Tuscany's Borgo Santo Pietro Introduces Historic Santa Maria Novella Bath & Spa Products

The 11-bedroom Borgo Santo Pietro (www.borgosantopietro.com), built in 1229 in Tuscany, will offer in-room bath amenities and spa treatment products featuring special blends of natural oils and herbs from Florence's iconic Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella.

As one of the world's oldest pharmacies, Santa Maria Novella products originated in 1221 when Dominican Friars cultivated medicinal herbs in their gardens and used them to prepare balms, ointments and medications for their infirmary. In 1612 Fra'Angiolo Marchissi opened the pharmacy to the public and today the brand has built a world wide following with products sold at exclusive boutiques in the U.S. and worldwide. Through the centuries, Santa Maria Novella has continued to use natural ingredients and followed the monks' traditional recipes and formulas for its luxurious soaps and fine herbal essences, leading to the superior quality and stature of its skincare range today.

In-Room Bath Amenities
The Borgo Santo Pietro will be the first hotel in the world to feature this prestigious product line. Guests who visit Borgo Santo Pietro - whether staying in one of the eight bedrooms in the main villa or in the three garden cottages - can now luxuriate at bath time with Santa Maria Novella's pomegranate scented shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, soap and bath salts. After bathing or showering there's the pomegranate body lotion to enjoy too and this has been developed specially for the hotel, being only available at Borgo Santo Pietro. All products are contained in hand-painted blue and white ceramic pots, labeled in Italian, and presented on a ceramic tray. The set of containers can be purchased and taken home by guests for Euro 160.

Spa Services

For those planning a session in Borgo Santo Pietro's Spa - housed in an 800 year old former bakery - Santa Maria Novella's oils and potions will delight here too. They are featured, for instance, within the Spa's signature treatment: the BSP Serenity massage. Inspired by the Valle Serena (stretching out below the hotel and overlooked by the spa), this hour-long treatment comprises a welcoming foot ritual, a 40-minute massage combining traditional and eastern techniques and a mini-facial.

For a slow paced, gentle pressure Aromatherapy massage, lasting 30 to 50 minutes, guests can choose a blend of the finest oils from Santa Maria Novella. For the Exotic Tuscan candle massage, a specially designed candle by Santa Maria Novella is featured. The candle burns at body temperature so the warm aromatic, scented and nutrient rich oils (such as avocado, coconut and cocoa butter) are dripped slowly onto the skin, giving an exotic sensation. Lasting 50 or 75 minutes, this massage's pace is set by slow sweeping movements using deep pressure and finished with a deep scalp massage.

Similarly, Santa Maria Novella's Gel Riposagambe (a relaxing led gel) is used in the stimulating leg massage that concludes the Stepping out food and leg treatment - a 75 minute treatment taking advantage of warmed therapeutic oils to nourish and super condition neglected feet and nails.

These treatments, and many others, can be enjoyed in Borgo Santo Pietro's Spa with an old bread oven, a claw foot bath and outdoor terrace, adding further to the charms of this private sanctuary for a guest on their own or as part of a couple.

Just as all Santa Maria Novella's ingredients are produced locally and all the pharmacy's creations are made-in-house, with nothing outsourced, so too does Borgo Santo Pietro look to its produce being home grown on its 33 acre estate, as much as possible, and to local suppliers otherwise. Thanks to home grown herbs, vegetables, orchard fruits, olives and honey from Borgo's bees, its garden yields shape the hotel's seasonal menus which feature Italian food, inspired from traditional Tuscan recipes, with a modern twist.

Indeed, Borgo Santo Pietro's own history can also be traced back to the 13th century and religious influences. Pilgrims on their way to Rome once travelled to this very special spot where the hotel now stands and so a hamlet ('borgo') developed around the local church ('Ecclesia di Santo Pietro').

Jeanette and Claus Thottrup bought Borgo Santo Pietro in 2001 when the main villa was still a ruin and the 13 acres of ornamental gardens (with further 20 acres beyond) were still muddy fields. Bringing both back to life was a project they undertook on an ambitious scale ahead of Borgo Santo Pietro opening as a hotel in 2008. Here mellow grandeur is matched with distinctive Tuscan touches throughout, panning out across the eight individually styled bedrooms in the main villa, three garden cottages, the spa house, an affinity pool, a cabana-style bar and the gardens beyond. The Borgo is located 35 minutes from Siena, 40 minutes from Volterra (made famous in the movie Twilight) and an hour from Florence.

Room Rates for 2011 (through the end of October) range from Euro 335 per night for the Sir Vincent room up to Euro 1760 for the Grand Suite Santo Pietro. Breakfast and tax are included. Exclusive hire of Borgo Santo Pietro can be arranged on a weekly basis.

Hotel Profile: Borgo Santo Pietro