Relais dates back to 1600 and still carries the name of the local family who owned the villa. The owners bought the building, in its abandoned state, a few years ago with the intention of restoring it to its former glory and transforming it into a charming ‘relais’ with every modern comfort whilst faithfully keeping its original design.
Relais, nestles beneath the impressive hillside on which Cortona was built. It is near Arezzo in Tuscany in the centre of the ‘golden triangle’ of some of the most important artistic sites in central Italy; Arezzo, Perugia, Siena, as well as Assisi and Florence are just a short journey away.
The external architecture remains as it was with its irregularly placed windows, brick arches and doorways in worked ‘pietra serena’. Inside the villa, the characteristics of a bygone age have also been retained; walls in lime plaster, brick ceilings supported on chestnut beams, terracotta floors, doors and fittings, all restored using original materials, and are complemented by colours, patterns and decorations of the period.
The result of all this care is a delightful intimate hotel with echoes of the medieval country rhythms of life essential for a peaceful, relaxed stay.
The public rooms have been restored following the same philosophy offering a well stocked bar and a comfortable, welcoming lounge with period furnishings and warmed by the large original fireplaces.
The quietly elegant dining room of the ‘Relais offers breakfast on rediscovered traditional ingredients and flavours, with interesting creative touches. Breakfast is served on the terrace in the shade of the centuries old trees during the warm months. In the tasting room a quality list of wines and spirits.
Very near the relais there is a horse riding school where rides through the woods up to Monte S. Egidio or across the valley to Lago Trasimeno can be arranged for our guests.
Our staff, whilst taking care of each of our visitors as if they were personal guests, are also available to help with suggestions for interesting local itineraries, whether naturalistic or artistic, enriching the guests’ experience in history, traditions, the man-made and natural beauties which are such an essential element of the Cortona area.
