Book the Il Falconiere with VIP Benefits

Il Falconiere is a five-star country relais and spa outside Cortona, set in the Tuscan countryside among vineyards, olive groves and views toward the Val di Chiana. It feels intimate, personal and deeply connected to the Baracchi family estate rather than shaped like a conventional large resort.

This is not a large resort and not a city hotel. It is a family-run wine-country retreat shaped by the Baracchi family, with a Michelin-starred restaurant, a small spa, outdoor pool, gardens and a strong sense of place. Its appeal is Tuscan calm, food, wine and Cortona rather than grand hotel scale.

Location & Arrival

Il Falconiere sits at San Martino a Bocena, just outside the hill town of Cortona in eastern Tuscany. The setting is rural but not isolated. Cortona's historic center is a short drive away, and Lake Trasimeno, Val d'Orcia, Montepulciano, Pienza and Arezzo can all fit into a wider itinerary.

Guests usually arrive by car or private transfer. This is not the kind of hotel where public transport is the easiest answer. A car gives the stay more freedom, especially for wine roads, hill towns, long lunches and countryside drives.

The location works best for travelers who want Tuscany at a slower pace. It is less suited to guests trying to tick off Florence, Siena and every famous town in a rush. Cortona and the surrounding countryside deserve time.

Rooms & Suites

The hotel is arranged across historic buildings rather than one large block. Rooms and suites are individually styled, with antique pieces, wrought iron beds, fabrics, stone, fresco details and views of vineyards, olive groves or countryside.

That means category choice matters. Some rooms feel more rustic and close to the original villa spirit. Others offer more space, softer finishes or stronger views. Guests should choose by size, outlook, stairs and proximity to the main house rather than by category name alone.

The style is traditional Tuscan rather than sleek contemporary. Travelers who want sharp design minimalism may prefer another address. Those who like patina, family history and rooms that feel connected to the landscape should understand the charm quickly.

Couples are the natural audience, but the relais can also work for food-focused friends, small celebrations and travelers building a Tuscany road trip around wine and restaurants.

Dining & Wine

The restaurant is the heart of Il Falconiere. It holds one Michelin star and is led by Silvia Baracchi, whose cooking is rooted in Tuscan ingredients, local producers and the rhythms of the surrounding land. The restaurant sits in the old lemon house, with an elegant dining room and panoramic terrace.

This is not hotel dining as an afterthought. Many guests come because of the restaurant, then build the stay around it. Dinner here can be the center of the day, especially when paired with Baracchi wines and a quiet evening on the property.

Il Corbezzolo Bar, terraces and garden corners add lighter moments, from aperitif to informal snacks or warm-weather meals. The nearby Locanda del Molino, connected to the Baracchi world, gives guests another simple Tuscan option within driving distance.

The wine element matters. The estate includes vineyards and olive groves, and the hotel works best for travelers who want to taste, learn and linger rather than only sleep between day trips.

Spa, Pool & Countryside Rhythm

Thesan Etruscan Spa gives the relais a wellness layer, with treatments, sauna, steam, showers and a quiet setting for recovery. It is intimate rather than vast, in keeping with the size of the property.

The outdoor pool is one of the simple pleasures of the hotel. It gives summer stays an easy rhythm: breakfast, Cortona or a wine drive, pool time, aperitif, dinner. This rhythm is more important than a long list of facilities.

The gardens, terraces and countryside views are part of the experience. Guests should bring the right expectations. Il Falconiere is about softness, food, wine and place. It is not about beach-club energy or large resort programming.

Service & Atmosphere

Service is personal and family-led. Silvia and Benedetto Baracchi are central to the property's identity, and the hotel feels rooted in their home, land and culinary vision. This gives it warmth that can be hard to reproduce in larger hotels.

The atmosphere is romantic, quiet and very Tuscan. Days move around food, wine, pool, spa and short drives. The hotel is at its best when guests slow down enough to notice the light, the views and the way dinner becomes the main event.

Travelers who want nightlife, shopping at the door or a dense urban scene should choose elsewhere. Il Falconiere is for guests who want a countryside base with refinement and a clear culinary reason to stay.

How It Compares

Borgo Santo Pietro is larger, more elaborate and more destination-resort in feel, with a broader spa, gardens and high-end countryside theatre. Il Falconiere is smaller, more personal and more directly tied to Cortona and the Baracchi family.

Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco is grander, with a major estate, golf, villas and a stronger Val d'Orcia position. Il Falconiere is more intimate and easier for guests focused on Cortona, eastern Tuscany and a Michelin-led stay.

Castello di Reschio in nearby Umbria is more design-led and dramatic, with a highly curated estate mood. COMO Castello del Nero is more wellness-resort oriented between Florence and Siena. Monteverdi Tuscany is stronger for village atmosphere and Val d'Orcia views.

Il Falconiere is the right choice when food, wine, family ownership and a smaller Cortona countryside setting matter more than estate scale or design spectacle.

Who Should Book

Book Il Falconiere if you want a romantic Tuscan relais near Cortona with individually styled rooms, vineyards, olive groves, Thesan Etruscan Spa, outdoor pool and a one-Michelin-star restaurant by Silvia Baracchi. It is especially good for couples, food and wine travelers, Tuscany road trips and guests who prefer a small country retreat over a large resort.

Think twice if you want a city hotel, a vast spa estate, heavy resort programming or modern minimalist rooms. Il Falconiere is intimate, culinary and rooted in place. For the right guest, that is exactly the point.