doughs. Your
home-baked masterpiece will be accompanied with fresh vegetables from our
biodynamic vegetable garden. Each Pignano creation is completed with the
aromas and colors harvested from the estate land.
Guided tours of our biodynamic activities
Many of our guests are taking a break from very busy city-based lives and
benefit from taking time out in nature. Our farm tours take a look behind
the scenes of the working estate where we share our methods for biodynamic
food production. Learn about the seasons in Tuscany and how our farm works
in harmony with nature. Visit the beehives and assist with the collection of
organic honey, take a tour of our vegetable gardens and discover how our
kitchens use the herbs grown in our aromatic gardens.
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Horseback Riding
Borgo Pignano is home to a group of gentle and well-trained horses. Lessons are
available for novices inside the safety of an arena with our own instructor. We also
organize guided excursions that allow guests to soak up the pleasures of Tuscany from
the saddle. Experienced riders are free to journey alone, atop a more spirited mount,
and follow the well-marked trails through the woods and fields. The horses are integral
to the philosophy of Pignano and allow guests to gently get back to nature whilst
immersing themselves in the culture and atmosphere of the Tuscan countryside.
Mountain Bikes
Borgo Pignano’s mountain bikes are available to rent either for rides along paved roads
or Italy’s so-called Strade Bianche –white gravelled country roads. We can arrange for
the rental of road bikes from a high quality, local cycling specialist. We will also help
you map a specific route that fits your personal requirements and fitness. We can also
arrange for guided tours for small groups of guests and short or all-day excursions can
be arranged on request.
Trekking
Borgo Pignano lies within a major game reserve and is at the crossroads of two natural
reserves: Berignone and Castelvecchio. The estate’s virgin woodland and fields,
with its protected flora and fauna, is ideal for long walks. One can spot all manner
of birdlife while roaming the grounds including partridge, pheasants, ducks, geese,
cranes, storks and the occasional small kestrel and osprey. Closer to the villa, swifts
and swallows are plentiful and owls and doves can often be heard. Wild boar, roe deer,
hare, badgers, foxes and porcupines make their homes in the surrounding woods. We
can help you map trails and are available on request to accompany you on nature
walks and trails.
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DESTINATION WEDDINGS
Pignano offers the most romantic of settings for weddings and honeymoons.
The estate’s Romanesque parish church San Bartolomeo has served Pignano
since the thirteenth century and still rings out its bells today for weddings and
celebrations.
Pignano’s impressive backdrop makes it the perfect location for weddings and
we host ceremonies for guests from around the world. The choice of venues for
weddings includes outside on the villa’s impressive lawned terrace overlooking
the horizon of Volterra, or inside the 18th Century villa itself, amidst the wild
flower meadows or within the ancient church. We can work with you and your
wedding planner to make your day truly unforgettable. Pignano is beautifully
appointed for intimate weddings and also for larger celebrations which can be
held within the grounds of the hamlet.
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IN HARMONY WITH NATURE
The grounds of the Borgo Pignano estate are extensive –approximately 300
hectares of harmonious nature. Here we grow organic olives, cereals from
ancient seeds and biodynamic crops. Our seasonal vegetable gardens produce
a wide variety of foods that go straight from the garden to the kitchen and then
to the table.
The estate grounds include arable fields, grasslands, ponds and lakes, vegetable
gardens, beehives and natural reserves. We produce artisanal Tuscan bread,
natural honey and preserves, as well as cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil.
Preparations for a vineyard of red and white varieties is in progress, with the
first production predicted around 2020. Within the beautifully maintained
English country gardens you will find our aromatic and medicinal plants which
provide quality raw materials for use within body and wellness products.
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Loc. Pignano, 6 - 56048 - Volterra Pisa, Italy - www.borgopignano.com
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