Il Borro is not a hotel in the usual sense. It is a 1,100 hectare organic estate in the Valdarno, between Florence and Arezzo, with a restored medieval village at its heart, historic villas, farmhouse suites, its own winery, horses, an olive mill and a small army of artisans. The Ferragamo family has owned it since 1993, and you feel their hand everywhere, from the leather and linen to the wine labels. My one-line verdict: arguably the most complete estate stay in eastern Tuscany, ideal if you want to live inside a working wine estate, less so if you want a big spa or a classic grand hotel.
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Quick facts: Il Borro Relais & Châteaux
- Location: Località Borro, San Giustino Valdarno, municipality of Loro Ciuffenna, province of Arezzo. About 60 km from Florence and 20 km from Arezzo.
- Rooms and suites: around 57 to 60 rooms, suites and villas (published counts differ): suites in the medieval village, newer suites at Le Aie del Borro, and three private villas.
- Price level: high, with the villas firmly in special occasion territory.
- Recognition: Relais & Châteaux member since 2012, two MICHELIN Keys (first awarded in 2025 and confirmed in the 2026 selection).
- Season: open through Christmas and New Year, with a quieter winter period afterwards. In early 2025 the estate opened only at weekends from late January to early March. Ask the hotel for 2027 dates.
- Nearest airport: Florence, roughly 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes by car. Pisa is about 1 hour 45 minutes away.
- Best for: couples and families who love wine, food and countryside, plus active travellers who want tennis, riding and cycling on the doorstep.
Check prices and availability
The village suites and the three villas sell out first from May to October, and around harvest time in September. Compare dates before you commit.
Location and getting there
The estate sits in the Valdarno di Sopra, the upper Arno valley, on the slopes below the Pratomagno mountains. This is a quieter corner of Tuscany than Chianti: fewer coaches, more working farms, and the strange eroded clay cliffs known as the Balze along the old Setteponti road. Before the Ferragamos, the estate belonged to the Savoy-Aosta family.
By road, leave the A1 motorway at the Valdarno exit, follow signs for Montevarchi and Terranuova Bracciolini, then take the Setteponti provincial road to San Giustino Valdarno. Il Borro is about 1 km after the village. Plan on:
- Florence airport: 50 to 75 km depending on route, roughly 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Pisa airport: around 140 km by road, about 1 hour 45 minutes.
- Rome Fiumicino: around 250 km, roughly 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours.
- Trains: Montevarchi-Terranuova station is about 15 km away, Arezzo about 20 km.
The estate also has a helipad and a private airstrip for light aircraft, and the team arranges landing permission. For everyone else, a car is close to essential. Our best day trips from Florence guide covers many of the towns within reach.
Rooms and suites
Il Borro works as a hotel diffuso, a hotel spread across a whole village. Room counts vary by source (Relais & Châteaux lists 59, the MICHELIN Guide 57), so ask the hotel if a precise figure matters. The accommodation falls into three groups.
The medieval village
Around 38 to 40 suites sit in the restored stone houses of the borgo. Expect terracotta or parquet floors, beams, marble bathrooms, and in some suites a fireplace or private terrace. Categories run from Classic and Deluxe rooms through Junior and Prestige suites to family suites. This is the most atmospheric place to stay, with artisans’ workshops and the Vincafè steps away.
Le Aie del Borro
A newer cluster of around 18 to 20 suites in restored farmhouses a short drive from the village, built around the Pomario restaurant and its own infinity pool. The Luxury suites have furnished terraces and suit couples, while the Family suites sleep up to six in three bedrooms. Practical note: these are the only suites with lift access, so they are the better choice if stairs are a problem.
The villas
- Dimora Storica (Master Villa Il Borro): the 19th-century main villa, dating from 1848, with an Italian garden, a heated pool, a fitness room, Turkish bath, sauna and billiards table.
- Villa Mulino: built on the remains of an old water mill, sleeping up to ten guests.
- Villa Casetta: surrounded by Merlot vineyards, for families and groups who want privacy.
Three farmhouses, I Borrigiani, are run separately as agriturismo accommodation, so check exactly what you are booking. Pets are welcome on request.
Dining
Executive chef Andrea Campani oversees the estate’s restaurants, and the kitchen is built on what Il Borro grows itself: organic vegetables from the gardens, olive oil from its own mill, honey from its beehives and, of course, its own wine.
- Osteria del Borro: the fine dining restaurant, with an open kitchen inside and a terrace over the countryside in summer. It serves three tasting menus of contemporary Tuscan cooking, dinner only. It holds Two Forks from Gambero Rosso.
- Il Borro Tuscan Bistro: the estate’s social hub, with Tuscan classics in a relaxed but polished setting.
- Pomario: wood-fired pizzas with estate ingredients beside the infinity pool at Le Aie.
- Vincafè: breakfast, light lunches and aperitivo in the village, with an infinity pool and views over the hunting reserve.
- Borro Bar: signature cocktails made with farm produce.
An honest note on Michelin: Osteria del Borro is listed in the MICHELIN Guide Italia 2026, but I could not find a star for it. The two MICHELIN Keys belong to the hotel, not the restaurant. Also note that the Osteria has a long winter break: its listed closing period for the coming winter runs from 7 January to 11 February 2027.
Spa and pools
Be clear-eyed here. La Corte Spa is a small, intimate wellness area of around 130 m², not a destination spa. It has a hammam, sauna, whirlpool, a spa suite with relaxation area, a beauty centre and a fitness area, and uses Kanebo products and the estate’s own Il Borro Sensorial line. Yoga, breathing sessions and guided meditation are offered on the estate.
