Escape to Tuscany: Your Dream Villa Awaits in Cortona!
Escape to Tuscany: Cortona's Allure – A Rambling Review You Actually Want To Read
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I’m about to spill the Tuscan beans on "Escape to Tuscany: Your Dream Villa Awaits in Cortona!" This isn’t your standard, polished travelogue. This is the real, unfiltered, slightly-caffeinated truth. I just got back, and my suitcase is still unpacking (read: exploding) souvenirs. Let's go.
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Keywords: Tuscany, Cortona, Villa, Italy, Luxury, Spa, Pool, Accessible, Family-Friendly, Romantic Getaway, Food, Review, Travel. (We gotta play the game, people).
Meta Description: My brutally honest review of "Escape to Tuscany: Your Dream Villa Awaits!" in Cortona. From the oh-so-romantic pool to the slightly-too-early wake-up calls, get the inside scoop on accessibility, dining, and whether it actually lives up to the hype.
First Impressions & The Long Road To… Well, Tuscany
Okay, so I'm NOT a super-organised traveller, I was late to the gate, but the airport transfer, the Airport transfer, was a saving grace. Smooth, professional, and after a nightmare flight (don't even get me started on the crying baby), it was everything. The driver, bless his heart, didn't blink an eye when I spilled my (overpriced) airport coffee all over my hand. He did, however, have some great recommendations, which I immediately filed under "Maybe Someday".
Reaching the villa, you're immediately hit by the "wow" factor. It's truly stunning. Rustic charm meets modern luxury. The Exterior corridor looked inviting, and, well, everything promised.
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag (But Mostly Good!)
Here's where things get real. My partner uses a wheelchair, so Accessibility is HUGE for us. The website promised, but what about the reality? Well, it's a mixed bag, honestly.
- Wheelchair accessible: They've REALLY tried. Some areas are fantastic. The main pathways are mostly level, and getting around the main areas was surprisingly smooth. However, some of the original architecture presented challenges, specifically, some uneven terrain outside of the main building. It wasn't perfect, but the staff are incredibly helpful.
- Elevator (Elevator) was a huge relief. And they have Facilities for disabled guests.
- Accessibility: The staff were incredibly accommodating. They went above and beyond to assist. This easily makes up for some of the unavoidable physical limitations.
The Room Rundown: My Personal Sanctuary (And Its Quirks)
My room? Divine! Seriously, it was almost too much.
- Air conditioning (blessedly strong, as it was HOT).
- Free Wi-Fi (crucial!), Internet access – wireless, Internet access - LAN.
- Blackout curtains (a godsend for a light sleeper like me)
- Bathroom phone (because what else are you going to do while soaking in the tub?).
- Bathrobes (obviously!)
- Additional toilet: Extra points!
- Non-smoking (essential for me, and I saw Smoking area that was well-placed).
- Wake-up service (which I may or may not have needed, given the jet lag and overabundance of espresso).
- Mini bar – Essential, although I think, a little bit, I abused it.
- Alarm clock – Why do they always set these for 5 am?!
- Hairdryer- Okay, a slightly weak hair dryer.
- Safe – Always a good idea.
- Desk – Ugh, I had to do some work, so that was a bummer.
- Coffee/tea maker And Complimentary tea – Crucial for a caffeine addict like myself.
- Seating area, Sofa – Always great to have!
- High floor – The view was insane!
- Interconnecting room(s) available – I didn’t use, but good if you’re bringing the whole fam.
The Food, Glorious Food! (And My Waistline's Lament)
Listen, this is Tuscany. If you're not planning on eating, you're doing it wrong.
- Restaurants: There are Restaurants, plural! Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Poolside bar, Snack bar – it’s a food coma waiting to happen. And yes, I fully embraced it.
- Breakfast [buffet] and Breakfast service - The breakfast buffet was EPIC! Honestly, I may have gained five pounds in the first three days. (Worth it.) The Buffet in restaurant was a glorious spread. Fresh pastries, local cured meats, and enough coffee to fuel a small army. The Western breakfast was excellent.
