Il Salviatino: A new crown jewel in Florence
Some destinations stand out as priceless travels that we wish to remember and be remembered for.
Florence, once known as the Athens of Europe, reverberates in my mind so vividly. This magnificent city entrances any visitor with its sublime art, architecture, culture, fashion, flavorful cuisine and vineyards. The centuries have immortalized its priceless works of art and culture while an explosion of tradition and historical movements unfolded here.
In addition to all this, a new crowing glory has recently been unveiled — a sublime commemoration of the luxurious lifestyle that pervaded Florence. Welcome to Il Salviatino — the jewel of paradise, surrounded by an expansive 12-acre park, perched on the hills of Fiesole, an ancient Etruscan and Roman city in the romantic Tuscan countryside. Fiesole is a small town overlooking the Arno Valley with a charming main square, quaint restaurants, shops, breathtaking sights and panoramic views.
From the glorious setting of Venice, the tres amigos Yvette Lee, Edwin Santos and I proceeded to Fiesole in Florence to continue our delightful Italian holiday. We were welcomed by gracious Marcello Malik Pigozzo who, together with his father, Marcello Maria Felice Pigozzo, founded the company. A warm reception started with perfectly chilled champagne generously poured to welcome us to the enigmatic experience of a lifetime.
We basked in the glory of culture and heritage that is magically celebrated here. Our hearts skipped a beat in excitement as we drove through the charming, winding cypress-studded road that led us to the stunning Il Salviatino property, just four miles from the city center of Florence. For those who so desire, your Service Ambassador, personal concierge and wish-fulfilling genie, will be delighted to arrange any itinerary from private tours of museums, Ferrari and Lamborghini tours of the Chianti wine region, cooking classes or helicopter rides to neighboring regions.
As you take each step in awe and reverence for this elegant and storied manor, you immediately feel at home — that is, if home were a restored 14th-century villa. My favorite scent that arrests the senses is Dr. Vranjes’ concoction of sweet orange, grape, and a slight hint of cinnamon. As you close your eyes and inhale this fragrance, you wish this scent could waft forever. Exhilarating scents like this will certainly bring back precious memories of time spent in unforgettable destinations.
According to winsome Sylvia Manganaro,
 director of sales and marketing, Il Salviatino started life in the 14th century as a modest farmhouse. During the glorious reign of the powerful Salviati family in the 16th and 17th centuries, it was their opulent home where parties and events of unrivaled splendor took place. In September 2009, it was inaugurated with the grandeur of its former heritage. With a $60 million restoration, the 45-room hotel triumphed on these breathtaking hills.
During the restoration project wherein impressive frescoes were found, local artisans were tapped to meticulously restore former glasshouses and antiquated mosaics, and repanel the library. In 1427, it was purchased and rebuilt by the illustrious Bardis family. In 1871, Pietro Pagliano added a medieval crenelated tower and in 1882, the American Phelps Thomas added an Italian terraced garden and conservatories, which are now fully restored. From 1963, Il Salviatino housed Stanford University’s overseas program in Italy, with classrooms, library, dining and accommodation for students.
Aristocratic Tuscan ambiance intertwined with modern touches characterizes Il Salviatino’s stunningly beautiful suites and rooms with spectacular views of the rooftops of Florence and the magnificent Duomo. Flat-screen TVs are ingeniously concealed by large mirrors and LED-lit rain showers offer guests a refreshing feature. Each room evokes that nostalgic sense of old world charm as you admire the elegant blend of handmade artwork, weathered oak floors, Poltrona Frau leather armchairs and the finest Italian landscape and genre paintings. Check out its Dome View Deluxe with front-facing rooms that feature the magnificent views of Brunelleschi’s cathedral cupola. A very interesting touch in the Alfresco Suite with its amazing frescoed ceiling is a bathtub inside a carved marble Roman sarcophagus found just in the vicinity of the property.
From Il Salviatino, guests can also take a free shuttle service that brings them directly to the heart of the city. Landing by plane, driving by car, or emerging from TrenItalia (Italian Train system), an exploration of the city is where splendor unleashes its dynamic exuberance.
Known as a Renaissance treadmill, Florence is best experienced on foot. The artistic and cultural reawakening of the 15th century is preserved here as famous writers such as Dante, Petrarch and Machiavelli represent its literary heritage. One cannot leave this great artistic capital without admiring the paintings and sculptures of artists such as Botticelli, Michelangelo and Donatello.
After a satisfying day of cultural immersion, savor the flavors of Il Salviatino’s Restaurants La Terrazza in the summer and Le Serre in the winter where Michelin-starred executive chef Carmine Calò creates not only the most amazing cuisine, but a whole culinary experience. He will experiment with tastes but never forgets the roots of Tuscan-style cuisine. It was at Miramonti L’altro in Costrorio di Concesio where he met his mentor, chef Philippe Léveillé, from whom he learned to further express his love for cooking. In 2010, he joined Il Salviatino where he developed his own philosophy of Tuscan cuisine from classics to modern interpretations. Here, guests have dinner while they are bathed in the faint glow of romantic candlelight and Italian music. Guests can even join a visit to the local markets in the day and then return for cooking classes and demonstrations.
Over a hearty breakfast of pancakes with maple syrup, fresh berries, homemade strawberry and apricot marmalades and freshly brewed cappuccino with hazelnut cream, we witnessed the marvelous sunrise from our balcony and whispered prayers for traveling mercies. At the Il Salviatino Spa in the terraced gardens just above the three-level pool, we experienced the crowning glory of rejuvenation and relaxation. Dr. Vranjes Laboratory has created amazing products like cosmetology variations and fragrances that allow you to take part in “emotional polysensorial voyages.†Let your senses come alive with the perfumes, colors and warm vapors to ease away tension, anxiety and stress in the soothing hands of expert therapists. Try the antioxidant wine gel peel, revitalizing massages, or what I refer to as my “intoxicating madness,†the chocolate body mask where a decadent mix of pure melted dark chocolate with a cocoa-based body cream is delectably lavished on your skin.
Another must-see in Florence is the elaborately decorated Duomo soaring above the city and the Galleria dell’ Academia of Academy of Fine Arts, which houses Michelangelo’s “David,†a colossal 17-foot nude of the Biblical hero who killed the giant Goliath. This remarkable statue established Michelangelo as the foremost sculptor of his time at a young age of 29.
After each city tour and the Chianti region in the vicinity of Il Salviatino, we excitedly retreated to our fabulous suite in the historic villa. On our last night in this idyllic sanctuary, we listened to Italian operas, sipped chilled champagne and savored fresh strawberries lusciously dipped in chocolate that our service ambassador had lovingly prepared for us. We agreed that the only memory that we would bring from here is che gioia vivere — the joy of living.
Let your priceless travels begin at Il Salviatino in Florence, a genuine treasure chest that is definitely worth remembering and revisiting.
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For more information about Il Salviatino, call: +39 055 9041111 or log on to www.salviatino.com. Best time to visit is in May, June, September and October.
Qatar Airways (www.qatarairways.com), voted Airline of the Year 2012 by Skytrax industry audit, flies from Manila to Venice. Florence is 2.5 hours by train from Venice.
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E-mail the author at miladay.star@gmail.com.
