On June 22, Villa il Salviatino opened its gates to Stanford Alumni who were in town celebrating their 50th year of a study center in Florence.  Approximately 400 people attended the official reunion, and about 150 of those came to the reception at Il Salviatino, by far the largest group to attend any of the optional activities planned for the celebration.  Of course, most of the crowd attending the reception had lived at il Salviatino and were curious to see their former living and study quarters.

The first official symposium of the reunion was held in the Salone dei Cinquecento at the Palazzo Vecchio with a greeting from Florence’s mayor, Matteo Renzi, a key-note address by former university president, Gerhard Casper, and a panel discussion among former students at Stanford-in-Italy.

The first general meeting of Stanford's 50th reunion

Among a number of Stanford Alumni who stayed at il Salviatino were former Ambassador Ron Spogli and attorney Susan Adamson.  Both were part of the first day’s panel discussion at the Palazzo Vecchio.

Attorney Susan Adamson chats with Mrs. Helen Bing, private sponsor of Stanford's Overseas Studies Program

Thanks to the generous invitation by Michael Brod, president of Club Tornabuoni, a select group of Stanford Alumni attendees were treated to a cocktail party and performance of operatic arias in the very room of the Palazzo Tornabuoni in Florence where the world’s first opera was written and performed in 1598.  The acoustics were fantastic, the singing superb, and all of us in attendance experienced goose-bumps.

Private opera in the room of the first in 1598

The reception at il Salviatino on the evening of June 22, was a memory-filled event for most of those in attendance.  Wine was served on the villa’s terrace along with Chef Sbaragli’s incomparable hors d’oeuvres, and everyone was able to enjoy tours of the villa.

The villa's terrace and the Chef's delights

The experience led many to recall their lives at il Salviatino.  I had a long conversation with former president of Stanford, Gerhard Casper, who relaxed at the villa all afternoon, and the trips down memory lane with Professors David Kennedy and Philip Zimbardo gave life to old photos of the villa, and some fun guessing which rooms had been occupied by Professor Kennedy – even which closet had been the “room” of his daughter Bess when she was 4 or 5 years old.

Professor David Kennedy was able to identify his living quarters from over 30 years ago.

Professor Kennedy was also a member of the group that hung the BEAT CAL banner from the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and John Chladek’s group “borrowed” an Olympic banner and an Austrian flag from the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck to adorn the front of il Salviatino.

Banner times, but also nostalgic times from Stanford-in-Italy.

Reunions always conjure up dormant feelings, and among the Stanford Alumni, everyone who saw the Villa il Salviatino was awe-struck.  Club Salviatino was delighted to have participated in reigniting so many fond memories for so many people, and hopes that everyone feels welcome to return here again anytime.

Il Salviatino nominated as Best Boutique Hotel in Italy 2010

Il Salviatino, Florence’s hottest new luxury hotel has received yet another important accolade. Following Il Salviatino’s inclusion in both the Conde Nast Traveller’s “Hot List” 2010  and Travel & Leisure’s “It List” 2010 which recognize the world’s best new hotels, Il Salviatino has also been nominated in the following categories for this year’s World Travel Awards:

* Europe’s Leading New Hotel

*Italy’s Leading Boutique Hotel

With Florence at its doorstep - Italian Gardens of Il Salviatino

With this nomination, Il Salviatino continues to consolidate its place in European Hospitality joining a select group of properties that include neighbor Villa San Michele and Lake Garda’s famous Villa Feltrinelli to name but a few.

The Europe Gala Ceremony for the World Travel Awards shall be at the Rixos Premium Belek in Antalya Turkey on October 1st 2010. For more information or to vote for Il Salviatino click here.

This June 20-22, 2010, Stanford-in-Florence will celebrate 50 years of its program in Florence.  For about 20 years of its 50 year history, Stanford-in-Florence made its home at Villa il Salviatino.  In honor of that distinguished history, Club Salviatino will be hosting a tour of the renovated villa on June 22, 2010, so that all Stanford University Florence students may once again capture some of the magic of living here.  The Club will also be hosting a cocktail and wine reception for former students of Stanford University and anyone associated with the Stanford-in-Florence program in attendance at the celebration.

I plan to lead the tour of the estate, and considering the fact that so many former Stanford-in-Florence students who have visited here to date use the term “dream” to describe how the resort now feels, I have created a short preview of many of the sites around the villa in the form of a video slide-show set to the Puccini aria, Il Sogno di Doretta, from La Rondine.

The founding wine-maker at Chateau Julien in Carmel Valley, California, William Anderson, and his wife Carolyn made it to Club Salviatino this spring for a week of studying the creation of Super Tuscan wines, and sharing their own vintages of the components for them with journalists and guests.