- A la carte in restaurant – I tried it; some dishes were better than others, honestly.
- Asian breakfast and Asian cuisine in restaurant - I can't speak to that, but I'm guessing that it's available.
- Happy hour – Essential for anyone who enjoys a good Aperol Spritz (guilty!).
- Desserts in restaurant – Oh. My. God. The desserts!
- Room service [24-hour]. That's right, you can eat whenever you darn well feel like it.
- Bottle of water – They replenish these daily.
- Soup in restaurant – Perfect for a chilly evening.
- Alternative meal arrangement - They readily provided them.
- Vegetarian restaurant - I can't speak to that, but I'm guessing that it's available.
- International cuisine in restaurant- It's amazing.
- Salad in restaurant – I tried them!
- Safe dining setup - They take care of this very well.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items - Good!
Dining, drinking, and snacking, I did it all.
Spa Life: My Attempt at Serenity (Spoiler: I'm Not Good At It)
Okay, so everyone raves about the Tuscan spa experience. I went. I tried.
- Spa, Spa/sauna - Well, they have those!
- Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath: All the pampering you could ask for.
- Massage: Yes. (Seriously good. Do it.)
- Sauna, Steamroom: Sigh… more relaxing things that I did not do.
- Swimming pool, Pool with view, Swimming pool [outdoor]: The outdoor pool is incredible. The view is what dreams are made of. I easily lost an entire afternoon floating around, reading, and generally feeling like a pampered simpleton. It's absolute bliss, and the Poolside bar is conveniently located.
- Fitness center, Gym/fitness: I intended to go to the gym. I really did. The gym looked great, right? But then there was the pool, and the wine…and, well, you get the idea.
Things to Do: Beyond the Pool (If You Can Drag Yourself Away)
Cortona is charming. Seriously, it's like stepping into a Renaissance painting.
- Family/child friendly, For the kids –I didn't bring them, but there appeared to be a definite family focus. Babysitting service and the like.
- Meetings, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meeting stationery - I didn't do them, so I can't speak to it.
- Outdoor venue for special events, Indoor venue for special events - Also, didn't do them, but they looked nice.
- Proposal spot - I have no idea, but hey, why not?
- Shrine - They have one!
The Down and Dirty (Cleanliness, Safety, & the Little Things)
- Cleanliness and safety: They take this seriously. Lots of: Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment. I felt super safe.
- Cashless payment service. Great!
- Concierge – Incredibly helpful. They helped with Car park [on-site] and other things.
- Daily housekeeping – Super!
- Laundry service, Dry cleaning – Essential after a week of eating pasta.
- Luggage storage. Handy.
- Invoice provided.
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your sterile, perfectly-packaged travel brochure. This is Borgonuovo Cortona, Italy, seen through the lens of a slightly caffeinated, emotionally-charged human who probably packed too many shoes. Here we GO!
Belvilla by OYO: Borgonuovo Cortona - The Slightly-Chaotic, Utterly-Charming Italian Getaway
(Arrival - Day 1: Oh. My. God. It's Real!)
- Morning (Probably Already Late, Let's Be Honest):
- The Flight From Hell (aka the one where a toddler screamed the entire way): Let's just say I arrived in Florence with my inner peace thoroughly demolished. I swear, the kid saw me and just knew. Cue the eyerolls.
- Rental Car Roulette: Managed to navigate the rental car process. Barely. Apparently, "automatic transmission" in Italian means something entirely different. Found myself screeching tires in a round-about. Italians were unfazed. I was mortified.
- The Drive to Cortona: The Tuscan hills! Glorious, sun-drenched, absolutely terrifyingly narrow roads. I went from "I'm a confident driver!" to "Dear God, please let there be no oncoming traffic" in about five minutes.
- Afternoon (Finally, Cortona!)
