What can be said about this spot…read more.. Well, perhaps the best way to describe the experience is alike to previously common Facebook status, "It's Complicated." The road leading up to the property is far from amazing, so if driving a Lambo or a Ferrari, it will be a disaster to put simply to get through the bumps. Obviously, not everyone drives expensive cars to come here, but as a Michelin starred spot and a Relais Chateaux hotel, it would be thoughtful to accommodate arrival a bit better at the top of the line price point. The interior design is a greenhouse meeting a Modani furniture store, which creates a rather confusing design. It cannot be said as terrible, but it's far from beautiful in the evening, although perhaps the views during daytime hours make it a bit better. Even the restroom is sized for a hamster trying to close the door. Platters and silverware are very average. When it comes to food, Il Falconiere offers four tasting menus. There is a requirement that all guests at the table get the same menu or order A La Carte. Again, a very odd requirement, because it almost defeats the point of having so many tasting menus to begin with, requiring guests with varying tastes to either sacrifice or go for a diminished a La carte experience. The "White Giant" or Chianina menu highlighting local Tuscan cattle was my selection. An excellent carpaccio, followed by ox tongue, vermicelli, stuffed pappardella, sirloin and tiramisu dessert. The menu was half wonderful, half disappointing, with ox tongue being too tough, sirloin being low on flavor and tough, and tiramisu being a complete disappointment. Carpaccio, pappardele and vermicelli were great. Desserts all around across the menu left much to the desired, with half being dominated by simple puddings. But, Michelin starred restaurants are intended to embrace experimentation, so that is not the reason I give Il Falconiere such a low rating. The sommelier was a very unpleasant man, borderline rude. Not only was he not friendly, but did not take feedback well and even refused to change a wine glass for a different shape one. Wine tasting menu, besides being well aligned to dishes, was filled with cheap wines relative to the price paid. He was also overly sensitive about us taking a picture of the wine and asking not to do so. Overall, just a disaster. Some of the waiters were quite unpleasant and inattentive also. Overall, Il Falconiere is far from being deserving of even a single Michelin star and even without it, would not make my list of recommendations. Poor design, bad service and many misses on dishes, especially desserts can be cited as the main reasons.

We stayed at the hotel here, and while I typically don't like doing hotel dinners in Tuscany, we…read morewere excited for the food here, since that's what they're known for, and they have a Michelin star to back it up. I think the food mostly lived up to that hype -- we really liked just about everything we got, and loved certain things. We got the beef tartare, lampredotto, spicy spaghetti, pici, the fluffy frittata, cheeses, and the cioccomirtillo for dessert. The pastas were our favorites of the night (especially the green olive pesto with the spaghetti), and the only thing we really weren't crazy about was the frittata. Overall, very good food for a high price that I think is somewhat justified, but also somewhat hard to swallow when there are so many great restaurants for much cheaper in this part of the world.

I recently had the pleasure of spending a few days at the Relais Villa Petrischio in Cortona, Italy…read morewith my wife and another couple. What a wonderful place with it's beautiful view of the bucolic Tuscan countryside. The owner Diletta, took the time to make us all feel welcome and part of the family. Our rooms were spacious, nicely decorated and comfortable. We stayed in a villa about 150-meters from Reception while our friends stayed in the main building. Their room was equally as nice. The pool is outstanding as is the restaurant and bar which is located next to the pool for convenience The hotel is located near the city of Cortona so it was an easy 25-min drive into town. I would highly recommend putting this little gem of a place on your itinerary should you be staying in Tuscany. Thank you Diletta for the experience and hopefully, we'll be returning for another stay.

One of the best hotels I have ever been to. Romantic,…read moreamazing views, spotless, perfect to the detail, amazing staff, best breakfast ever. Arrive early enough so that you won't miss their "aperitivo" and "dopo cena". We even had a bread receipe from their pastry chef. Make this hotel a destination of your trip in Tuscany

This is one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in. The place is so beautiful, the location and…read moreview is literally breathtaking (and that's not hyperbole), the attention to detail is minute, the room is comfortable, spotless and charming, the breakfasts are the best I've ever had in any hotel, and to top it all off, everyone who works here is incredibly friendly, welcoming and helpful. They go far out of their way to do everything they can to improve your stay in one of the world's most idyllic towns.

