Monastero di Cortona Hotel & Spa
One Michelin Key
Hotel Details
Location
Monastero di Cortona Hotel & Spa · Cortona, Italy
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Expert Review: Monastero di Cortona Hotel & Spa
Monastero di Cortona Hotel & Spa: A Luxurious Retreat in the Heart of Tuscany
The Monastero di Cortona Hotel & Spa consistently receives high praise as an exceptional and wonderful luxury property, offering guests a serene and comfortable experience within a beautifully restored 15th-century monastery. Opened in 2019, the hotel skillfully blends its rich history with modern amenities and impeccable service.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
Guests frequently describe their stays as "wonderful" and "exceptional," with an overall rating often exceeding 9 out of 10. The general sentiment highlights a truly luxurious and memorable experience, marked by outstanding service and a beautiful ambiance.
2. Key Highlights
The key highlights of Monastero di Cortona include its attentive and friendly staff, the stunning panoramic views from its hilltop location, and its impressive spa facilities. The thoughtful restoration of the historic monastery, preserving original frescoes and vaulted ceilings, creates a uniquely elegant design. Guests also particularly appreciate the excellent breakfast and the peaceful, adults-only boutique hotel atmosphere. Amenities such as the indoor heated vitality pool, sauna, Turkish bath, and an outdoor plunge pool further enhance the guest experience.
3. Room Quality
The 36 rooms and suites are celebrated for their understated, minimalist luxury and exceptional comfort. Each room is unique, adorned in soft white hues, and features high-quality mattresses and very soft linens. Modern amenities such as reading lamps, televisions, air conditioning, free international calls, and premium bedding are standard. Bathrooms come with bathrobes, slippers, and complimentary toiletries, including Bulgari products in some suites. Rooms are designed to encourage relaxation, and some offer stunning views of the valley, while others face quiet interior courtyards. A popular touch is the turndown service, which includes a chocolate truffle on the pillow.
4. Dining Experience
The hotel offers a notable culinary journey with two restaurants, a wine cellar, and a bar. Breakfast is consistently described as "outstanding" and "delicious" by guests. It is served à la carte, featuring protein-rich options, fresh fruits, and house-made pastries, with guests reserving specific hour blocks for service to ensure freshness and a relaxed atmosphere. Ristorante Gli Affreschi provides sophisticated Tuscan cuisine for dinner, where Chef Michele Ricci celebrates regional traditions with flair, complemented by an impressive wine selection. For a more casual experience, Osteria del Santo serves traditional Italian dishes and regional specialties for lunch. Guests can also enjoy an "aperitivo with a view" on the terrace.
5. Service & Staff
The service and staff are frequently highlighted as a standout feature, earning high scores for hospitality and professionalism. Guests consistently use words like "friendly," "attentive," "amazing," "exceptional," and "accommodating." The staff are praised for anticipating needs, providing personalized recommendations (such as for local restaurants and spa reservations), and ensuring a seamless luxury stay from booking to departure.
6. Location & Accessibility
Monastero di Cortona Hotel & Spa is ideally situated within the ancient Etruscan walls of Cortona, approximately 650 feet from the town center. Guests appreciate its "perfect" and "quiet" location, while still being just a short walk to Cortona's charming medieval streets, filled with enotecas, restaurants, and boutique shops. Cortona itself is considered a beautiful and picturesque hilltop town, making the hotel an excellent base for exploring Tuscany and Umbria. The hotel offers a private parking garage by reservation, which is a valuable amenity in Cortona. While central, some guests have noted that the location can be challenging to access, particularly for those driving.
7. Value & Pricing
While offering a luxury experience, the hotel is rated 8.8 for value for money on some platforms. Room prices typically start from €450, reflecting its five-star status and comprehensive amenities. Membership in the Monastero di Cortona Member's Club can offer benefits such as discounted room rates, free upgrades, spa packages, and complimentary breakfast.
8. Common Complaints
Recurring criticisms are few but include the challenge of navigating the location, especially for drivers, which some guests found difficult. Some guests have also expressed minor disappointment with the dining options available beyond the acclaimed breakfast, or the lack of specific amenities like French TV channels. It's also worth noting that the hotel closes for a portion of the winter season. Additionally, the outdoor plunge pool is unheated and can be very cold, depending on the time of year.
Sources
Google Reviews
251 reviews
Recent Guest Reviews
Chris Porter
"Appearances can be deceiving" is something I wish I had considered before I made plans to stay at Monastero. Our problems started even before we arrived. Beware that there are few signs for the hotel and worse: the streets-- built centuries ago-- are impossibly narrow for the uninitiated driver to negotiate. Especially at night when we arrived. It would have been nice to have been forewarned by t...
Yuri Jorge Bravo
A hotel I highly recommend, as well as dinner at the Gli Affreschi restaurant. I was very happy with choosing the Monastero di Cortona to celebrate my 10th wedding anniversary. The service was excellent throughout. The room was spacious, the bed comfortable, Bulgari amenities, and turndown service. They left us anniversary gifts, demonstrating their utmost care for the guest. It was an incredible ...
Utah Carol
I loved Cortona, Italy, the views from the top of the mountain are breathtaking. And Monastero di Cortona is even better. I loved my room with the view across the entire valley, I saw birds flying high, my windows opened to fresh air and sunshine. The rooftop pool is wonderful and the service up there is great also. I wish I had stayed longer, I would have used the spa services. It is a very roman...
Joanna Baron
Just left this hotel and had an incredible experience. Very atmospheric property with vaulted ceilings, original frescoes and a spectacular pool area. All of the dining was five stars with thoughtful touches and exquisite service. Breakfasts fit for royalty. A three minute walk from the centre of Cortona which is a perfect microcosm of Tuscany with Etruscan heritage. I woke up feeling like an Ital...
Dylan Hanson
Absolutely incredible customer service at this hotel. Made me feel truly valued and special, wonderful service. Amazing bartender creates the best cocktails. Great food at the breakfast with wonderful staff. Amazing spa, had one of the best and most relaxing massages of my life here. I will say parking here is not for the faint of heart, as it involves traversing some very narrow streets which alm...
Benji
5/5, 10/10 A*. All you need and more. Sat a top the beauty that is Cortona - this hotel is delightful. Wonderful friendly and welcoming staff. Spacious, clean, fresh rooms. Incredible food. A scenic garden with a refreshing pool. I could talk about this hotel all day. Go! Book now and go!
About One Michelin Key
One Michelin Key is awarded to hotels that offer a very special stay. These properties are characterized by their unique personality, high quality, and ability to create memorable experiences for guests.