- CHECK-IN (and the Mystery of the Missing Key): Got to Borgonuovo. Stunning. Absolutely stunning. Pictures do NOT do it justice. Then the key-box code… didn't work. Panic set in. Picture me, hauling luggage, trying desperately to remember which of the cryptic instructions I (pretend) read. Finally, managed to get hold of someone. Apparently, I'd entered the wrong code. Genius.
- The Apartment: Beautiful! Stone walls, a fireplace bigger than my bedroom back home, and a view that quite frankly stole my breath. The first thing I did? Flopped on the bed and did a happy-cry. Exhaustion, mixed with sheer joy, is a potent cocktail.
- Evening (Pasta, Pizza, and a LOT of Wine… maybe too much wine?)
- Cortona Exploration: wandered into Cortona proper. Tiny streets, overflowing with flowers, and the cutest little shops. I swear, every corner is worthy of a postcard.
- Dinner at Trattoria: Found a place off the beaten path. Ordered all the pasta. ALL OF IT. And the pizza. And the wine. The wine! Holy moly, it was good. Pretty sure I spilled some on myself, but who cares when you're sitting in Tuscany, practically bathed in golden light?
- Midnight Ramblings: Stumbled back to the apartment, completely happy, and started thinking about how to never leave. Wrote a terrible poem about olive trees. Then fell asleep, fully clothed.
(Day 2: Culture Shock, Food Coma, and a Pigeon Attack)
- Morning (Wake up slowly, then… RUN!)
- Coffee and Contemplation: Woke up to the sound of birdsong and the sun streaming through the windows. Coffee, on the balcony. Pure bliss. For about 10 minutes.
- The "Oh Crap, I Have to Hike Today" Realisation: Decided to climb all the way up to the Etruscan walls in Cortona. Thought it would be a gentle stroll…turns out, my idea of "gentle" is not the same as the locals'. Gasping for air, I was nearly overtaken by a family dressed entirely in designer hiking gear. Felt like an underdressed, slightly-out-of-shape tourist.
- The View From the Top: Worth. Every. Single. Stride. The entire valley stretched out before me. It was… well, it was breathtaking. I think I actually shed a happy tear. Didn't tell anyone. Shhh.
- Afternoon (The Food Coma Cometh!)
- Lunch at a Tiny Osteria: Found a little place that smelled of garlic and happiness. The menu? All in Italian. My Italian? Nonexistent. Pointed at things. Everything was amazing. Specifically, the pasta with wild boar ragu. I could've licked the plate.
- Pigeon Assault: Wandered through a charming piazza, eating gelato, when… BAM! A pigeon attacked my cone. It was a strategic strike, aimed directly at the pistachio (my favourite!). I shrieked, the gelato went everywhere, and the pigeon looked utterly smug. I was traumatized.
- Evening (Lost Art, Great Conversation and Another Bottle of Wine - Maybe I have a drinking problem?)
- The Diocesan Museum: Forced myself to go to the museum, and I was not disappointed. Saw some glorious renaissance paintings and decided I needed to have a deeper appreciation for art.
- Dinner with a View: Found a restaurant with a terrace overlooking the valley. Ordered a bottle of local wine. Talked to the waiter about everything, and our conversation about the area went on and on. Ended up laughing and drinking all night.
- Late night: The evening ended with star gazing and contemplation about life. The wine, again, helped the thinking process.
(Day 3: The Tuscan Sun, Cooking Class Catastrophe, and an Unexpected Romance (Well, Maybe…))
- Morning (Embrace the Sun, And the Imperfections):
- Sunrise Surprise: Forcing myself out of bed at 6 am, I went for a walk with the sunrise. I did a lot of thinking.
- Afternoon (Cooking Class Chaos):
- The Cooking Class: I had booked a cooking class expecting to be a culinary goddess. Reality hit hard. First, I nearly set the kitchen on fire while trying to sauté some garlic. Then, I accidentally added too much salt to the sauce. Let's just say, I'm not quitting my day job (which, as a travel writer, is technically no job at all). However, and surprisingly, the dish was not that bad!
