Ian T.
The setting near Cortona is beautiful, and the garden and pool are well kept. The host even came by to work on them during our stay, which felt like a bit too much attention. We were looking for somewhere quiet and remote, but these days we still need to stay connected. There was little or no mobile signal, and Wi-Fi would have been welcome. Bring a map too, since relying on technology here can let you down. I forgot mine. Inside, the villa felt cramped. It has two floors above and one room downstairs, and the owners’ clothes and belongings filled many drawers and storage spaces. The main bedroom’s double bed was adequate, but the room was tight enough that getting around beside the wall took some agility. There were only two of us, and I can’t imagine how a family of four would manage. There wasn’t a comfortable lounge area either, just a sofa in the small kitchen and living space. The dishwasher and washing machine are in separate places, an outhouse and the pool room. The outdoor barbecue and pizza oven didn’t seem set up for real use, with plants around them and very few utensils. Last year we loved a nearby villa or cottage booked through James Villa, but it wasn’t available this year. Searching for something similar kept bringing me to La Torretta, Cortona. Next year I’ll research more carefully and be less casual about my assumptions when booking.
