Casale Girifalco — Local services in Cortona

Casale Girifalco is a treasure. With plenty of room, breath-taking views and sunsets, this historic, picturesque villa exceeded our family of 10's expectations in every way. Manuella, our host, couldn't have been more welcoming and learning about Cortona from someone with deep roots in the area over many generations was very satisfying and added to the enjoyment of our stay. ||||We flew into Rome, rented a car and had an fairly easy drive to Cortona, which took a little over 2 hours. Driving directions to the villa itself were a little sketchy (we didn't have google maps available) but it all worked out.||||Casale Girifalco is situated just outside the town walls, about a 15 minute walk (uphill) to the town. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the churches, shops and restaurants. Cortona itself is very well located for day trips. We visited Siena, Florence and Assisi, all within fairly easy reach by car or train . After leaving Cortona, we returned to Rome and spent a couple days there before flying home. ||||Our week also included dinner cooked by Manualla as well as a cooking lesson from a local chef later in the week. Learning to make pasta from scratch, two sauces, tiramisu...it was all quite wonderful.||||We all look forward to returning to Cortona and Casale Girifalco again in the future. It was a home run on all counts and we thank Manuella for her hospitality and her help in creating a truly memorable...

Our family has been to Girifalco now for the last three years with friends. It's the perfect size for either three families, or - in our case - two families with children and the accompanying mothers/in-laws - there's a separate but attached beautiful house that gives them privacy and more quiet. Girifalco is a magical and wonderful property that is differentiated by the following:||||1) Most villas require driving to the village, piazza, or places you would want to go. This one is the perfect combination of complete seclusion, privacy, gorgeous views and surrounds yet only a 7-minute walk to the piazza in Cortona.||||2) Manuela, the Florentine owner, has excellent taste and even more importantly (in my view) is extremely clean. The property is thoroughly cleaned every week and up to very fussy standards. She inherited the property from her grandfather and takes great pride in keeping it in absolutely beautiful condition.||||3) The setting, area and views are literally the ones that inspired Michelangelo. Enough said.||||4) The bedrooms all have elegant old-warm charm but the bathrooms have been renovated.||||5) There's a great pool for the kids as well as for readers who want to lounge and look at the beautiful views.||||We have all loved our time in Cortona. The food, wine, culture, history, warmth of people, evenings in the piazza - perfetto. We can't...

We had found this great place through an agency and it meet all our requirements - location in Tuscany, distance from a very neat town (a brisk 500-meter uphill walk to the town gate), pool, COOP (supermarket) a 5-minute drive, near the train station, and accommodate a party of 10.||||Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the property. It is a historic property so a bit "old school" furnishing (so not 2020 "contemporary"). It is well stocked with glasses, dishes, cookware, etc. such that we cooked about half of our breakfasts and dinners and dined outside. Great views.||||The location is fantastic for under 2 hour drives or train to Tuscan and Umbrian sites (as Florence, Siena, Pisa, Pienza, Spello, Assisi, Lucca, etc.).||||The owner, Ms. Manuela, is there most days and can provide local advice. She was most welcoming!||||Please note 2 items that may be of importance:||There is a washer but no dryer. Drying times even in the sun can be long. However, there is a self serve or they do laundry 10 minutes away.||No AC. This was not an issue for us in early June (weather was exceptional) but if you are booking in July or August... (we encountered a heart wave in Umbria and our no-AC villa was NOT good).||||There are 2 great "villa cats" that stay outside. ||||You will need to be taken to the villa -...