Borgo San Fedele (Chianti, Italy) July 22-31 2012

Borgo San Fedele is a monastery which has been restored, not renovated. San Fedele has undergone an accurate restoration which lasted five and a half painstaking years. The owner Nicolo and his wife run the estate themselves with just a few staff members (including a remarkably skilled Italian chef).

Borgo San Fedele is a luxurious retreat center. It caters to the needs of its guests without losing its Tuscan charm. Each pristine room has all the amenities of a modern hotel with the undisturbed view and feeling of an ancient monastery.

The family takes great pride in the phenomenal restoration they undertook on the property. Thanks to the precious help given by the “Soprintendenza di Siena”, all the work was carried out in total respect of the place and its traditions. All the roof tiles and floors are centuries old, original or locally found and selected with great care. Doors and windows in solid chestnut are entirely hand planed as in the past. The plaster is made with limestone and crushed terracotta as the ancient Romans used to do. All the colours used to paint the walls are natural and derived from different local earths. The large stone walls that enclose the medieval terraced vegetable garden are hand carved. All this has brought the Borgo back from ruins to life, without altering its nature and authentic atmosphere.

Borgo San Fedele has been brought back to life by the two loving owners. The rooms are immaculate and modern, spacious with a Tuscan charm. Each unique room has a view of the amazing vineyards, trees and rolling hills this region is famous for. The rooms are double-accommodation (you may book a single room for an additional fee) with their own beautiful bathrooms. 

A Little History

Nicolò and Renata Strub are the current owners of San Fedele.  It was their labor of love that started in 2001 that brought this historic monastery back to life.  They used every original brick and tile they could salvage to restore the structure with traditional building methods.  “Bringing life back to San Fedele and awakening its dormant soul allowed us to re-discover ourselves.”

Nicolò and his wife discovered San Fedele after living together in Milano for many years. They fell in love with the place and decided to restore it to its original splendor. They have not only breathed life back into the monastery– the estate has breathed new, fresh life into the whole region.

Partial scholarships available–for a limited time only. Simply mention your need in your application. 

Frequently asked questions

Does the retreat center have a cleaning service?

Yes, San Fedele has a friendly cleaning service that cleans each room regularly.

Can they cater to special diets?

Yes, they can cater to any diet as long as we know well in advance (it would be best to include this information in your application).

If I am used to modern appliances (such as modern heating and cooling, window screens, laundry service, swimming pool, English-speaking and helpful guest service etc.) will I be at home at San Fedele?

Yes, San Fedele caters to the needs of each individual.

Do you have another question? We may have the answer on our Frequently Asked Questions page. If not, feel free to ask us by clicking here.

Daily Living at San Fedele

We practice yoga in the beautiful renovated chapel and we enjoy a lovely dinner in the side chapel.  When the weather permits, we eat outdoors. There is a lovely rose garden (virtually the same as how the monks had kept it for hundreds of years). There are plenty of beautiful hikes (such as the short hike past a vineyard and up a nearby hill to the ruins of an sacred Etruscan site) and lots of bike paths (including one which leads up and down many hills to a small Chianti village).

If you feel like relaxing after a long day of retreat festivities one can always spend time in the beautiful pool (near the vineyard, with a full panoramic view of the countryside).

On the weekend we will organize a group trip to a nearby organic olive orchard and vineyard. The phenomenal local tastes will add their unique flavors to the experience in Chianti.

This retreat will fill very quickly due to the ideal location and time — so we suggest you apply now.

 

Stephen and Jade are like two trees whose shade shields those in the retreat from distractions or worries. They open their limbs to everyone and let people climb along their trunks of wisdom. They teach all to root ourselves in enriching soil so that we will grow taller and stronger.

The retreat will be some of the most productive time for anyone in a creative process. One feels removed from daily distractions and worries but completely connected and involved with a group of supportive and interesting people.

In a heart beat I would come again. I am a writer and my time at the retreat was the most productive time I’ve ever spent at my craft.

- Rachel, 2011 Writing Immersion at Spannocchia

 

Click here to send in your application and see if this retreat is right for you.