NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - December 30, 2010) - Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report, the most respected publication in luxury travel, today announced its 2011 Grand Award Winners. We are pleased to announce that Il Salviatino was named Hideaway of the Year, at the top of the list of Mr. Harper's 16 favorite properties visited within the past calendar year. Along with its place on the winners list, the hotel additionally received the award for "Best View."
Il Salviatino, the hottest new hotel opening in Italy this year, offers style savvy travelers a luxe retreat combining the glamour of days gone by with a fresh, relaxed and modern approach. Set within the sloping hills of Fiesole, yet only moments from the city of Florence, Il Salviatino offers a unique setting for lovers of Tuscany. The palatial 15th century villa captures an elegant 21st century take on its aristocratic past where frescoes, rich handcrafted leathers and works of art sit alongside the most sophisticated technologies.
In 2007 international hotelier Marcello Pigozzo together with his son unearthed the awe-inspiring derelict villa, and in February 2008 initiated a 15 million euro architectural project set to restore the property to its former glory.
Following a 40 year career in luxury travel, Marcello Pigozzo has realized a dream -- to create a unique hotel, encapsulating the very best of Italian culture and luxury living. With a team of local artisans, this 21st century restoration re-ignites Il Salviatino's aristocratic Florentine past.
Set within more than 11 and a half acres of rolling Tuscan gardens, the villa has an enviable location surveying the ethereal beauty of the Florence skyline. Only seven kilometres from the city yet nestled on the Tuscan slopes of Fiesole, the hotel offers guests the best of two exquisite destinations.
Il Salviatino offers 45 rooms and suites all individually designed to incorporate the preservation of original and unique features, including 19th century frescoes, huge marble fireplaces and ancient mosaics.
The Hideaway of the Year and the sixteen Grand Award winners around the world will be revealed in the January 2011 issue of Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report and online at www.AndrewHarper.com on January 3, 2011. The Grand Award from Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report is one of many honors that Il Salviatino received in 2010. The villa was also included on the U.S. 2010 Conde Nast Traveler's Hot List, the U.K. Conde Nast Traveller Hot List, Travel and Leisure's It List and The Robb Report's Best of the Best issue.
All of Andrew Harper's Grand Award winners possess exceptional character, a commitment to classic hospitality and a profound sense of place. Mr. Harper does not evaluate hotels by means of a checklist, but uses his three decades of experience to distinguish the truly enchanting from the merely excellent.
"All in all," says Mr. Harper, "2010 has been a bumper year." And "despite difficult financial times, the quality of these new discoveries is truly remarkable."
About Andrew Harper
Free of advertising since its inception in June 1979, Hideaway Report is a private monthly publication for sophisticated travelers. The selection of hotels, resorts and restaurants for inclusion in this publication is made on a completely independent basis, with Andrew Harper, Inc. paying full rate for all meals, lodging and related travel expenses. Andrew Harper and his editors travel incognito to write opinionated and unbiased travel reviews for a private membership service, which provides personalized travel-planning assistance, bespoke tours and valuable travel privileges to its members. For more information about Andrew Harper, visit www.AndrewHarper.com. Be sure to follow Mr. Harper on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/AndrewHarperTravel and Twitter at HarperTravel.
Deluxe Rooms at Il Salviatino start from EUR 247.00.
For further information visit www.salviatino.com and to book call +39 055 90411