In Tuscany there is a 15th-century monastery with a hotel, two restaurants and a panoramic terrace

The Cortona Monastery, in the historic center of the town in the province of Arezzo, is a building dating back to the 1400s that, after careful restoration, has been transformed into a boutique hotel with a spa, two restaurants, and a beautiful panoramic terrace overlooking the Valdichiana.

We know Tuscany has so much to offer, and we're always ready to discover new and interesting places worth exploring. This time, our destination is the Valdichiana, in the eastern part of the region, near the border with Umbria: Cortona, a town in the province of Arezzo that's worth a visit in itself.

In the historic center of the town stands the Monastery of Cortona, a building dating back to the 1400s, now transformed into a hospitality facility. Opened in 2019, after careful renovations by the Poli family, which preserved its ancient charm (beamed and vaulted ceilings, impressive corridors, loggias, and frescoes), it is now a boutique hotel with a spa and two restaurants. The Monastery of Cortona boasts 36 rooms and suites converted from the former cells, and features a garden with a swimming pool and a panoramic terrace (formerly the friars' vegetable garden) overlooking the Valdichiana. The facility is open from March to November (March 27 is the reopening date for 2025).

Cortona Monastery: Two Restaurants and Tuscan Cuisine

A stay at the Monastery of Cortona also includes the cuisine, expertly managed by Tuscan chef Michele Ricci, who oversees the structure's two restaurants: Gli Affreschi and the new 2025 restaurant, Osteria del Santo.

Originally from Sansepolcro (also in the province of Arezzo), the chef trained with Gualtiero Marchesi, Luigi Sartini, and Paolo Lopriore. After many experiences, he returned home, bringing his own take on cuisine that showcases Tuscan tradition through a handful of ingredients, revisited and lightened by leveraging modern techniques. The Gli Affreschi restaurant, so named because frescoes were discovered during renovations that some experts believe refer to the Battle of Montaperti in 1260, seats approximately 20 and is open only for evening service. Guests can order à la carte or choose one of two four-course tasting menus: the meat-based "Sapori Toscani" (€80) and the fish-based "Dal Mare" (€90), the latter designed to also meet the needs of those who prefer non-meat cuisine.

Tuscany shines through in dishes like pappa al pomodoro, which is served as an appetizer at the start of the meal, or in the chicken liver pâté, green apple, Cortona Vermouth gel, and savory cantuccio, or in the traditional pici, hand-rolled here, with cacio e pepe sauce and a cream of Cortona saffron. There's also a focus on vegetables: the Vegetables from the Garden, for example, are a fun play on textures worth trying. Vegetables are also the starting point for the restaurant's new 2025 menu: the menu featuring the ingredient of the month, around which three dishes are designed, effectively creating a new tasting menu (the first will be dedicated to asparagus).

The other new feature for 2025, as mentioned above, is the opening of Osteria del Santo, the new restaurant at the Monastery of Cortona which, as its name suggests, offers a tavern-style menu with even more traditional dishes (it's open for both lunch and dinner).

It goes without saying that the attention to product and quality remain unchanged, but it is certainly a different offering, partly due to the need to offer guests the opportunity to try different experiences within the same establishment. There is a focus on fresh, handmade pasta, such as the quintessential Tuscan pappardelle with porcini mushrooms and the typical gnudi, as well as local cured meats and cheeses, and the grill is the star attraction.

Cortona Monastery: the wine list

The wine list, curated by maître d' and sommelier Taziana Lai, features around 300 labels. In keeping with the cuisine, there's a strong focus on Tuscany's offerings: ample space is given to local wines, from Cortona to Montalcino and Montepulciano, extending all the way to Chianti and Bolgheri (which is also what guests request most). The rest of Italy is also covered, with particularly extensive sections dedicated to Piedmont, Veneto, Sicily, Abruzzo, and Puglia.

Monastero di Cortona Hotel & SPA. Via del Salvatore snc, Cortona (Arezzo). Open from March to November.