Overview

San Donato is a beautifully restored 17th century estate just outside the walls of Cortona, Tuscany. The property dates back to 600 AD and was built on over the centuries. There are three buildings, the Villa, Farmhouse and Limonaia all lovingly restored in 2006 after it was used as the set for the famous film “Under the Tuscan Sun” in 2003.

Fluffy bathrobes, slippers and the finest Egyptian cotton linens, together with fabulous Italian products for each bathroom. There is a housekeeper every morning to tidy, make beds and ensure you have all you need for the perfect, relaxing stay.

A welcome hamper greets you on arrival with local specialties and a few treats to settle you in. You’ll find iPod docking stations, a games room with full size pool table and selection of board games, large open fires, cozy sofas and beautiful terraces. A large hammock lies under the fruit trees, perfect for an afternoon siesta! Our organic vegetable garden is available for guest use throughout the year as are our home made products, jams, pasta, sauces, and oils. The wine cellar is stocked and Jacuzzi up to temperature, all you have to do is relax and enjoy!

One of the most important parts of visiting Tuscany is the food… It‘s the heart and soul of Italian life and plays a huge part of your holiday at San Donato.

Cortona provides a wealth of lovely restaurants, from Michelin stars to traditional Tuscan family run trattorias either in the town or hidden in the surrounding countryside. However, if after a long day exploring you just want to relax at the Villa for the evening we have chef’s on hand to cater for your every need. In summer, meals can be served under the vines in the garden or in winter by a crackling fire in the dining room.

If you’d like to help prepare meals for your guests together with the chef, cooking lessons can also be arranged using fresh vegetables from our own organic vegetable garden and other local specialties.

We can prepare all meals, a pizza evening using our original stone pizza oven or simply an aperitivo to enjoy early evening by the pool. Continental breakfasts of fresh fruit, home made jams, warm pastries, freshly squeezed fruit juice, and locally made yogurts. Light lunches or full Italian feasts. Catering is entirely flexible, you can have as much or as little as you want. Whatever helps you to totally relax.

Property Details

There are three main buildings on the estate, sleeping a total of 20 people (plus infants sharing rooms) in 10 en-suite bedrooms. The Villa, The Farmhouse and the Limonaia. Originally the Farmhouse was used as housing for the animals and farm workers, the Limonaia was built to keep the citrus plants over winter and the Villa was for the family. Today, all three buildings have been restored into luxury accommodation. Every room has a beautiful view over the gardens up to Cortona or over the olive groves and across the valley. All are fitted with air conditioning, hair dryers, a selection of luxurious natural Italian products, fully bathrobes, slippers and sheets of the highest quality Egyptian cotton.

The Villa
The Villa is suited to accommodate ten guests in five bedrooms. There are four rooms on the first floor which are the largest, each one approximately 25 square meters, three with bath and shower and one with just a shower. There is a further bedroom on the ground floor which is slightly smaller at 15 square meters with a bath and a shower. These rooms all have beautiful views, either out over the garden up to Cortona or over the valley. Each room is individually designed featuring antique furniture, hand woven Busatti fabrics, beautiful travertine stone for the bathrooms and the highest quality bed linen. The ground floor bedroom has a queen size bed, upstairs there are two kings and a queen.

The Farmhouse
The Farmhouse is suited to accommodate eight guests in four bedrooms. Three of the rooms are approximately 15 square meters and one slightly larger at approximately 25 square meters. There is one room that can be made into a twin, two with queen size beds and one with a king size. All have their own en-suite bathrooms, two with a bath and a shower and two with just a shower. These rooms all have beautiful views over the garden. As in the Villa, each room is individually designed featuring antique furniture, hand woven Busatti fabrics, beautiful travertine stone for the bathrooms and the highest quality bed linen.

The Limonaia
The Limonaia is a double suite with an en-site shower room, living area with double sofa bed and a private terrace with beautiful views out over the valley. This room as been carefully designed using colors from the original 17th Century fresco which covers the dome ceiling of the living room. Soft pinks, turquoise, and creams make this a very relaxing special place to stay. With it’s own private terrace you have complete privacy from the rest of the garden.