Time for Travel Design Files: Cortona, Italy! Recently we stayed with friends in a 600-year-old renovated farmhouse in Cortona, Italy. It is close to the home of Frances Mayes, author of “Under The Tuscan Sun.”
The house is charmingly rustic with four small bedrooms and four modern bathrooms. And it’s a short drive or a 10-15 minute hike into the beautiful, vibrant hilltop town of Cortona.
It’s best to go in the warmer months to enjoy the pool and gardens of this farmhouse in Cortona. Let me give you a tour!
600 Year Old Stone Farmhouse
Here’s the facade of the house. So typically Tuscan! The driveway is to the left. You will want to rent a smaller car since the roads aren’t that wide. Howard rented a gigantic van…so we piled into our friends’ smaller car for dinner in town.
The Downstairs
On the first floor are the dining room and kitchen.
Bedroom
There are two bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs and two on the bottom floor (one is small with twin beds so good for children or young adults).
The Back Garden and Private Pool With Views of The Valley
We spent most of our time here when home. The views are breathtaking.
Why does everything taste better in Europe?
Wood-Fired Pizza Oven
The good-looking pizza team. I have to say, this was a fun endeavor (especially with Tuscan wine involved).
Dorothy buys fresh pizza dough in town at the Pizza e Focacce takeout restaurant. We each made our own version to share and I think mine was the best 🙂
The Beautiful Town Of Cortona
In the house, there is a book of great restaurant recommendations (make dinner reservations).
After a day of exploring the town, it’s nice to come back home to this…
Contact Information To Rent The Rustic Farmhouse
Click here: 600-year-old renovated farmhouse in Cortona. There are more photos! Tell them Mary Ann sent you 🙂
Their Instagram is here.
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amazing
Happy Birthday (month) Mary Ann!!! I love this recap and have saved the vrbo link. its on my bucket list!!! sending you big hugs and a lot of love from Houston. xoxoxoxo!
Fantastica! The pool, the view, the pizza oven … heaven. xo
We have not been to Cortona but would love to visit and stay in your friends fabulous place. I want to be a little mouse and hide in your suitcase . You visit such fun places.
Mary Ann, What a wonderful adventure that was. Looks like you guys were nestled in the hills there. I love the look of the town too. I bet it was fun just exploring and walking around. Next time I get to Italy I would love to see Cortona! The farmhouse sounds cool if we ever travel with more people! xo Kim
Oh my! I just looked it up on the vrbo website. It’s surprisingly not too expensive! It looks like a movie set. I’m drooling here in Michigan looking at it. Love your blog. It’s one of my favorites!
We rented a home outside of Cortona for a month from an owner who lived in Paris. We had the run of the garden with fresh vegetables and there was a barrel of olive oil (!) that we could use too. We all were from Chicago at the time so this was just AMAZING! There were housekeepers for the home that came everyday and asked us if we wanted fresh killed chickens, peaches, plums etc from the farm the owner also owned and we were seriously in love with Italy. We cooked an amazing meal at noon every day that we were in residence and most nights we would go to a different hill town for dinner…..always an incredible dining experience. Cortona is also a central point so we could take the train to Florence and Rome, shopping of course was beyond our dream expectations. We will never forget the musical festival in Cortona with the sounds bouncing over the hills in Italy….heaven on earth.
That sounds fabulous, Sharon!!
Gorgeous area! How fun to share with some of your wedding guests.
Yes!!!
Cortona will have to prepare for an invasion of happy people after seeing your post today!!
They will gladly welcome everyone!
What a charming place to stay in a wonderful part of the world! I’m pinning this to my Travel board!
I love visiting Italy and the hilltop towns are all magical and unique in their own way. This house in charming! I am sure it was a wonderful place to use as a base for your adventures. As for pizza, I could eat it every day!!! We actually have the Ooni pizza oven and use it every Friday to make our own pizzas! Have a wonderful weekend Mary Ann.
I could eat pizza everyday, too!!! It was an awesome trip.
We visited Cortona 10 years ago and found it to be a magical place. Thank you for sharing about your stay. I have saved this info to use when planning our next trip…hopefully next year!
YEP!I had a few friends there with these homes!MY DREAM was an old CASA COLONICA or BARN…….of course that didnot happen!I SMILED BIG at the tablecloth.The ITALIANS and their table cloths!!There was never much to choose from and they were not the most BELLISIMO shall we say……..!!Outside or in the kitchen areas they were always PLASTIC!Which grow on you once you live there……………what bothered me most was the PLASTIC CHAIRS!EASY I know but for ambiance just did not cut it!AND they are EVERYWHERE…………
GLAD YOU HAD A MAGICAL TIME AND GOT AWAY.
Good morning Mary Ann, Thank you for sharing your wonderful adventure. Such a charming place with an amazing view.