Prelude is an absolute delight...and one of the best porchetta sandwiches I've ever had!!…read more There are two sides to the shop...a dine-in door where you'll be greeted by a server and escorted to your table (I picked one of the few outdoor tables on the alleyway and it was lovely. While up the hill a bit, there's a take-away window. One thing to note is that the prices are different for the same food, depending on which side you're riding from. The take-away is cheaper, because well...no service and no seat. I chose to dine-in and I couldn't be happier that I did. The setting is relaxing and the service was superlative. There was a champagne and porchetta special that I happily took advantage of. The champagne was meh. But oh my that sandwich. Preludio does the only "whole hog" porchetta I've ever had. So there were tiny bits of chopped liver and organ meat, which added an earthy "animal depth I've never had before. It was delightful. All in all, if you're looking for great take-away or a lovely place to relax and enjoy local delights, Preludio is highly recommended.

Right next to our hotel, decided to stop in for an aperetivo. So amazing - from the vibe to the…read morefood - that I'm thinking we'll have to go back for a full meal. Our first food in Cortona, and after a weekend of lame dishes in Venice it feels like we hit the jackpot here. Plus, it seems they have all sorts of items for sale, need to come back just to do some shopping!

What's not to love about this hotel? It's historic, beautiful, clean, and steps away from the…read morecenter of town. We were able to walk quickly into the heart of Cortona and enjoy a glass of wine or a cappuccino. We stayed here four nights and used this location as a base to visit other small quaint towns in the Tuscany region. Cortona is old with very narrow cobblestone streets and great views. Our room was spacious and quiet and everything worked to perfection. Housekeeping kept our room well stocked with supplies. A scrumptious breakfast was offered each morning which did not disappoint. Plenty of options with hot drinks. The staff was very friendly and helpful and assisted on a few occasions in making dinner reservations for us. The price of the hotel was very reasonable. I'm not sure where you would park a car if you drove a car here. Staying in a hotel that is hundreds of years old is truly amazing.

Disappointed. Room was not what I paid. I'd recommend…read morelooking elsewhere. It's also a bit far from center

We've travelled to Italy several times and always look for accomodations where we have cooking…read morefacilities, comfortable beds and run by amazing people. La Mucchia delivers on all of the above! We were here for New Years so we didnt get to see the beautiful gardens and sunflowers that this area is known for, but we were treated to the kind of hospitality you can only find in Italy. We rented a 2 bedroom suite (#4) and had the place to ourselves. The location is perfect for visiting Cortona, Montalcino, Montipulciano, Assisi and Siena. Next time we come we will definitely plan on coming in spring or summer and take advantage of the pool and picnic grounds - and spend more time relaxing!

From the owner: Villa La Mucchia is located in Cortona, Tuscany, in the Chiana valley, an area of immense…read morehistorical and artistic importance. The Tuscany vacation Villa is situated at the foot of Cortona, an ancient Etruscan town, founded by the inhabitants of Umbria about three thousands years ago. The authentic Tuscan villa for rent is currently divided into nine luxurious suites, Tuscan style, encircled by seven thousands square meters of terrain used for lawn, gardens, olive trees, sun terraces, swimming pool, barbecue and private parking place and children's play area. The farmhouse on rent is surrounded by nature and history, with splendid views of Cortona hills and the town.

We absolutely loved our night at Locanda al Pozzo Antico!! One of the best meals if not the best…read moreI've ever had, and the staff were incredibly welcoming and fun. The space was very inviting and decorated very simply with legendary bottles of wine and pictures of loved ones. At the time we were there, we were one of two tables they were serving so we felt very taken care of. We had a variety of their amazing pastas, and the perfectly cooked steaks were absolutely delicious. A standout of the food was the truffle fondue. Often truffle is either too subtle or overpowering, but this was perfect! Best focaccia I've had, amazing wines, and some truly scrumptious desserts. I cannot describe this experience without mentioning the amazing staff and Chef Paola. They were fun and thoughtful, and especially accommodating of one of our party's celiac allergy. Paola came out a number of times bringing freshly baked GF bread, GF pasta, and even prepared a custom GF almond cake with custard. She was engaging and supportive, and made them feel comfortable, safe, and uninhibited by the allergy. At the end of the meal they offered us the staff's homemade amaro for free which was delicious and we toasted with them to end the night! Overall, I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. I have never written a review before but this experience made me want to become a food blogger and write 3 pages on this place! Please go! This is a can't miss in Cortona. Especially if you are gluten free.

this is the restaurant that is attached to our B&B in Cortona Italy. Very friendly service and good…read morefood. Winning combination.

