I am organising a small group press trip to Borgo san Felice in late April and have one last place available on the trip. This is a small trip to a luxury hotel, so please only get in touch if you can guarantee coverage in a national print publication.

By way of background, Borgo san Felice is a luxury hotel created from a medieval hamlet in Tuscany, which is surrounded by 140 hectares of its own vineyards planted over the rolling hills of Chianti Classico with the towers of Siena in the distance. First inhabited in the 8th century, the picturesque and atmospheric hamlet of Borgo san Felice has a chapel in the centre of its main square fed by narrow tiled streets and an old palace that once belonged to the Taja family, who ruled this part of Tuscany up until the 18th century.

In 1991, Borgo san Felice was bought by Allianz (the insurance group) and underwent a complete restoration programme, reopening as a luxury hotel with 46 rooms (including 17 suites), which are located in the palace and various historic buildings around the hamlet's square.  All of the rooms are decorated with Tuscan antiques and contemporary touches; many have stunning uninterrupted views of the Tuscan countryside.

The emphasis at the hotel is very much on offering a true Tuscan experience, so the food and spa, for example, use local products (their wine is drunk in the restaurant and used for vinotherapy treatments in the spa) and there is a strong rural imprint to match the authenticity of the countryside surrounding the property.

Gourmet - The 2013 season marks the arrival of Francesco Bracali, a two-star Michelin chef born and bred in Tuscany. According to Achille Di Carlo, General Manager of Borgo san Felice, "Francesco is one of the most important chefs in contemporary Italian cuisine and perfectly represents our core values: excellence in flavours, authentic ingredients and charm in the presentation of dishes". There will also be a wine tasting with Borgo san Felice's resident oenologist.

Wellness - The Borgo san Felice has had its own product range created by Dr Paolo Vranjes, a chemist and artisan perfumer, who works from his Florence-based laboratory using techniques handed down from generation to generation.  Inspired by the scents of the Mediterranean, he has blended together pure natural ingredients with the world's finest essential oils to create beautiful fragrances which stimulate body and soul.  In the UK, Dr Vranjes products are exclusively available at Senti.

Design - New for 2013 are some remodelled rooms, including the stunning 120 sq m Prestige Suite, which has its own 80 sq m terrace with breathtaking views of the Chianti countryside.  All of these rooms have been created by the internationally regarded, Siena-based architect Marco Vidotto, a contributor to Architectural Digest (who has also written a book about St Hilda's Oxford!).

Destination - Borgo san Felice is the perfect place to be based for those keen to explore the cultural centres of Siena, San Gimignano, Arezzo, Montalcino, Montepulciano and Florence, all within an hour or so's drive from the hotel.

Francesco Bracali, Dr Paolo Vranjes and Marco Vidotto will all be at the hotel during the trip, and will be available for one-to-one interviews, as will General Manager Achille Di Carlo.

The trip will be leaving from London Heathrow in the afternoon of Wednesday 24th April, returning to London on the afternoon of Saturday 27th April. This is a one-off project that I'm working on for Borgo san Felice, so I'm afraid there will not be another immediate opportunity to visit. 


For further information please contact:
Sue Heady
Tel: 01608 651 692
Email: sue@headycommunications.com