Entry by guest blogger - Lee Robinson
We
first saw the fabulous Borgo Scopeto in 2004 when it was being renovated.
All cranes and construction equipment and dust, it was an intriguing and
five-year undertaking to transform an ancient Sienese estate and its cluster of
farm buildings into a world class hotel.
 |
| driveway to Scopeto |
We
arrive at the end of a long day of ‘white roading’ in Chianti. Our VW is
covered with dust and mud, and is embarrassing next to the 20 or so sparkling
vintage Mercedes which fill the courtyard parking area. A group of
collectors are enjoying a vacation here with daily excursions into the Tuscan
countryside. A silver gull-wing 300, a cute little red roadster, a
collossal German general’s convertible, etc. Somehow a vintage red MG-TD
is also in the lot. Four bright red rental Vespa scooters are artfully
and precisely lined up outside the front door to the villa. What a great
backdrop for an ad campaign!
But
the best is the restoration of the stone buildings. Reception and dining
rooms with decorated coffered ceilings, sleek modern furnishings, artful black
and white photos, and a sky-lit sitting room off the bar had been created in the
base of a soaring stone tower which dates from 700 A.D. The guest
rooms are many (56) and varied, along with a few guest houses; and, a grassy
terrace has a fabulous near view of Siena.
Our
room is sparely but comfortably decorated with a modern, deep sofa and
comfortable beds. Understatement in style here speaks quite loudly in
quality.
The
chef here is clearly talented, but we had planned to meet a friend for dinner
that night in a nearby village, so we did not get to explore the very
interesting menu. However breakfast was a lavish spread with meats and
fruits, and eggs, pastries and choices galore. All of it was delicious.
Scopeto
is a bucolic, oasis off by itself in the Chianti countryside; however, it is
near enough to have dinner in Siena (10 minutes away) , or exploring the
tratorias of Castellina, Radda and Gaiole.
NOTE:
Scopeto was featured in Vanessa Redgrave’s Letters to Juliet,
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