Fonte al Vento

After a week in the main villa and studio for our family holiday, we came away very impressed. Silvia and Francesco were incredibly friendly, and the villa was spotless. The pool and grounds were lovely, especially after long days exploring Tuscany. We highly recommend Fonte Al Vento.

We spent three weeks at Fonte al Vento this summer, and the grounds were immaculate, with views that were hard to match. Cortona was just a ten minute walk uphill, which was very convenient for the whole family. Silvia helped with our questions and travel requests throughout, and made the trip feel like a once in a lifetime visit. The villa had four large, beautiful bedrooms that felt modern, clean, and luxurious. At night, the men gathered around the pool table while the women relaxed in the outdoor loungers and watched the sunset. I can't imagine a better place to stay in the Tuscany and Umbria area. Heaven!

We spent four weeks at Fonte Al Vento in April and May 2015, mostly with another couple. We wanted extra rooms so friends could join us, and nine people stayed for some or all of the trip. The villa is gorgeous, and Sylvia and Francesco put five years into building it. The design is excellent. Their website photos show the house accurately, but don't come close to conveying the incredible view. The rooms were immaculate and modern, with large tubs and/or showers and very comfortable beds. We cooked most days, and the kitchen had plenty of supplies. Sylvia and Francesco had also left food, drinks, and coffee for our arrival, so we didn't walk into an empty fridge. The downstairs living area had a pool table and Smart TV, both handy on rainy days, and we used them plenty. We spent many late afternoons by the pool looking over the Val di Chiana with wine, or grilling meat and vegetables in the outdoor eating area. The pool, grill, and patio were fantastic. I do wish the pool had been heated, but on the many hot days we loved it anyway. Sylvia and Francesco were wonderful hosts. Sylvia's experience at five star hotels showed in how responsive she was, especially by text, and in her attention to detail. Her tour arrangements and suggestions for things to do and see were spot on. We didn't have a meal or cooking lesson with Francesco. My wife is a superb cook, so we didn't think we needed either, but afterward we wished we'd asked him to cook for us at least once, perhaps on arrival night. By all accounts he's an incredible private chef and has appeared on television shows. Having dinner taken care of after arriving, instead of cooking, cleaning up, and going into town, would have been very nice. Francesco's parents, Franca and Valerio, live on the property and look after it. They were lovely, warm, welcoming, and ready to help. It was reassuring to have them there in case anything came up. They don't speak English, but we got along fine with our broken Italian. :) Cortona's main squares are only a ten minute walk away, with sights, groceries, restaurants, and shops. There are many excellent restaurants in town. The villa's countryside feel, despite being so close to the center, really sets it apart from nearly every other place we considered after researching hundreds. It's rare to find this caliber of villa just outside such an amazing hill town. Sound carries quite a lot through the shared areas because most surfaces are tile or stone. People laughing or playing pool in the basement could be heard in the upstairs rooms two floors above. A couple of rugs down there might help. Also, without a heated pool, it may feel too cold for some during a chilly spell in spring or fall. Neither issue was a big deal for us, but I wanted to mention them. It was a magical stay we'll always remember, and we'd love to do it again. Huge thanks to Sylvia and Francesco for sharing their home and being such fantastic hosts. Grazie mille e alla prossima! :)

Every view from the villa was beautiful, and the hosts' care showed in the decor and comfort. We had a dreamlike stay and can't wait to return. Cortona is within walking distance if you don't mind walking up a hill.