My very first review on Trip Advisor goes to the extraordinary Relias La Corte dei Papi. Some travel stories are worth repeating: We booked the Relais the day before we showed up on a travel site I had never heard of as it didn't show availability on any other site and we were hoping to stay there on one of our nights in Tuscany. Turns out that site didn't realize the hotel was closed for rennovations as the hotel is expanding (adding another 8 rooms) and took the reservation. Not knowing that, we showed up in our car late after driving all day and the owner David was there in a suit waiting to open the hotel just for us on our honeymoon (which he didn't know about). We showed up late so no telling how long he was waiting since he had no idea when were going to show. The kindness didn't stop there... he opened up the restaurant as well, just for us. I travel a lot all over and I've never seen a hotel go more out of their way to accomodate guests. And boy were we lucky, it is a beautiful property and the restaurant has great ambiance and food. This is the kind of hotel that makes a great break during a busy week traveling in Tuscany. My wife and I were recently married in Hawaii but this place made us wish we had considered Tuscany. Working with David would have been a dream in comparison to the wedding machine in Maui.

The room was large for a hotel anywhere in the world (we had a suite) with modern amenities, comfortable (though it still had Eurpoean firm beds like just about everywhere in Tuscany), the food met the very high Tuscan standard and the service was the best we experienced in Italy and we stayed in some wonderful 5 star Trip Advisor hotels throughout Tuscany on our 10 day trip. We can't wait to go back to the Relais which is normally the litmust test for a place worth booking. The hotel is about a 5 minute drive from Cortona which is neat town to watch the sunset from or enjoy morning coffee above in as it resides on a hill above the early morning fog. Don't miss the Etruscan museum in town.. artifacts going back to the 7th century BC.. we were museumed out but that was worth seeing.

Can't recommend this place highly enough. Thank you David for a wonderful experience.

My fiancee and business partner and wife visited David and Gabriella (mom) in late September 2012 and found his facility to be warm and inviting. David And his staff were gracious hosts and and took attention to detail in every way. I would recommend his hotel to the first time and repeat traveller to this region. I have read the other reviews and they reflect my experience....oh and the dining....magnifico!!!! Good luck David!

My husband and I spent three beautiful days at La Corte dei Papi. Everything written by other travelers about this hotel is true. The grounds are beautiful and meticulously maintained, the rooms are spacious, clean and inviting, and the owner, David, is the most charming and gracious host. He really will go out of his way to make sure you feel at home. On very short notice, David was able to arrange a private tour of local wineries for us. Marianna, a very astute and friendly guide, gave us a wonderful tour. It was one of the highlights of our trip in Italy. I will also mention that this hotel home to one of the best restaurants in Tuscany. We had three meals and each one was a gastronomic feast. La Corte dei Papi also has cooking classes, which I as unaware of, but intend to take advantage of the next time I am in Cortona. If you are browsing and trying to find a hotel in Tuscany, look no further. La Corte dei Papi is a hidden gem.

Our host, David, provided the most sincere and gracious welcome to Tuscany and to his family-owned and operated hotel. The three nights that my wife and I spent at La Corte dei Papi to begin a 9-day vacation in Italy, could not have been better. The property was located conveniently for all of our Tuscany excursions including Cortona, Montepulciano, Siena, Avignonesi winery, and San Gimigiano. At the end of each day, no matter how late we returned, David was there to welcome us back and wish us a buonanotte. The grounds were beautiful and well-maintained especially the gardens. The dining spaces were flexible to accommodate indoor and outdoor eating and there was always the feeling of privacy with a romantic ambience. We highly recommend a stay with David for at least 2 nights during any planned Tuscany holiday.