William and Carolyn Anderson this spring at Piazzale Michelangelo

It was clear and cool this spring in Florence when William and Carolyn Anderson spent a spectacular week as guests of Club Salviatino at villa il Salviatino.  Bill presented his superb wines to a group of guests from Great Britain and Italy, and featured his 100% Sangiovese, 100% Merlot, and 100% Cabernet grown in the micro-climates of Monterey County California.  These are the precise components of many Super Tuscan wines, and Bill had prepared gifts of a blend from California to taste in comparison with local, Italian Super Tuscans.  The tasting on the terrace of il Salviatino overlooking the Duomo was a terrific event as the sun set casting everything in golden hues as only the Arno valley permits.

Sunset over Florence from the terrace of Il Salviatino

Bill and Carolyn took a bicycle tour of Florence, claiming that it was the only way to go.  They also visited Albergaccio del Machiavelli for a wonderful lunch in front of the fireplace.

The old fireplace in Machiavelli's restaurant

In fact, I was first introduced to the wonders of fettunta at Machiavelli’s in 1969 by a couple of Italian friends of mine, Marcello Macherelli and Marcello Mascagni.  We were frequent visitors back in those days enjoying the wine, panzanella, and grilled sausages:

We always enjoyed Machiavelli's with the two Marcellos

The last day of the Andersons’ stay saw royal treatment from the proprietors of Tenuta La Gigliola, maker of the finest and rarest vin santo I have ever tasted.  That visit inspired Bill to consider trying his hand at a vin santo in California.  The cross-pollination of ideas resulting from Club Salviatino events never ceases to amaze me.  We were given a complete tour of the vineyards and property of La Gigliola.

We had a great inspection of the terroir

Bill and Carolyn handled some of the exquisite merchandise.

La Gigliola has an impressive selection of excellent Chianti wines

We were all treated to an incomparable mid-day meal outside, in front of a fire-place with the most amiable company we could have hoped to find.  From this estate we could see the towers of San Gimignano on the distant horizon.  The whole day was spectacular. We are grateful to the owners, Anna Piazzini and Paolo Martinelli, for their generous hospitality.

The food and setting were unforgettable

What strikes me most profoundly about our Club Salviatino events is that they have managed to ignite some of the most intense feelings among participants that I have ever been privileged to witness.  Bill and Carolyn sent me an email of appreciation with the Subject: “Italy dreams never end.”   There is that recurring theme: il Salviatino is undoubtedly one of the most powerful dream-machines in Italy.  Its luxury, its elegance, its validation of the finest in the world make it a very special place.

Bringing his family for a tremendous visit to Florence, Michael Tollin, one of Hollywood’s most successful writers/directors/producers, spent a week at Club Salviatino this spring.

Michael, Robbie, Georgia, and Lucas Tollin on the Ponte Vecchio

With his successful, long-running television series, Smallville and One Tree Hill, Michael is one of the pre-eminent interpreters of issues among young people in the US.  His insights into the ethics and principles of sports and youth have combined to create some of the most compelling feature-length films as well.  Michael is one of the most down-to-earth, genuine guys in Hollywood.  Everyone at the villa thoroughly enjoyed having the whole family as residents for the week.  They used the terrific exercise room and equipment at the villa, and they enjoyed the Devarana Spa treatments, too.

On-site Devarana Spa at il Salviatino

On one day of their week, Michael took Lucas on a quick trip to Pompeii and Vesuvius – the perfect exploring adventure for a teenage boy, while enjoying the wonderful shopping opportunities in Florence was on the agenda for the ladies.  Everyone had a bicycle tour of town and a cooking class one afternoon.  At the end of the week we had a gathering that included the President of MGM Worldwide Television Distribution, Gary Marenzi, who had lived at il Salviatino as a student at Stanford in 1976.

Gary Marenzi on the balcony of a tower suite at il Salviatino

Gary was totally amazed at how the villa has been transformed into the most luxurious resort, but has retained its identity from years past.  He sent me a photo of the villa in 1976 when it was occupied by Stanford University.  The dignity of the villa il Salviatino remains true.

Il Salviatino in 1976 when Stanford University inhabited it

Mike Tollin and Gary are Hollywood friends, and we all enjoyed the group evening we had the last night Mike and his family were at il Salviatino.  Mike had this to say as he left for Hollywood: “…Il Salviatino was like a dream for us! It is so beautiful there and perfectly situated for our trips to Florence and elsewhere in Italy, and the hospitality of the staff made us feel so comfortable and right at home. It was perfecto!! We are sad to say goodbye, but eager to return.”  Indeed, the term “dream” continues to strike a chord with everyone who visits il Salviatino.

