Monastero di Cortona Hotel & Spa

It really is as good as all the reviews say. In fact, it's better.

We stayed here for four nights, in the Junior Suite Bellevue. Other than a couple of long weekends in Florence, this was our first visit to Tuscany and we selected the hotel partly due to its location inside the Etruscan walls of Cortona - so we could explore the town - and partly as it is ideally-located to visit many of the iconic Tuscan and Umbrian towns, with Siena, Assisi, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, Pienza, Montalcino each within an hour or so's drive. Before arriving we had no idea what to expect but the hotel's website and the reviews on Tripadvisor suggested it was somewhere pretty special. In the run-up to our arrival, I was in communication with the hotel about various things, including how to get to it in a car, since Cortona has a ZTL and inside the ancient walls the streets are narrow, even by narrow Italian standards. The front desk staff were really professional and helpful in their pre-stay emails, including sending detailed directions with a video of how to navigate from the Porta Colonia gate to the hotel. By the time we checked-in, we already felt like we were part of the family and welcome guests. From the moment I pressed the intercom to gain access to the garage upon our arrival outside to the moment we left, our stay was sensational. Monastero di Cortona is small by hotel standards - I think it's only 36 rooms - but you wouldn't know this from your guest experience: this is a full-service hotel that delivers the same level of guest proposition as a large chain hotel with 20-times the number of rooms. Except here the proposition is delivered on a much more individual and personal basis. As Alessandro (one of the F&B managers) said when I was talking with him 'we don't have that many guests, so we can try to make them all feel like they are part of our family. We like to take an interest, we want to be relatable.' The later was a very percipient observation and reflected how we found the staff throughout our stay: not just professional and attentive, but welcoming and interested in their guests. An example would be the two bartenders in the 'pool bar' (Claudio and his colleague, whose name I forget, apologies): I wandered in one afternoon to order a glass of wine and a bottle of the very find local IPA, to hear Oasis playing on the audio system. So I strike up a conversation about music and it turns out the bartender was very knowledgeable and very interested in music. This resulted in some really enjoyable conversations during our stay, where we would play different tracks on our portable speaker on the terrace outside our suite whenever the next round of drinks were brought up. Watching the breathtakingly-beautiful sunset listening to Shine On You Crazy Diamond is one of those 'I've seen things you people wouldn't believe' moments. I don't think I've ever found myself in a hotel bar at 11pm discussing Al Jourgensen, Rick Rubin and Johnny Cash but it was surreal, hilarious and added yet another little memory to our stay. Maybe that's it, maybe Monastero is brilliant because of lots of little interactions or moments that add something to your stay. Perhaps imperceptible when they happen but later you find yourself thinking about how much you enjoyed them. The screams of swifts that zoom around the sky above the hotel; the view out across the Chiana valley that is achingly beautiful; the pool right outside your suite's terrace; the feeling as you walk through the hotel entrance into the former monastery's refectory that is now the front lobby, airconditioned serenity and historical elegance combined; the little tower platters at breakfast; walking down the narrow street into the town centre feeling like you are a local. The suite we had - the Junior Suite Bellevue - was fabulous. Spacious, beautifully decorated and effectively airconditioned, although with its own terrace and the view out across the valley we tended to leave the patio doors open all the time. The suite was accessible up some steps and through its own little gate, the portico bedecked with jasmine that gave the terrace the most wonderful aroma. I think that the adjacent room was the larger Suite Bellevue, which shared the steps and had its own gate opposite. These two suites are at the far end of the outdoor terrace and have the most fantastic views. The bed was enormous and incredibly comfortable, with a mattress that was on the firm side of comfortable but which once you laid on it, provided the perfect amount of support. We both had restful sleep every night. There was plenty of lighting in the room, including some rather elegant recessed lighting behind the ceiling panels, that made the room feel very airy and bright. I think I gave up counting at 15 individual light bulbs and that was without the unknown number of ones hidden behind the ceiling panels. There were also adjustable spot reading lights on either side of the bed. The outdoor terrace has some tables and about a dozen sun loungers, most of which are lined up under huge shades that electronically extend and retract, so guests can control how much direct sunlight they want to catch. In the corner is the 'pool bar' (which is probably doing it a disservice to call it that) that opens from lunchtime to late evening, offering drinks and a small but more than adequate bar menu for snacks and light meals. There are two restaurants and I am embarrassed to say that we didn't eat in either, mainly because we were out exploring whenever possible and by the time you get back, the last thing you want to do it have another meal. However, both looked very enticing, with fine dining menus full of local ingredients. One of the restaurant spaces is also used for breakfast service and is delightful, being a courtyard of tables with parasols, overseen at one end by a large statue of a saint. Breakfast was served first as a little tower of culinary delights (top tier pastries, middle tier fruits, bottom tier meats & cheeses) to share, with rolls & preserves, then your own a la carte choices. As you would expect, the fresh orange juice was off-the-scale delicious. The hotel has a rather splendid looking spa that, if my memory of the introductory tour on the way to our room is correct, has taken a former Roman cistern under the hotel and created an indoor pool and spa that is part ancient monument, part Bond-villain lair. We fully intended to use it but ended up either being out & about or just enjoying the terrace and outdoor pool area. There is a charge to access the spa in timed slots but having seen its size, this is to ensure that every guest using it has the best experience and the facilities are never crowded. There were a few minor downsides: - Some of the tables on the terrace weren't cleared down at end of the evening. When we walked down the terrace on the way to breakfast in the morning, there were empty glasses and some plates from the evening before that hadn't been collected. On one occasion we called the number on the tray to say that we had finished with our plate from room service and despite being told someone would collect them, they were still outside on the ledge the next morning. - There was a lack of storage space in the suite. The wardrobe was massive and while it provided more than enough hanging space - including full height hanging, always appreciated by my partner so she can hang her maxi dresses - other than a single shelf at the top of the wardrobe, there was no other space in terms of shelves or drawers. There was room for a small chest of drawers in one corner (between the armchairs, where the floor lamp is) or even inside the wardrobe. It meant we kept little piles of shirts, shorts, underwear and socks (socks ordered into little piles, yes I really do need to get out more) inside our open suitcases. - There were no USB sockets with the power sockets. Most people now travel with numerous electronic devices and most devices come with a charging cable with a USB-A or C on one end, rather than a moulded plug that is country specific. Integrated plug and USB power sockets are increasingly common and are especially useful in hotel rooms for this reason - you can simply connect your electronic devices without the need for any adapter plug. There are also numerous charging stands available. We always travel with a 4-socket extension lead and loads of adapter plugs, just in case, but it would have been good to have seen integrated USB and plug sockets, even if just in the existing power sockets that are either side of the bed. These were minor issues and certainly didn't impact our enjoyment but feedback should always be comprehensive. We were genuinely sad to have to check-out. The Junior Suite Bellevue wasn't cheap but the cost was most definitely worth it. Most of the rooms are classic, deluxe or superior and I was surprised at how competitively priced these were, given that you can enjoy all the hotel's facilities, regardless of the grade of room you book. Thanks are due to Federico and Anna on the front desk, big-glasses lady from housekeeping and Justice on the concierge team. As we were preparing to check-out, I called down and asked if someone could collect our luggage and take it down to the front desk. Justice and a colleague appear and duly take our luggage. We go down and check-out, say our goodbyes and then walk down to the garage...where Justice is standing next to our car with the luggage, waiting to put it into the boot for us. What a top gentleman. You could stay here, never leave the hotel and have a fantastic time. The fact that the hotel is located inside the walls of Cortona and can act a base from which to immerse yourself in Tuscany and Umbria adds to its appeal. Overall, Monastero di Cortona is superb. The epitome of hospitality.

