Relais il Falconiere Cortona

In Tuscany, in the peaceful countryside just beyond the walls of the medieval town of Cortona, lies Relais Il Falconiere. This beautifully restored property offers elegant guest accommodation in just twenty bedrooms and suites, distributed in the old Villa, the farmhouse and in an attractive outbuilding next to the chapel.

The rooms, each individually furnished, feature exquisite frescoes, antiques, wrought iron or four poster beds, and precious woven textiles. Those guests in search of maximum luxury and privacy should reserve one of Relais il Falconiere's three Suites, each of which accessible directly from the garden and with gorgeous views over the Tiber valley and Cortona.

Long before it was awarded a Michelin Star for its superb food and impeccable service, Relais Il Falconiere's restaurant was already widely considered to be one of Tuscany's finest eateries. Here, the beautifully presented dishes are prepared using only the highest quality seasonal ingredients, all of which sourced locally. The restaurant, on two levels, has three dining rooms. The "Limonaia" is the largest, seating 60, and together with Relais Il Falconiere's large terrace, provides the ideal venue for elegant gala dinners and wedding receptions. A smaller dining room, with just five tables, is perfect for private dining, although nothing can beat the intimacy of the Sala degli Orologi (Clocks room), in which there is one single table. The Baracchi family, who own the Relais, is one of the area's most important wine producers. It is no surprise then that Il Falconiere's wine cellar contains all of the finest vintages produced by the Baracchi winery.

Spa lovers will be delighted to discover Il Falconiere's new Thesan Etruscan wellness center, complete with sauna, Turkish bath and indoor-outdoor pool. The spa menu features a superb range of massages, body wraps and spa rituals performed using natural products, typical of Tuscany: grapes, olives, lavender, almonds, honey and elderflowers. The hotel's Spa Suite, overlooking the wellness center's outdoor pool, has its own private spa tub.

Whilst staying at Relais Il Falconiere, guests have the opportunity to participate in cooking classes or professional wine tastings, or simply relax in the gardens or by the pool. The area around Cortona offers every genre of sports and leisure activity, including golf, horseriding, trekking, and gastronomic tours.