A view made for dreams from il Salviatino

jbb

Whenever experts are gathered together to share knowledge and experience there is the opportunity to discover entirely new realities. Such occurred with the visit of the second Club Salviatino event participants, geniuses of film: Jerry Carlson and Andrzej Krakowski. Both are professors at CUNY.

Producer Carlson and Director Krakowski

Since their week began on the first day of Passover, the hotel provisioned the sitting room of Andrzej’s room for a First Seder at sundown. It was an inspiring and beautiful communal event for both of the guest speakers and their families.

First Seder in the Marcello suite

Their week began with the exploration of the treasures of Florence, and during the guided tour, we were treated to a rare, probably once-in-a-lifetime experience of Michelangelo. When we entered the Medici Chapel, our guide conferred with a museum guard. The result was a most special offer: we had been invited to view the secret, graffiti room occupied by Michelangelo under the New Sacristy during his work on the Sacristy. It lay undiscovered from about 1530 until 1975. The guard had been employed there when it was discovered, and he told us that the trap-door leading to the secret graffiti room had been covered by a large, very old piece of furniture – a wardrobe or set of shelves (my Italian remains weak in some areas), which when moved, revealed the passage. At first the room was open to the public, but by 1979, it was permanently closed due to its fragility.  We were all in awe as we were ushered into the little guard-room on one side of the New Sacristy, the door to the chapel was closed behind us so others could not see what we were doing, and the guard opened the trap door. We squeezed down the steps and into a narrow, long, arched room whose walls were covered with charcoal drawings – all by Michelangelo when he was hidden there during a siege of Florence. All of us got chills to be so close to the random drawings of this genius – ones that we had not even known existed.

Some of the Michelangelo graffiti beneath the Medici Chapel

More charcoal sketches on the walls

The guard asked our film producer and director to sign a guest book of visitors to the room, and the previous signatures were of Edward Kennedy, and Pope John Paul II.  Andrzej signed the guard’s book and included his own, hand-drawn cartoon as a memento for the guard.  Our guide told us that she had not been in the room for 25 years, and might not be again for another 25. By that time I figure I will be “headed for the bone-yard,” as my great-grandmother used to say, so it was probably a once-in-a-lifetime discovery and experience for me.

Later in the week we were invited to a cocktail party at Palazzo Tornabuoni to discuss film with some of their guests.  We met in the Palazzo’s library, and met a wonderful group of Italians and Americans.

Palazzo Tornabuoni Library © Club Tornabuoni

One of the guests was Rolando Beramendi, the famous gastronomic expert who created Osteria Tornabuoni for the Palazzo, which is featured in the Michelin Guide for Italy. 2010.

Rolando Beramendi

In addition to Rolando’s 6ft 7in. frame, a visitor from Dallas, Texas, Barry Williams, was also at the reception.  He towered over us all at 6 ft. 8in of height.  Barry is one of the most highly regarded designers in Dallas, the home-town of both Jerry Carlson and me.  We all discovered that we had a number of acquaintances in common in Dallas and had lived in close proximity of each other despite the years of distance from Dallas that Jerry and I have accumulated.

Barry Williams © D Magazine

Barry visited il Salviatino the following day and remarked with great approval its extensive, but restrained use of leather, wood, silver, and white roses.  That is a gratifying compliment, coming from such an accomplished expert in his field.

Simple, but elegant leather, wood, candles, roses

Toward the end of the week, we had a dinner for the entourage at il Salviatino.  The Chef again produced a miraculous series of courses for everyone that left us all wanting more.  We enjoyed the fantastic wines from il Salviatino’s cellar, and our film guests summarized their week here as “a dream.”  Again, coming from a couple of dream-creators, that is one of the best compliments they could pay il Salviatino.

The Producer and Director table at dinner in il Salviatino

jbb

The world of wines is a compelling subject on almost any continent these days, and it was the first event of Club Salviatino this spring with a visit by Peter Mondavi, Jr., the third-generation owner of Charles Krug Winery in Napa Valley, California. He and his wife, Katie, and their 13-year old daughter, Lia, spent a week with us here at il Salviatino.

Peter had this to say about the week: “The accommodations, service and experience were fabulous. Il Salviatino was everything you had promised, and then some.” The Mondavi’s started their week with an “orientation” tour of the historic city of Florence led by the most prestigious guide in the region, Riccardo Nesti. Riccardo is a third-generation tour guide of Florentine and Tuscan art and history. He and his wife, Cindy, are simply the best. That was followed by one of Riccardo’s specialties: a “Michelangelo” day in the center of town. There are almost two dozen works by the famed artist, all within walking distance of each other.

