VUE

Il Salviatino By the time I reached the gateway of Il Salviatino in the neighboring town of Fiesole, the feeling grew stronger. e tightly-quartered, tree-lined grounds nestled in the hillside leading up to the hotel's main villa begged the question: Why go anywhere else in the world? Before I could even get my bearings I'd wandered off into the lush gardens. It seemed almost ethereal, peering out at a direct view of the city, where all concepts of time seemed to fade into the warm spring wind. When I awoke for the first time at Il Salviatino, I clutched onto my espresso and swung open the old casement windows which creaked once for each decade they'd been there. Outside, an even more commanding view of Florence offered bells of the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore which echoed throughout the valley along with the picture-perfect terracotta rooops. Frank Sinatra's "Summer Wind" played from the room's speakers as I relished the fragrant air. Here, I fancied myself a 19th century poet scanning the subtle beauty of the city for inspiration—that is before I surveyed the eclectic breakfast buffet, filled with variants of cornetto and every Italian delight imaginable. Il Salviatino, which is part of an exclusive collection of Virtuoso, would serve as my first buffer between town and country before heading deeper into the heartland. Just a short 15-minute drive from Peretola Airport, the hotel's grounds are home to 44 uniquely decorated suites, each one with its own story and blend of local artisanship. But amidst the original frescoes, antique walk-ins and mezzanine floors, I found more than just simple luxury. I found new friends and a timeless experience that simply cannot be duplicated because what Il Salviatino really feels like, is home. Before the hotel's current ownership, its earliest history indicates that the original structure was a Roman fortress. Its first recorded documents date back to the 14th century, when the villa was acquired by the Baldesi family. Over the centuries Il Salviatino would change hands between several of Italy's elite, some of whom added original artwork and new renovations. By 1911, the villa was acquired by poet and art critic, Ugo Ojetti, who would spend his days admiring the views of Florence. During his tenure as owner, Ojetti added the hotel's Greenhouse Suites and its stunning library which, at the time, was considered one of the most culturally renowned spots frequented by the likes of Salvador Dalí and Gabriele D'Annunzio (a room which I found ideal for an aernoon Aperol spritz). V U E N J . C O M 139

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