This small hotel is ran by brother and sister, Roberto and Semona. Very clean, very nice hotel in…read morethe middle of the mideivel Castiglione Del Lago, in the Umbria region. A bustling little village, good restaurants, very nice local residents, very friendly. Roberto and Semona were very helpful in any way they could. Great spot within a drive to Assissi, Sienna, Cortona, Orvietto, near train station to get to Florence. Beautiful views of Lake Trasimeno from the walls of the Castle. Highly recommend this family owned Hotel. Breakfast were delicious. T. Kelly Florida

One of the best bed-and-breakfast I've been at wonderful accommodations larger than an apartment…read morewith a small kitchenette available. A nice buffet style breakfast with your choice of any kind of coffee water or juice, quiet place can be a little noisy if you have neighbors above you. We had the place to ourselves other than another couple and a loan traveler. Claudia is wonderful very helpful even with finding interesting spots for tourists. For the price and location you can't beat it I would highly recommend.

On a recent girls' week trip to Cortona, Italy, seven girlfriends and I stayed at the Il Sole del…read moreSodo Bed and Breakfast (Località il Sodo, 5, 6, 52044 Cortona, Arezzo, Italy.) What a beautiful venue in a beautiful part of Tuscany. We occupied many of the Bed & Breakfast's rooms; some shared rooms and others had rooms or suites to themselves. Il Sole del Sodo is run by the delightful and ever-helpful Claudia, along with Rose and Paola, her terrific staff. The morning breakfast buffet is terrific with lots of delicious home baked goods. The breakfast bar also includes fresh fruit, cheese, and charcuterie, plus eggs for a little extra by request. Four of our group took a cooking class from Claudia; it was fun and the food we made for their dinner was outstanding and authentic Italian. Claudia cooks dinner only a couple of times per week, so be sure to arrange that in advance. We opted for dinner on the day we arrived, and it was a very relaxing dinner in the beautiful and quiet garden patio. The property includes a pool so bring a swimsuit. Because we didn't all have a rental car, Claudia even helped us arrange for transportation during the week. The location is at the bottom of the hilltop town of Cortona and it's a fun hike up to the top of Cortona through the vineyards, horse property, and olive trees. Or you can hike the road but it's not as fun, especially during heavy traffic times. Try to get a room near the pool toward the back of the property as some in our party had rooms on the second floor and could hear some road noise at night. Claudia was very responsive during our months of planning, giving us recommendations for restaurants and other places in the area. Overall, the experience at Il Sole del Sodo was wonderful and is highly recommended.

A dream! I wish we had gotten married here! Located about a 2 hours north of Rome and nestled in…read morethe Tuscan mountains around Cortona Italy is the most magical place I've ever stayed. More than a bed a breakfast, the lodging complements fully stocked apartments with full kitchens and baths. From its elevated location we could see for miles through the valley! There were small castles, palaces, and towers dotting mountains in all directions. The villas were nice too. The property is family operated hosted 100's of achres with olive trees, fruit trees, vineyards, flower gardens and herbs. The owner is a great chef with an onsite restaurant! She also makes her own olive oil, jelly/jam, spices, and wines! We appreciated the roustic style of the structures, which appear centuries old on the outside, yet moden and comfortable on the inside. A 10 minute trip down the mountain, through a small town, and up the other side put us in the famous city, Cortona! Breath taking does not even cover the experience! Though modern and fully stocked with many of the latest features ((Men in Black 3 was playing in the cinema)), Cortona has been around since before the Romans. Built high above the valley, it complements present day shops, universities, restaurants, and businesses. We found out that the University of Georgia has a branch here for music academic students. The narrow streets are classic Italian and with careful navigation of the steep slopes we found a churches dedicated to holy Saints and a monastery. Research Cortona to learn more. We made this trip just prior to the busy summer season. Only one other guest shared the grounds, an Australian couple, however, the day we were leaving a large party checked in and filled all the apartments for a wedding. HISTORY: Centuries ago Tuscany, being isolated from other areas by mountains, developed unique flavors in food and style that can only be experienced when you are here.