The views and restaurant options were amazing, pool was great

Incredible start to our wedding weekend!!

This hotel deserves a 10/10! The hotel, the staff, the amenities and the whole feel leaves you with something to remember. The location is great, and bring your walking shoes. The hike up the hill is worth it. We stayed here as well as our 25 guests before our wedding. The staff took amazing care of each and every one of us. Everyone was so helpful and eager to ensure that nothing was stressful. They showed us what a 5 star hotel truly represents! We will be back! Thank you for everything!

The BEST Hotel and Spa in Italy

Where to begin...think about your expectations of this place then double it, even triple it. The entire process of booking the hotel, massages, dinner, everything is just absolutely amazing and with ease. The entire staff deserves five stars. I started messaging the team during their off season for our trip in June and had very professional, timely responses. Even though I spoke with multiple people they sent a summary of my request right before check in to make sure the whole process went without error. On our way to the hotel, we had some problems with our train services and the staff helped us figure out the best way to get to their hotel and even offered to send a driver to us when we were FORTY minutes away. Outstanding service all around. They honored our request for late checkout, gave us a room upgrade, and we cannot say enough about the food, wine, and drinks from check in to check out. Every person treated us like we were their only guests. The spa, the baths, and the room were clean, safe, beautiful, and we felt as if we were a King and a Queen. We joked that this is one of those places that we don't belong, but the funny thing is the staff made us feel welcomed every time we interacted with them. They set up a driver for us from train station and back. They offered us an espresso while waiting for our cab. Just little things like that added up to the best experience we have had at a hotel. I know the limit is five stars but this place deserves all the recognition possible.

NEARLY 10/10 JUST NEEDS A FEW ADJUSTMENTS TO ACHIEVE PERFECTION

THE STAFF The ROOM THE HOTEL The FOOD The LOCATION

A magnificent place to unwind and enjoy boutique luxury on all counts, beautiful rooms, fabulous pool area, Michelin din

It’s such a wonderful place to retreat to, you can enjoy a short bit steep walk to the piazza or stay and not even leave the hotel, the choice is yours….

Three days of pampered luxury

Monastero di Cortona, what an amazing experience. The entire staff are astounding, some of the most impressive people we’ve ever experienced in a setting like this. Matteo and Fredericko went out of their way over and over to help two Americans (with a lot of questions) experiencing Italy for the first time. Also, there was Anna, a server in Resturant Osterio who made us feel like family each time we dined in the restaurant. We only had three days there, so we did not use utilize the spa or pool. The area around the pool is beautiful and surely would have been enjoyable. If you visit the Monastero be prepared to be pampered. Excellent job!

Cortona hotel for a wedding nearby at Villa Montanare was amazing! The hotel, service, and views were spectacular!

The hotel manager was very personable and welcoming. She always said hello to us when she saw us. Also, the front desk staff, bartenders, waiters, and housekeeping staff were amazing.