Click image for all photos

Customer Reviews

Overall:
The location, atmosphere, and surroundings exceeded our expectations. The interior of the villa was clean, as well as the linens. The beds were nice, too, and our overall experience was very good!
Enjoyed Most:
The location. It's just a few minutes walk to town. The views, terrain, olive and apple trees, as well as the hill above and the Santa Maria Nuova church that seemed to be watching over the villa.
Enjoyed Least:
The kitchen is a little dated and could be improved.
Surrounding Area:
The views, walks to Cortona, the cimetero, and the wooded areas and the sense of history.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Cortona is a fast walk of 15 minutes.
Tips or Restaurants:
Visit the market on saturday morning. Do wine tasting on Thursdays. Walk the town on an early Sunday morning and discover the passages inside the walled community. Have capuccino at the Piazza della Reppublica.
Directions:
We took the train from Roma Termini.

Ermie, October, 2011

Overall:
Exceeded all expectations. There were a lot of wonderful places on the property where the whole family could gather and enjoy each other, such as the living room, grand salon, kitchen, outdoor tables, poolside, etc.
Enjoyed Most:
The view was tremendous and we got wonderful light at sunrise and sunset.
Enjoyed Least:
The beds were a little firm.
Surrounding Area:
Cortona, a five to ten minute walk from the villa, is a wonderful town with great restaurants, a good Etruscan museum, and nice shopping. There are a lot of great walks to take from the villa and many cute towns within a short drive.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Cortona was a five to ten minute walk from the villa.
Tips or Restaurants:
I'd bring some citronella candles or insect repellent. It is hard to go wrong with the restaurants in Cortona, but heads and shoulders above all is La Bucaccia at via Ghilbelina 17. Also, if you head out for wine tasting, about 25 minutes drive from the villa is a wonderful little restaurant (we went to twice) called Guastini at Via Lauretana Nord, 20, 53045 Valiano di Montepuliciano - Siena.
Directions:
We had directions to the key holder and those were excellent; we used a GPS to get there. We had to follow the key holder to the property as there is no way you could get directions. Once there, we had our GPS find out location and saved it as a favorite so we could always return to it.

Jeffrey, July, 2011

Overall:
Our party of eight had a wonderful time at the villa. The building is beautiful, the views are magnificent and we loved the town of Cortona. Also the pool was a lot of fun.
Enjoyed Most:
Probably the views of the countryside from every part of the villa.
Enjoyed Least:
The beds were a little hard but we still slept fine. More seating in the living room would be nice. Maybe 2 couches for people to lounge on.
Surrounding Area:
Learning about some of the history of Tuscany was very interesting.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Walking to Cortona from the villa was about 10 minutes. Very hilly but we enjoyed it and went back and forth a lot.
Tips or Restaurants:
Just pool towels, which we brought. Also some groceries to stock up for breakfast, snacks, etc. Every place we dined had great food but our favorite was Bucacciaio in Cortona. The food was amazing and the owner is very, very friendly and entertaining.
Directions:
No problems. We arranged for a taxi to pick us up from the train station.

Robert, July, 2011

Overall:
We had a fabulous trip, and the villa and grounds were more wonderful than we could have imagined!
Enjoyed Most:
The gardens and the views. And, Carlo, the property's caretaker. He was a jewel!
Enjoyed Least:
There needs to be a few more umbrellas around the pool area. There were 2, and the owner said she was getting a third.
Surrounding Area:
The ancient Etruscan finds, the churches, the friendly people.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Cortona was a hilly walk from the villa, but doable for people in good shape.
Tips or Restaurants:
Everything we needed was at the villa, even hair dryers! Favorite restaurants in town were Trattoria Dardano and La Buccacia.
Directions:
GPS didn't work for the property, but the directions from the property manager were accurate.
Check In Out:
Our check in and check out process were with the propery owner. We met the property manager in Terontola at her office. She was excellent, and her daughter led us to the COOP for shopping and then to the villa. We could not have found it on our own the first time. The property owner spent 2 hours going over all details of the villa and the annex and grounds.

Sally, June, 2011

Overall:
Fantastico! The house is beautiful and very clean. The setting is breathtaking. The owner, Manuela, is very warm and friendly, responsive, and thoughtful. Her groundskeeper, Carlo, is very helpful.
Enjoyed Most:
The setting of the house is spectacular. The views all around are spectacular the location is great and gave us easy access to areas of Tuscany and Umbria that we have never seen before. And the owner couldn't be nicer or more helpful.
Enjoyed Least:
The only things I would comment on are that the internet only works in the casale and not in the main villa. My husband was working while we were there, and this was a little inconvenient. The other thing is that we read on the bottom of the list of pool rules that the tap water is not drinkable. If that's correct, it might be helpful if that were made more prominent.
Surrounding Area:
We had a fantastic wine tasting and subsequent dinner at a local winery that Manuela told us about in Castiglion Fiorentino. Best meal of the trip--amazing! We also toured the Perugina chocolate factory and visited beautiful Perugia and enjoyed a nice day at Lake Trasimeno. We also caught the medieval festival and crossbow competition in Cortona.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Cortona was within walking distance, but it is all uphill--so be prepared. Of course, the walk back is easier. There is plenty of free parking outside the town walls, though, and it literally took us 2 minutes to drive, at the most. Cortona is very nice and a good size town.
Tips or Restaurants:
Other than our food, there was very little we had to bring/buy--beach towels (I brought 3 thin ones from home), dish soap, paper towels, plastic wrap, possibly dishwasher soap and toilet paper. We had the most amazing meal at La Pievuccia, Via San Lucia, 118, Castiglion Fiorentino www.lapievuccia.it 39 329 6143882. They only open for reservations, and the complete meal plus wine-cheap of 25 per person consists of whatever they decide to make. Amazing and unforgettable.
Directions:
We had to meet with Denyse at the property management office in Terentola. That was easy, and Denyse is a sweetheart. We then met her at a parking lot outside the walls of Cortona so she could take us to house.
Check In Out:
Can't say enough great things about Denyse. We could have chatted with her all day. And the owner was fantastic. Check in and check out were smooth and efficient.

Debra, June, 2011

Overall:
It was truly excellent.
Enjoyed Most:
The Garden and views.
Enjoyed Least:
The Owner who lived on the property as she was always present.
Surrounding Area:
Being able to walk into town and seeing many lovely hillside towns.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Cortona was a 10 minute walk.
Check In Out:
Denyse the key holder was incredible!!!

Robyn, May, 2011