Pools are a strength. Relais & Châteaux lists three unheated outdoor pools, including the two infinity pools at Vincafè in the village and at Pomario by Le Aie, while the Dimora Storica villa has its own heated pool. Because the main pools are unheated, the swimming season runs roughly from late spring to early autumn: ask the hotel what is open on your dates if you travel in April or October.
If a serious spa is a priority, read our Castiglion del Bosco review for a stronger alternative.
Sport and activities
Il Borro features in our guide to tennis hotels in Tuscany, and for good reason: the sports menu is broader than at most Tuscan estates.
Tennis
There are two tennis courts set among olive groves and vineyards, and professional instructors are available for lessons. The courts have been described as floodlit, which is useful for evening matches in July and August, but the estate does not publish the surface or lighting details on its sport page, so ask the hotel before you pack clay court shoes. Padel is not listed.
Golf, football and fitness
A three-hole practice course suits beginners and families, with individual or group lessons. Some listings mention nine holes, but the estate itself describes three, so do not plan a golf holiday around it. There is also a five-a-side football pitch, a fitness room, yoga, mountain bikes and e-bikes for exploring the estate’s trails.
Riding, wine and the land
- Horse riding: the estate keeps around 150 horses, with lessons and countryside rides.
- Wine: about 85 hectares of organic vineyards in the Valdarno di Sopra DOC, a long underground cellar, tastings and winery tours. Labels include the flagship Il Borro red and Pian di Nova, a Syrah and Sangiovese blend. In winter there is a “Special Winter” winery tour programme.
- Experiences: cooking classes with the kitchen team, truffle hunting, hot-air ballooning, artisan workshops with the goldsmiths and craftspeople of the village, and Vespa tours.
For more estates where the vineyard is the main event, see our hub of the best vineyard hotels and wine resorts in Italy.
What’s nearby
- Loro Ciuffenna and the Setteponti road: a medieval village over a gorge, Romanesque parish churches and the eroded Balze cliffs, all minutes from the estate.
- Arezzo: about 20 km away, with Piero della Francesca’s frescoes, the sloping Piazza Grande and a monthly antiques fair.
- Florence: around an hour by car, easy for a day of museums and shopping.
- Cortona and Chianti: both within day trip range.
- Outlet shopping: the big fashion outlets of the upper Valdarno are close.
Il Borro vs other Tuscan luxury estates
| Hotel | Location | Standout | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Il Borro | Valdarno, near Arezzo | Medieval village, own winery, 2 tennis courts, riding, two MICHELIN Keys | Wine lovers, families, active couples |
| Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco | Montalcino | 18-hole golf course, Brunello estate, three MICHELIN Keys | Golfers and Brunello fans |
| Borgo San Felice | Chianti Classico, near Siena | Wine village, 2 tennis courts, two MICHELIN Keys | Chianti touring from a borgo base |
| Castello di Casole (Belmond) | Casole d’Elsa | Tennis coaching, padel and pickleball, two MICHELIN Keys | Racquet sports in a castle setting |
In short: Castiglion del Bosco is the golf choice, Castello di Casole is stronger for racquet sports, and Borgo San Felice puts you in the heart of Chianti Classico (see our Borgo San Felice review). Il Borro wins on the sense of a living estate, with the broadest mix of wine, riding, artisans and family space.
Who it suits, and who it does not
It suits:
- Wine lovers who want to sleep among the vines and taste in the cellar.
- Families and groups, thanks to the family suites, villas and wide range of activities.
- Active travellers who want tennis, riding, e-bikes and a practice course without leaving the estate.
- Travellers who want to explore Florence, Arezzo and eastern Tuscany from one base.
It does not suit:
- Spa lovers: La Corte is small, and there is no large thermal area.
- Food lovers who need a Michelin-starred restaurant in-house.
- Travellers without a car who want to walk to town in the evening.
- Guests with limited mobility who want a village suite: stairs and cobbles are part of the charm, and only Le Aie has lifts.
Charlotte’s tip: stay in the village, eat at Pomario once
Always choose a suite in the medieval village over Le Aie for a first visit: early mornings on the empty cobbles, before the day visitors arrive, are the reason to come. Then drive up to Pomario one evening for pizza by the infinity pool, and save the Osteria for your last night.
Practical tips
- Booking: reserve the Osteria, spa treatments, riding and tennis lessons when you book the room, especially from June to September.
- Best rooms to request: a Prestige suite with terrace in the village for couples, a three-bedroom Family suite at Le Aie with children, Villa Casetta or Villa Mulino for groups.
- Season: May, June, September and early October are ideal. July and August are hot inland, so play tennis early or late. In winter, check opening days carefully.
- Dress: relaxed country chic by day, smart casual for the Osteria.
- Kids: children are welcome, with cots for under-fives on request. Ask the hotel about babysitting on your dates.
- Car: hire one. Our Italy travel planner covers transfers and car hire.
Check prices and availability
Compare village suites, Le Aie family suites and the three villas, and check which rates include breakfast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Il Borro?
The Ferragamo family, led by Ferruccio Ferragamo, who acquired the estate in 1993.
Does Il Borro have a Michelin star?
No star that I could verify. Osteria del Borro is listed in the MICHELIN Guide Italia 2026, and the hotel holds two MICHELIN Keys, confirmed in the 2026 selection.
Does Il Borro have tennis courts?
Yes, two courts with professional instructors available for lessons. Ask the hotel about the surface and evening lighting.
How far is Il Borro from Florence?
About 60 km, roughly an hour by car. Florence airport is around 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes away.
