Home Away from Home in Tuscany, Italy – Fontelunga Hotel & Villas

Set amid 200 olive trees, Villa Fontelunga‘s red-brick building delights against the blue sky as you enter the driveway. Located on the beautiful hilltop town of Cortona, the famed setting for the film “Under the Tuscan Sun”, the hotel offers spectacular views across the Val di Chiana in the heart of Tuscany.

This is the Italy of cinematic renditions; it’s beautiful, intimate, perfectly executed and bursting with charm and style. Villa Fontelunga offers a contemporary and informal luxury style and breathtaking views, and it’s just perfect for a stylish relaxing retreat.

Offering just the right mix of contemporary design touches within a traditional context, the villa feels perfectly set within its surrounding landscape, with its traditional façade integrating with the grounds and adjacent pool.

Inside, modern pieces designed by one of the hotel’s owners and architects, as well as furniture from Philippe Starck and Arne Jacobsen, blend well with original mouldings and large windows framing the valley views.

The best way to define Fontelunga is “Home away from home”: with no formal hotel rules, there is a relaxed and classy atmosphere.

You can expect the warmest welcome and personalised service from owners Paolo and Philip together with their team.

They will be able to give you the best suggestions about nearby restaurants and activities.

Dogs are welcome at Fontelunga (they will find four small and nice buddies) and there’s also a nanny service available.

ACCOMMODATION

The individually styled guest rooms of Villa Fontelunga range from the Junior suite in a separate cottage next to the main villa, to Superior, deluxe and double rooms in the main house.

They are named in Italian after precious materials e.g “Avorio” (Ivory) and “Ametista” (Amethyst) and these colours are reflected in the styling of the bedrooms, each offering air conditioning and modern en-suite bathrooms with Molton Brown bathing products.

The self catering private villas, named Villa Gallo and Villa Galletto, are nestled close by in the historic Scannagallo Valley.

DINING

The restaurant is only for hotel guests and every Tuesdays and Fridays a dinner party with the owners is organised.

Breakfast is a feast with homemade pastries and cakes (Paolo will bake every morning), fresh local and seasonal fruit, and cooked breakfast all included.

Casual dinners (the chef asks in the morning whether you will join in the evening) highlight local and seasonal ingredients as well as regional dishes like pasta with truffles and torta salata (a type of Tuscan quiche), and light lunches include caprese salads with tomatoes from the hotel’s garden, and prosciutto with figs or melon.

ACTIVITIES

Tuscany is well known for its wine tastings, and Fontelunga offers easy access to some of the area’s finest wineries.

There is a tennis court surrounded by olive trees, a lovely swimming pool, a heated Jacuzzi overlooking the olive grove and a new yoga and Pilates gazebo in the “Secret Garden”.

More activities like hot air ballooning and horseback riding can be easily arranged.

Cortona, Arezzo (one of Tuscany’s best-kept secrets), Siena, and Montepulciano are all easy day trips from the hotel.

Florence, Siena, Orvieto and Assisi are all within one hour drive of the hotel.

End your day with a glass of wine in the outdoor gazebo – with comfortable seats and a fireplace.