Lovely little character cottage in Cortona, perfect for us, mother and daughter. I think the living area is a bit small for a larger party although there are two very nicely appointed double bedrooms. The town is quaint and unspoilt. August is not the ideal time to go though as the town gets very busy so it can become difficult parking or trying to book a restaurant. For two people outside of August though, I would definitely recommend. There are plenty of lovely Tuscan towns, villages and cities to visit within easy driving distance.

We loved LOVED our stay at Ester and Giovanni’s place. The location is amazing, on a mid evil street, along an Etruscan wall, with amazing views out the back. Wonderful suggestions for day trips and restaurants. It’s a three level home, living room/bedroom and bath on 1st with entrance, kitchen and small living area on 2nd with entrance, and bedroom and bath on 3rd. Great for two couples traveling together who might want some privacy, or families. Make sure your kids are safe around stairs before you book, though. The home had everything we needed and Ester and Giovanni made sure we had all of the basics in the fridge, fresh fruit and the most amazing olive oil form their own trees.

Perfect location inside the old town wall. Ester and Giovanni were so welcoming and went the extra mile - even when we were late arriving - nothing was too much trouble. The recommendations to their favourite local restaurants and best things to see were really appreciated. The house was really clean and accurate as per the photos. We felt supported the whole time we were in Cortona and can thoroughly recommend this charming house to anyone wanting an authentic Tuscan experience

Wonderful centuries old stone house set on top of the Cortona city wall. The house is done up to picture perfection and Ester is the best hostess we have encountered on our travels. Bedroom and bathroom upstairs and bedroom and bathroom downstairs with living quarters on the main floor. The view from the back patio/wall is nothing short of spectacular. Thank you Ester for all the goodies and for making us feel so welcome. Yours was our favorite stop on our Italy tour.

My husband and I spent nine days in Alle Pietre in late October. The house is just as charming as pictured on the web site with antique furnishings and modern amenities. Ester and her husband met us at the house and provided fresh fruit, coffee, milk, and bread for breakfast. We enjoyed exploring the picturesque streets of Cortona and hiking to Le Celle and the Cirifalco fortress. The Etruscan museum and Diocesan museum are also very interesting. We had some cool and windy weather but were perfectly comfortable in our cozy little place. We even enjoyed a fire in the fireplace several nights-firewood was provided and we picked up pine cones on our hikes for kindling. We hope to return some day soon!

The house met all our expectations - it is 2 minutes from the centre of Cortona but in a very quiet street and has the added bonus of outside seating with wonderful views. It is well equipped and comfortable- Ester and Giovanni could not have been more helpful despite our delayed arrival so the welcome pack was very much appreciated. We would definitely recommend to friends and family .

We stayed for one week in Ester's beautiful house in Cortona and cannot say enough about how enchanting, comfortable, quaint, friendly, and delightful our stay was. I traveled with my 12 year old son on a "mommy-son" holiday to Italy and this week was the highlight of a 2 week adventure. Alle Pietre - as other reviewers note - is a beautiful home ideally situated on a quiet street by the wall of Cortona's main historic center. It is well suited for 2 couples with a master bedroom on the top floor and another sleeping room on the bottom floor, with a living room/kitchen floor in between. For 2 people, it is also perfect. The master is charming, a very comfortable king bed, lovely bathroom. Views are wonderful out the back over the valley. A close walk to the main part of Cortona and perfectly peaceful in the night no matter what activities are happening in Piazza Signorelli (we were there during the medieval tournament). All in all, we cannot recommend this lovely jewel of a holiday rental enough....and we are planning to return for a longer stay in the next summer or two! Ester was wonderful to work with in every way. This is a real gem.

Cortona is a lovely and picturesque town perched up on a hill. The Tuscan way, as it were. Alle Pietre is a gem of a house on three levels which could easily accomodate two couples. The house is as cozy as it is old, but perfectly well kept. Although at the edge of the town, you only need five minutes to get to the centre by foot. History is everywhere around, starting with the Museum of Etruscan Art (don't take photos of the "lampadario") and ending with the Cirifalco Fortress which gives you unique views of Lake Trasimeno and the border between Umbria and Tuscany. There is a wide choice of bars and restaurants in Cortona, out of which our favourite was Il Tempero. If you're lucky you can also witness one or two local festivals in the evening, especially over weekends. If the house is wonderful, so are the owners. Ester and Giovanni are warm and considerate hosts, ready to meet every requirement with a smile and to make useful suggestions. We were privileged to have met them and to have lived in their house for a heavenly week. If you have a car, you can visit a variety of towns and cities: Siena and Arezzo, Firenze and Montepulciano, Orvieto and Assisi, Spello and Gubbio. Should you feel the need for a really nice surprise, give a chance to small but fantastic Pienza. Many have called it "la citta ideale del Rinascimento" and you will see why. Many thanks, Esther and Giovanni, and expect us back some time. Irina and Radu, Bucharest, Romania

Ester and her husband Giovanni welcomed us to their fabulous property in Cortona and gave us a brief tour of the house and its amenities. A lovely fruit bowl was left for us to enjoy. Fabulous location close to the centre, but in a quiet street. We especially enjoyed our lunches at the little table and chairs provided which are right against the old wall, which overlooks the valley below. Easy to visit surrounding countryside with our hire car, but mostly we preferred to relax and enjoy Cortona. The house is beautifully and thoughtfully furnished, and is very comfortable. We stayed for a week and hope to return some day soon !

Alle Pietre would without doubt, be the best holiday home we have stayed in over the past ten years. From the very beginning, the communication from Ester, the owner, was excellent and the welcome from both Ester and her husband Giovanni was wonderful - like meeting old friends, they were warm and genuinely wanted us to have a fabulous time - we did! The house is in the most perfect position by the wall looking into the valley below - watching the sunset from this spot was absolutely breath taking. The house has been recently renovated from top to bottom and to a very high standard, it is furnished with exquisite antique style furniture. The kitchen is exceptionally well equipped and bed linen and towels of a very high standard. Everything worked and Ester was just a txt message away if help was required. We absolutely loved our two weeks at Alle Pietre and are hoping to return next year. Thank you Ester and Giovanni for everything.