Il Salviatino - Florence

Sleeper is sat on the terrace of Il Salviatino, watching the pink hues of a September sun setting over Florence’s famous Duomo in the valley below. We are taking an aperitivo with General Manager Simone Giorgi and Operations Manager Claudia Michalke. As the evening unfolds, waiters will bring a series of piatti offering chef Saverio Sbaragli’s modern interpretations of the food his grandmother cooked – a deconstructed take on the Tuscan bread salad panzanella, followed by an unctuous, slow-braised dish of veal cheek, then a novel twist on the traditional pairing of cantucci di Prato with Vin Santo, the almond biscotti worked into a delicate pastry shell, carrying a cream scented with dessert wine and pecorino cheese. It is hard to imagine a more perfect setting for a meal.

Il Salviatino is nestled on the sloping hillside of Fiesole, surrounded by cypress trees and olive groves, yet just minutes away from Florence – the Roman-founded city which this Etruscan settlement predates by several centuries. It is easy to see what attracted many wealthy Florentine families to establish their country villas here from the 14th century onwards.

Il Salviatino is housed in just such a building – a 15th century palazzo, whose conversion to a 21st century luxury hotel was being completed during Sleeper’s visit.

Claudia Michalke knows the area well having spent many years working at Orient-Express’ Villa San Michele, also located in the hills surrounding Florence. Over dinner, she explained how the medieval cottage which once stood on these grounds was transformed into a villa by the Bardi family in 1427. Originally known as ‘The Sfacciata’, the building was sold to Nicola Tegliacci in 1447, who renamed it the Palagio dei Tegliacci. Restoration on a grand scale changed the 14th century aspect of the villa which was named Salviatino after the Salviati family, who owned it throughout the 16th and 17th centuries.

In 1882, the villa became the property of Phelps Thomas who started a full restoration programme, during which architect Corinto Corinti built the large central staircase and cinquecento portals which greet visitors to the hotel today.

Corinti also designed a new covered entrance for arriving carriages, now transformed into the reception area where the hotel’s ambassadors meet guests for check-in.

Under the new ownership of the Ojetti family in the early 20th century, the interior was elegantly furnished with a valuable art collection and Il Salviatino became one of the most lively cultural salons of the time. “Anyone who was anyone visited here in the Thirties and Forties,” explains Michalke, “ministers, musicians, artists, you name it.”
Subsequent years of neglect saw the building fall into a state of disrepair far removed from its original grandeur. It had most recently been used as student accommodation before hotelier Marcello Pigozzo stumbled across the site. Pigozzo, with forty years’ experience in luxury travel, had been looking for a site to launch a new collection of luxury hotels with his financial partners Cabot Square Capital, for some time, but knew he had found what he was looking for as soon as he saw Il Salviatino.

His dream was “to create a unique hotel, encapsulating the very best of Italian culture and luxury living.” Pigozzo’s new company MpG enlisted architect Luciano Colombo in a €15m project to restore the property to its former glory.

Central to the simple yet sophisticated design philosophy of the hotel is the work of Tuscan artisans. Each room has been individually decorated with an elegant blend of local craftsmanship, handmade linen, lovingly selected artwork and the finest leather furniture. Beyond the reception area, the hotel’s library features towering wall-to-wall bookshelves, locally sourced rugs, and huge chesterfield sofas. The imposing central staircase in Pietra Serena stone has been restored as have the Italian oak parquet floors and Carrara marble tiling throughout.

Sleeper stayed in the Affresco Suite, with its stunning frescoed ceiling by Bruschi, dating back to 1886, and a 12th century antique bath uncovered during the restoration.

Other features include huge marble fireplaces and ancient mosaics. These precious finds are juxtaposed with carefully considered antique and modern pieces promoting the finest Italian craftsmanship. Much of the furniture and leather upholstery has been supplied by Poltrona Frau with antique pieces sourced from Artistica Rossi.

Many of the suites on the upper floors offer mezzanine floors, inserted into the high ceilings of the main house. Other hillside suites are tucked away in the terraced gardens.

The hotel’s crowning glory is the 350m2 Salviati suite which offers a multi-level living space with its private rooftop terrace offering 360˚ views over Florence. A newly inserted glass floor in the lounge area allows you to peer down onto the original stained glass ceiling of the central stairwell.

The main restaurant areas are La Terraza and Le Serre Greenhouse, which was still to be completed on Sleeper’s visit. Under Il Salviatino’s innovative ‘Grappolo’ concept, guests can eat anywhere within the hotel grounds at any time.

The final piece in the jigsaw will be the addition of a spa – the first in Europe to be operated by Thai-based brand Deverana Spa, located in an old farmhouse in the hotel grounds. An additional 14 Devarana De Luxe guestrooms located on the hill side between the spa building and the main villa will provide in-room spa treatments.

Hotel Il Salviatino
Via del Salviatino 21 Firenze 50137, Italy
Tel: +39 055 90411
Web: www.salviatino.com

Rooms 61 guestrooms & suites
Dining Restaurants: Grappolo, La Terraza, Le Serre
Leisure Deverana Spa, swimming pools
Drinking Bar
Facilities Library