What a terrific find! Cottage Cortona offers extraordinary value, location, comfort and services. This beautifully renovated ground level home is a haven for multigenerational families or couples seeking a warm welcoming experience along with a host of modern amenities. Just 15 minutes west of Cortona, on easily drivable roads, Cottage Cortona is perfectly positioned for day trips throughout Tuscany and Umbria. Each morning, the view takes in the sun rising over the magical, ancient hill town of Cortona that also glitters at night along with another nearby Tuscan jewel called Castiglion Fiorentino.

Set around the cottage’s private pool on a level lawn are relaxing chaise lounges and a smattering of tables and chairs. Alongside an unused barn is a stone clad patio with a large, outdoor dining table, a wood burning barbecue and a professional pizza oven. The friendly owners live next door and tend to their organic vegetable garden and a cornucopia of ducks, rabbits, chickens, a rooster, a cat and a gorgeous golden retriever. Most of all, these owners tend to you. Michele, Carla and their son, Federico welcome guests with a complimentary, home cooked three course meal on arrival day. Most of the food comes right from the property including delicious olive oil that may be purchased separately. Their welcome also includes a basket of seasonal, just picked vegetables from the garden or fruit from their small orchard.

Michele is a fabulous cook. With translation assistance from Federico, dad’s services may be reserved to conduct a Tuscan cooking class, set up a visit to a local winery or a stop at a friend’s terracotta workshop. Carla, the master of the manse, takes immense pride in overseeing the maintenance of the cottage. In her own words: “Every guest coming to Cottage Cortona should feel as though no other person has ever occupied the home”. Additional meals and cleaning services may be arranged at booking.

At the heart of Cottage Cortona is a central dining room with a waist-high fireplace for indoor grilling, a small espresso and capuccino machine and a sitting area. Surrounding this dining and living room are four independent entrance suites reached from outside. Each suite at ground level enjoys its own individually controlled air conditioning system, a full kitchen and a bathroom. Two of the suites have two bedrooms. With the exception of one suite, the others have either a fireplace or a woodstove. All the bedroom windows are screened. The inviting Tuscan décor is tasteful, quite comfortable and blessedly uncluttered. The unique layout allows everyone to revel in each other’s company by the pool, on the grounds and in the dining room while providing a degree of separation when desired.

The train with service from Rome to Florence passes within 500 yards of the poolside. While the train is seen and heard from the grounds and to a lesser extent from the rooms facing this direction, both the ambiance and the surroundings negate its passing. Within half a mile is a biking and walking path that hugs an irrigation stream built in the 16th century. A more intense hiking trail leads from Cortona to the le Celle hermitage where St. Francis slept 800 years ago. For more earthly needs, supermarkets, pizzerie and designer outlets are in Foiano della Chiana, a 10 minute drive away.

Cortona, a 15 minute drive away, offers a host of dining, shopping and cultural activities. Depending on the source, Cortona was either founded by one of Noah’s sons after the flood or by heroes of the Trojan war. In either case, this fascinating city has been inhabited since prehistoric times and continues to captivate visitors with its wealth of art, architecture and enviable lifestyle. The outdoor market comes to town on Saturday and visiting the Etruscan Museum and tombs are a must. Visitors in May find the city brimming with music and festivals celebrating the rites of Spring. Camucia which lies at the feet of Cortona offers trains to Florence within 90 minutes.

Cottage Cortona is an eight minute drive from the Siena to Perugia highway making a wide selection of day trips possible - Castiglion Fiorentino: 20 minutes; Lake Trasimeno (Hannibal vs the Roman legions): 25; Arezzo (the best antiques in Italy): 35; Montepulciano (the wines) or Pienza (the cheese): 40; Perugia (the chocolate): 45; Siena (the famous Palio) or Assisi (the Basilica): 60; Florence (the art): 70; the Chianti region (wine, wine & more wine): 75; San Gimignano (the medieval towers): 90 and Rome, The Eternal City is within a two hour drive.

A tourist tax collected by the town is paid separately on the first four nights. Children under age 12 are exempt.

Technical Description
Ground floor: One step up into main dining and living room with barbecue fireplace, half bath and doors to furnished patio. Surrounding this room are four suites with independent entrances from outside. Each suite has one bathroom with a shower and a kitchen area with stove top, oven, fridge and dishwasher.

Suite 1: This kitchen is equipped as the main kitchen with a fireplace. One bedroom with a queen size bed. One bedroom with two single, joinable beds. Suite 2: Kitchen with fireplace. One bedroom with a queen size bed. Suite 3: Kitchen. One bedroom with a queen size bed. One bedroom with two single, joinable beds. Suite 4: Kitchen with wood burning stove. One bedroom with a queen size bed. When renting for up to 8 guests, two bedrooms are closed.