Need a Tuscan retreat you can take over for your family reunion or clandestine corporate getaway? Borgo Finocchieto is a fully restored 800-year-old farming village in the province of Siena.
The painstaking restoration left the good stuff untouched (think 500-year-old wood-burning stove and an ancient stone-carved Borghese crest over the dining room’s entrance) but also introduced some posh new amenities, such as a 60-foot oval swimming pool and a spa with a gym, Jacuzzi and, of course, a bocce court.
Other good things: The 22 suites are all large and private; the public spaces are intimate and encourage networking. A conference facility holds 50.
Count on chef Luigi Ricci of Paul Bocuse fame to create the most elegant customized menus; we hear his breakfasts of breads, tortes and made-to-order eggs are legendary.
You won’t be bored in the Tuscan hills; there are more than 200 Brunello producers within a mile and a half of the Borgo.
Contact Mary Grace Hicks in the U.S. (mg.borgo@gmail.com, 011-919-606-6603) for more information on booking the Borgo. She can also fill you in on outside activities that can be arranged around the area, including the Palio, a.k.a. the running of the horses, which takes place every July and August in Siena. For small groups, the Borgo can arrange a special Palio getaway, featuring personalized guided tours of Siena, special meals en suite that reflect the history, tastes and sensibility of the local area, and a “ringside” box reserved for guests to view the spectacle. Culinary adventures can also be arranged in San Gimignano and Monteriggioni. Florence is also a close drive away.
Visit www.borgofinocchieto.com
