Casa San Francesco

This beautiful home was purchased by Ivan our culinary manager, 25 years ago, who restored it himself along with local Cortona artisans and tradesmen.

Ivan is a special type of property owner: the first thing guests will notice about him is his shining, generous aura. Beyond his marvelous, hands-on cooking workshops, Ivan goes above and beyond for guests who stay in his home, often showing up at the door to give them fresh homemade delicacies straight from his mother's farm. Always with a radiant smile, Ivan gets to know his guests personally and talks about the town. The genuine connections he forms give guests an authentic, human experience in Cortona.

Upon entering the home from the street, you’ll find the living room equipped with a cozy functional fireplace, as well as a full bathroom and laundry facilities. A set of stairs leads to the second floor with a fully equipped kitchen and large dining area, as well as the first queen bedroom. The last set of stairs leads to the third floor, with the second queen bedroom, a bedroom with two twin beds, and a full bathroom.

Ivan is also an incredible chef, and once you book a stay at Casa San Francesco, we highly recommend you partake in his in-home cooking classes – it is some of the best Tuscan food you will ever eat!

You will love your stay at Casa San Francesco and having Ivan as your host. The two combined will ensure you a memorable experience in Cortona.

Property Type: Large, historic apartment

Bedrooms: 3 (two with queen-size beds, 1 with twin beds)

Bathrooms: 2 full bathrooms

Capacity: 6 guests

Décor: Beautiful rustic Tuscan furniture and tastefully selected home accessories

Amenities: Wi-Fi, fireplace, full kitchen, television, washing machine, hairdryer, heating and air conditioning. *Heating and air conditioning incur an extra fee based on usage, to be paid at the end of the stay.

Location: Upper Cortona, a 5 to 10-minute walk up the hill from the center of town. *Please note: Cortona is an ancient, walled hill town with many stairs, steep streets, and limited driving/parking with no elevators or handicap accommodations.

Stairs: Casa San Francesco is spread out over three floors in the home.

Please be advised of this if you have mobility limitations of any sort.

What your trip includes:

Seven-night stay in the historic center of Cortona
Personalized planning assistance & local Cortona concierge service who assist our guests in planning additional tours, experiences, and other aspects of their stay
Exclusive access to Stacey and Rob’s Insider Tips to Cortona

About our Insider Tips: Having lived in Cortona for over 20 years, Sojourn Ventures founders Stacey and Rob have created their highly acclaimed Insider Tips, an exclusive guide for our guests that provides tips about our favorite shops, restaurants, cafes, and other activities to experience in Cortona. Using this guide can give you a more personalized experience that goes above the standard tourist level, especially when you mention that you are “Friends of Stacey and Rob.”

Download PDF

Download Photo Set

Additional Details:

Welcome packets will be emailed to winners upon notification of their purchase.
Reservations are based on availability. Stays are Thursday-Thursday only.
Package is valid for 2 years from the date of purchase.
Airfare and ground transportation are not included.
All sales are final. There are no cash refunds. Packages cannot be resold to a third party.
Photos provided are actual images of the private homes pictured. In the rare event that a home is no longer available due to circumstances beyond our control, force majeure, property damage, and/or change of ownership, Sojourn Ventures reserves the right to provide a private home and experience of equal value and quality.
CANCELLATION POLICY: Cancellation prior to arrival may be subject to forfeiture of reservations and funds.

What our Guests are Saying

“We had such a wonderful time at the Casa San Francesca! We loved the house - it had so much personality and connection with culture. Very comfortable and had everything we needed. We arranged for the cooking class with Ivan and Fillipo and that was really special - we all learned new techniques and so enjoyed the conversations and experience. Sojourn went way out of their way to accommodate the many twists and turns for us to make this trip happen and we're truly grateful. We can't wait to go back!”
-Lynne G.
“The team at Sojourn was great - they immediately answered my questions and helped us be proactive as we put together a plan and started our travel. The Cortona guide is amazing and it’s the truth! You need to book the restaurants and those train doors really do close after 60 seconds!
Several things stand out about this trip:
Ivan’s cooking class was an experience my family wouldn’t have agreed to if it was in our hometown. We all loved it so much, and he is one of the nicest most gracious people ever.
The shops, bars and restaurants - while it took a minute to get used to the times the shops were open and closed, we had a fabulous time making our way around and sampling a little bit of most everything. Even being there almost a week, we didn’t make it to every place! It’s bigger than it seems!
Francisco’s winery tour was another highlight. We learned so much in a half day and are grateful for that opportunity. The only feedback I have there is that guests need some idea of what’s happening. We didn’t know if we were inside or outside, how far we were going, etc. It was freezing cold and raining that day, and we left one of our family members behind to study. It made me unnecessarily anxious. I will add that although we didn’t have to buy the wine, there seemed to be an expectation that we would. When we decided on a case, we were encouraged to buy more. While the prices and wine are outstanding, shipping charges make it not such a great deal.
The house was lovely - truly authentic. That view was stunning and our (adult) children took a million instagrammable photos just from the kitchen! The house was stocked with everything we needed which was wonderful for preparing meals.
And finally, those walking trails! Wow! We spent as much time as possible outside and our walks were absolutely incredible and memorable. We will never forget this trip and we are so pleased that it was there, in Cortona, a place we never knew existed several years before.
Thank you again for the opportunity to provide feedback. We will happily share our experiences with anyone who asks. Happy holidays to you and everyone there at Sojourn!”
-Amy. J