- The Romance… (Okay, maybe an attraction?) The cooking class instructor, a charming local named Marco, kept giving me these looks. Could it be the garlic breath? Or maybe it was the fact that, despite my cooking ineptitude, I managed to laugh and have a good time? I wouldn't mind finding out.
- Evening (Sunset, Conversation, Potential Future Plans):
- Sunset Serenade: Watched the sunset from the balcony, feeling a bit giddy. Ate a simple dinner, thinking about the day.
- Marco's Pizza: Bumped into Marco at a pizzeria, where we started talking about the history of Cortona. The conversation went on, and the beer flowed; he also kept giving me that "look." Maybe this trip wouldn't be so bad after all.
(Day 4: Relaxation, Road Trip, and Farewell (For Now))
- Morning (Recover and Reflect):
- Sleep In (Finally): Slept in until I woke up from the sun. Spent a good chunk of the morning just relaxing and enjoying the view.
- The Pool? This place has a pool? Why was I only finding out now? Spent the afternoon in the pool, relishing the moment.
- Afternoon (Road Trip!)
- Exploring the Area: Decided to take a drive to Montepulciano. The drive was beautiful, and the towns gorgeous.
- Evening (Goodbye Dinner):
- Farewell Dinner with a View (And a Bittersweet Feeling): Back in Cortona, I had a farewell meal that would be forever etched into my memories. The waiter, a new friend by now, brought me out a special dish. I looked back at the apartment and was reminded of all the great memories I had in the past few days. This was going to be hard to leave!
(Departure Day: Ciao, Bella! (And See You Soon!))
- Morning (The Sad Goodbye): Packed. Cried a tiny bit. Promised myself I'd come back.
- The Drive From Hell, Take Two: Successfully navigated the drive back to Florence. The toddler was still there. The cycle of life continues.
- Ciao, Italy!
- The Airport Meltdown (Okay, Maybe I Had a Little Too Much Gelato): Said goodbye to the Tuscan sun, the ridiculously good food, and the, well, potential for a romance.
Final Verdict:
Borgonuovo Cortona? Absolutely magical. Imperfect, messy and a bit chaotic? Absolutely. Would I go back? In a heartbeat. And this time, I'm bringing a bigger suitcase for the shoes. And maybe, just maybe, a little bit more Italian. And a much longer stay!
Ghent Getaway: Dream Pool, Rooftop Views & BBQ! (Apr-Sep)
Escape to Tuscany: Your Dream Villa Awaits in Cortona! FAQs – Because Let's Be Real
Okay, I'm intrigued. What's the *real* deal with this "dream villa" stuff in Cortona? Is it all Instagram filters and perfectly-posed breakfasts?
Okay, let's be honest. The pictures are *gorgeous*. Cortona itself? Breathtaking. This villa? Well, it leans towards "dreamy," but let's talk reality. Yes, there's a pool. Yes, the views are spectacular enough to make you weep (in a good way...mostly). But dream villas, much like life, aren't without their… quirks. Think less "flawless magazine cover" and more "that charming, slightly-chipped-but-still-perfectly-lovely antique vase your grandma had."
I actually got there once, ravenous after a flight, only to find the key wasn't where they said it was. Panic set in, obviously – visions of sleeping on a park bench danced in my head. Then, finally, after a sheepish call, it turned out it was hidden UNDER a ridiculously tiny gnome statue. A gnome! So yeah, expect a little adventure. But that's part of the fun, right?
Is the location actually *in* Cortona? And how far away is it from civilization? (I need my Aperol Spritz fix!)
"In" Cortona? Well, define "in." It depends on the villa, of course, but generally, you're either *near* Cortona or a short drive away (which in Tuscan terms, means navigating some seriously winding roads, often with, you know, actual sheep casually strolling across them). The Aperol Spritz fix? Good question! Cortona itself is bursting with bars and restaurants (and bless them, most will happily whip up a Spritz). You'll need a car. Period. Unless you’re a masochist who enjoys hiking uphill in the Tuscan sun, which, hey, maybe you are! (Kudos to your fitness regime, by the way).
