Hotel San Pietro in Polvano provides a beautiful view of the Tuscany countryside, a relaxing atmosphere, breakfast and dinners that are excellent, and the hospitality of Mr. Luigi Protti and his staff that is second to none. We are looking forward to returning in the near future.
A peaceful retreat that acts either as a relaxing escape in the countryside or as a base to explore the Umbrian and Tuscan countryside. Your host Luigi is a kind gentleman in every sense of the word and has created a little haven in the hills. The rooms are nicely appointed and spotless. There are little extras like bottled water and fresh fruit each day : ) All food served in the hotel was exceptional-fresh and of the highest quality. We didn't dine anywhere else-bruschetta to die for! An authentic, quality hotel when only the best will do!
We spent two days in this beautiful hotel. The owner Mr Protti, his family and the staff are incredibly firendly and accommodating. The place is in an ideal location for exploring Tuscany and Umbria. The breakfast in probably one of the best we have ever had with a selection of fresh fruit, homemade cakes, cheeses, etc and their amazing panoramic view of the surrounding valley is hard to beat. It was the highlight of our trip and we highly recommend it.
The last reviewer is obviously not an aficiando of all the reasons one retreats to the hills of Tuscany for a few days because we found this place to be a perfect gem. The directions for driving are exact & we had no problem finding it from the autostrada. We stayed for the remoteness & solitude so we could unwind (sans email, laptops or TV) each evening after spending the days on self-guided tours of Arezzo, Cortona & San Gimignano. Apertifs of champagne are served at 7 pm on the outdoor terrace that overlooks the Tuscan hills & Castiglione Fiorentino. The owner, Sr. Luigi Protti, who was always dressed in a suit with dress shirt & silk tie, takes your dinner & drink orders himself while you enjoy the views, and you're seated & served at your terrace dinner table by Rosella when your 1st course is ready. Breakfasts are fabulously prepared by Mrs. Antoinetta Protti & her daughter-in-law Franca Protti with several tables of European & American foods in buffet style (never saw the same pastries/cakes/breads twice in a 5 day stay). Miranda takes your coffee/tea orders & if you like coffee the normal American way, don't order caffe Americana - order caffe con aqua caldo (coffee PLUS hot water because their coffee is much like espresso - just water it down in your cup & it's regular coffee.) Our Junior Suite was very roomy with a large bath suite & the A/C cooled sufficiently when desired. We opened our windows at night but were careful to make sure nothing was in the way of the shutters should the wind blow. Sr. Protti has some "house rules" that are slightly over what typical 5 star hotels require, but none are unreasonable & are meant for the enjoyment of all guests. One night we would be getting in late, so he gave us a key to enter by the side door in the event the main door was already locked for the night. This worked very well. Since this is a very small establishment that accommodates less than 20 guests at any given time, attention is given to details that are appreciated by almost all guests. It would stand to reason such a small operation in a remote area would not have a huge selection of dinner entrees, but between ALL the delicious courses offered: appetizers, soups, salads, primi piatti, secondi piatti, desserts (& including about 20 different risotto dishes - Mrs. Protti's specialties), there is enough variety so you could eat 4 nights in a row & never eat the same course twice. The wine selections are superb & plentiful. We tried all the entree selections & they were all excellent. The EVOO used in all their cooking/salads is made from olives from their own 500 olive trees, and Sr. Protti helped us with making dinner reservations for San Gimignano, buying special wine in Cortona, making reservations for Arezzo's Pierro del San Francesco frescos, and several other things. He & his entire family are delightful and are the epitome of true upper class Old World style Tuscan inn-keepers with wonderful charm & ethics. Even Filippo, Sr. Protti's very young grandson, helps with chores in the mornings and early evenings, and Franco, Sr. Protti's son, works the desk when Luigi is tending to other duties. We considered it a privilege to experience the great charm of the area at Relais San Pietro in Polvano. We will definitely return for future stays.
Nice location but isolated. Felt like a captive. Food good but menu same --every night--No variation. Opened window in stuffy room--wind blew lamp off table--tried to charge us 150 Euros for broken lamp. many rules--not comfortable
No high speed internet--Allowed to use hotel internet --used only acouple of hours--charged 80 Euros by manager owner--management greedy, arrogant and incompetant
We stayed at the San Pietro for three nights in June. The hotel has a breathtaking view of the valley nestled between olive groves and similar classical Tuscan properties.
The food was sensational and service was second to none. The small number of rooms and guests make this a true relaxing getaway. This truely was a superb hotel ideal for both relaxing by the pool enjoying the view, but also in exploring the local towns and food.