Mid-week, we were the guests of the Corsini family at their wine estate in Tuscany – actually in San Casciano at the family’s villa, Le Corti:

The Corsini wine estate in San Casciano

The Don Duccio Corsini and his wife, the Marchessa Clotilde Corsini were the most elegant and expert hosts we could have hoped to have. After seeing the intricacies of wine and olive oil production at the estate,

including giant, ancient olive oil storage tanks of terra cotta produced in Impruneta and each signed by its maker, we heard the Corsini family history, beginning in the 1100’s in Florence and producing over the last 900 years, a Pope and a Saint. I had never met anyone before who was related to a Saint. Peter and the Don talked intensely about wine production and got into serious detail on flavor characteristics over a wonderful, Tuscan lunch at the estate’s Cantina.

It was an unforgettable day in Tuscany for all involved.

Later in the week we visited the castle of superb wine-maker, Bibi Gretz: Castello di Vincigliata.

We tasted straight from the barrels at Bibi’s and discovered a very rare production: a wine of 100% Canaiolo: Canaiolo di Testamatta, 2006. Bibi’s wines were so excellent that we invited him to join the wine tasting event we had planned for Peter Mondavi’s finest California wines at the end of the week.

A high-point of Peter’s visit to Club Salviatino was the 5-course dinner prepared by the villa’s superb Chef, Saverio Sbaragli to especially compliment the wines from Charles Krug.

The Chef and his amazing stuffed Quail appetizer

The library of il Salviatino became a beautiful, seated dinner venue.

The various wines of the evening were poured with each course of the dinner, and Peter and Bibi gave introductions to each wine in order to deepen the understanding of its subtleties with the food pairing.

Peter describes the wines with each course © Claudio Sacco

There were about forty people at the dinner, including journalists from around Italy and luminaries from Florence.  Some guests of note were: Claudio Sacco, famous Italian restaurant critic and blogger, Paolo Rossi, Estate Manager for Sting’s tenuta in Tuscany , Dr. James Bradburne, Director of the Strozzi Museum in Florence, Stanford alumna, Brenda Kennelly and her Oxford husband, Professor William Dodd, who own the world-famous wholesale flower estate Giardini Toscani in Casentino, Michael Brod, President of Club Tornabuoni, and Lucie Leca, Cultural Agent for Castello di Ama Vineyards, among too many other VIPs to list.

The evening was a wonderful success as the first event for Club Salviatino.

Welcome to the inaugural post of the Club Salviatino Blog. As most of you probably realize, Stanford University occupied the villa il Salviatino in Firenze ~ Fiesole as its campus in Italy during the 1970’s and 1980’s. The villa has now become the most fashionable, elegant, up-scale, and luxurious resort in Italy, thanks to a massive renovation of the property since 2008. The property’s history, like so many beautiful and famous villas in Florence is part-legend and completely engaging, pieced-together as it is from often vague and mysterious documents originating almost 600 years ago. Since photography was uncommon until the turn of the 20^th century, the oldest photo of the villa we have found seems to be from that period:

At the turn of the 20th Century © il Salviatino

But its provenance from the 20^th Century is relatively clear and fascinating. The villa was purchased by Ugo Ojetti, who established it as a significant salon of art, literature, politics, and ideas. The renovation of the villa was meant to recapture its historic grandeur, and the creation of Club Salviatino was intended to herald a new era of stimulating intellectual and cultural pursuits for its world-traveling guests. Here is a photo of the villa from April, 2010:

Il Salviatino today © il Salviatino

Every attempt has been made to keep the villa true to its heritage of upper class elegance through understatement in its interior décor. Worthy of a spread in the Italian equivalent of Architectural Digest, Il Salviatino combines candles, silver, leather, wood, and classic oil paintings with a minimalist sensitivity that calms rather than overwhelms. Machiavelli would feel at ease here, as would a Medici or a Grimaldi.

The Terrace Bar from the main stairway © il Salviatino

Club Salviatino’s mission is to create for travelers experiences not otherwise obtainable. Our events featuring world experts in their fields will generate a joie de vivre within our guests that will permeate their lives and motivate annual returns to this Renaissance city on the Arno.

This blog will chronicle events at Il Salviatino, guests’ reactions to this magical place, and an ongoing log of what is happening in Firenze and Toscana that excites the spirit and warms the soul. While the primary perspective will be mine, I will welcome guest-bloggers from time to time as enrichment to this experience. Without a rigid adherence to these topics, we expect our events over the ensuing months to cover: art, music, film, wine, ideas, and gardens. Florence has been one of the richest repositories for each of these subjects for centuries. Our goal will be to reveal them in current context for the pleasure of our members and guests. Keep an eye on this blog; allow your opinion to be heard here; help guide us in the celebration of the culture of Western Civilization.

jbb