I remember one trip, my friend booked a villa "a short walk" outside of a village. "Short walk," as it turned out, was a Himalayan expedition involving questionable footwear and a near-death experience with a particularly aggressive goose guarding his territory. So, double-check the distance. And pack comfortable shoes.
The pool…is it actually swimmable? And is it shared? Because I hate sharing pools.
The pool... the *pool*. Okay, deep breaths. The answer depends. Some villas come with private pools. Score! Pure, unadulterated, splashing bliss. Others might have shared pools, which, in theory, is fine. In practice? Picture a gaggle of screaming children, rogue inflatable flamingos, and the constant, unwashed presence of sunblock. (Sorry, I'm not a fan of shared pools; I'm a selfish swimmer).
The *worst* pool experience? Arrived, ready for my daily swim, to find a family of about twenty Italians had already claimed every inch of water. Honestly, I could hear the splashing from my room, it was that bad. I opted for a gelato and a silent, seething rage at the injustice of it all. So, *always* ask about the pool's exclusivity. Trust me.
What about the kitchen? Is it adequately equipped, or am I going to be stuck with a rusty can opener and a single, tragically dull knife?
The kitchen... a battleground. Some are glorious, chef-worthy havens with every appliance imaginable. Others… well, let's just say you might need to channel your inner MacGyver to prepare a simple pasta dish. Check the listing *carefully*. Does it have a coffee maker? (Essential!). A good frying pan? (Even more essential). And for the love of all that is holy, does it have a *wine opener*?!
I once stayed in a villa that boasted a "fully equipped kitchen." It had everything... except a corkscrew. We resorted to hammering a screw into the cork and pulling it out with pliers. Let's just say the wine didn't taste quite as good after that performance. Always pack a backup wine opener. And maybe a decent knife. And a sense of humor.
What's the deal with the Wi-Fi? Can I actually work remotely, or am I going to be staring at a loading screen for the entire trip?
Wi-Fi. Ah, the modern traveler's curse. In some villas, the Wi-Fi is lightning-fast, the connection strong, and you can happily video-conference while sipping your morning espresso. In others… it's more like the internet from the Stone Age. Prepare for dropped calls, slow loading, and the overwhelming urge to chuck your laptop out the window.
I tried to work remotely from a villa once. Said "stable internet." The reality? I spent more time refreshing the page than actually working. I had to drive into Cortona every day, just to connect. My work-life balance was shot. My stress levels? Skyrocketed. So, if reliable Wi-Fi is crucial (and let's be honest, in this day and age, it probably is), ask specific questions. And maybe pack a travel router, just in case.
Food! Where do I eat? Are there grocery stores nearby? Can I get actual good Italian food?
Food! The main event! Cortona and the surrounding area are a *gastronomic dream*. Truly. You will eat well. The food is divine. Grocery stores? Yes, usually. You might need to drive a bit. Get ready to learn some Italian phrases, though, because the local butchers and cheese mongers don’t usually speak much English.
As for restaurants? Oh, the restaurants! From tiny trattorias serving the most incredible homemade pasta to Michelin-starred establishments, you'll be spoiled for choice. My personal rule? Look for places that are crowded with locals. That's always a good sign.
Once, I stumbled upon a small, family-run place that was just *perfection*. The pasta was light, the wine flowed freely, and the atmosphere was pure Italian joy. I ended up chatting with the nonna in broken Italian, and she even gave me the recipe for her secret ragu. (Which, by the way, I still haven't managed to replicate. It's a gift, clearly.)
One thing: Make reservations for dinner, especially during peak season. And be prepared to linger. Italians take their time with meals! Don't rush the experience.
What about mosquitos? Do they come in packs of bloodthirsty fiends?
Mosquitos. Ah, the bane of a Tuscan summer. Yes. They exist. And yes, they can be… formidable. Pack mosquito repellent. TheFind Secret Hotel Deals
