“When people drive up through the gates, and they come up to the reception and have their first welcome drink, they cancel virtually everything they had planned outside the gates. Because they realize, maybe these 3 to 4 days they’ve decided to stay at Borgo, there's so much to do and there's so much they would like to experience.”
We’re in great company with Claus Thottrup, Founder and Owner, along with his wife Jeanette, of Borgo Santo Pietro, an award-winning 300 acre estate and luxury boutique hotel - with encompassing restaurants, a holistic spa, organic skincare range, and extensive working farm they call home - build upon nearly 2,500 years of history, legend, mysticism and sacred healing rights, found in the heart of the Tuscan countryside.
Originally from Denmark, the Thottrup’s lived and worked in London for many years before they decided upon building a life in Tuscany for their family. Being inspired to create a type of retreat where they would imagine staying during their own travels, they soon realized the desire to share their vision with the world, welcoming guests to the destination that Borgo has now become.
As we welcome in Season 4 of this series, Claus celebrates the slow evolution it took to weave together their backgrounds in design, building development and restoration, their passion for good food and wine, their dedication to organic production and its sustainability principles, their appreciation of craftsmanship, artisans and antiques, and their love of nature and its curative properties all in order to create the retreat that is now Borgo Santo Pietro.
Top Takeaways
[1:45] The story of how two Danes met at an Italian restaurant in Copenhagen, pursued careers in property development and fashion design in London, before longing to call Italy home.
[6:30] Little did the Thottrup’s know when they went on a search through Tuscany for a private family home, that they would find Borgo Santo Pietro and it would have other plans for them…
[15:00] After their own worldly travels, Claus and Jeanette refused to adopt the “no mentality” and instead aspired to ensure “you can have what you want, when you want, where you want.”
[19:30] Guests can experience gardens and gastronomy abound - from pop-up dining events in the vegetable garden to the weekly farmers market, from a Tuscan style cooking school to wood-fired pizza classes, from onsite chocolate, ice cream and cheese production to vineyard tours and wine tastings, from microgreens plated at the Michelin-starred restaurant Saporium to the fermented snacks found in the suites.
[33:30] “For me it’s fundamental, it’s the only future,” explains Claus when he discusses the importance of sustainability in the entire ethos behind Borgo and their surrounding community.
[42:00] Jeanette’s natural skincare line, Seed To Skin which is grown, developed and produced on property, was inspired by a holistic lifestyle change and spiritual connection to this sense of place.
[53:15] The perfect summer holiday for the Thottrup’s includes sailing around the Mediterranean Sea so naturally they built their own sailing yacht, Satori, for guests to enjoy a slow traveled and sustainably focused excursion.
[1:06:20] Every season in Tuscany serves its purpose and there is beauty to be found in each and every one.
Notable Mentions
London Fine Dining at Pétrus or The Ledbury
The Sword In The Stone at The Abbey of San Galgano
Sammarco from Castelli dei Rampolla
Satori Yacht | @satoribyborgosantopietro
PN Homes | Italy and UK
Visit For Yourself
Borgo Santo Pietro Website | @borgosantopietro
Borgo Santo Pietro Wines | @borgosantopietrowines
