Villa Il Falconiere

Il Falconiere stands on the ridge above Cortona with views stretching to Lake Trasimeno and the Umbrian hills beyond. The estate produces 3,000 bottles of Syrah annually and presses olive oil from 200 trees on the south-facing slope. Twelve bedrooms are split between the main villa and three restored stone cottages, each with independent access and private garden. The owner's collection of contemporary Italian sculpture is installed throughout the grounds. The estate's wine production is not a vanity project. The Syrah vines were planted in the 1990s on advice from a Rhone Valley viticulturist who identified the south-facing ridge as having the right combination of elevation, drainage, and sun exposure. The 3,000 annual bottles are produced in a stone cantina beneath the main house, and guests can arrange private tastings and vineyard walks with the estate manager. During harvest season (typically late September), guests are welcome to participate in the grape picking. The olive grove is equally productive. Two hundred trees of the Moraiolo and Frantoio varieties are pressed each November at the estate's own frantoio. Guests staying during the autumn months can witness the pressing and take bottles home. The oil is green, peppery, and distinctly Tuscan - used liberally by the estate chef on everything from bruschetta to grilled fish. Twelve bedrooms across four buildings provide flexibility for groups of almost any size and configuration. The main villa holds six bedrooms, including a master suite with a frescoed ceiling that dates to the 15th century. The three stone cottages are fully self-contained, each with two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a private garden. This arrangement makes Il Falconiere exceptional for multi-generational family gatherings, wedding parties, or corporate retreats. The sculpture collection is curated in partnership with a Florentine gallery. Pieces are rotated annually, meaning the grounds look different with each visit. Current installations include bronze works by contemporary Italian sculptors positioned among the olive trees and along the cypress-lined drive. A printed guide to the collection is available at the house. Cortona is a 10-minute drive down the ridge. The medieval town is one of Tuscany's most characterful, with steep stone streets, excellent restaurants, and a cultural calendar that includes a furniture fair in August and an antiques market on the first Sunday of each month. Lake Trasimeno, visible from the estate, is 20 minutes' drive and offers sailing, swimming, and lakeside restaurants. The thermal baths at Terme di Montepulciano are 40 minutes south.