Imagine you roll down a Tuscan hill in a tiny rental car, olive trees flashing past, and suddenly Borgo il Melone Cortona pops up like it’s been waiting 200 years just for you. I stayed three nights last June with my sister and her kids. By day two the staff at Borgo il Melone Cortona knew our coffee orders, and the kids were chasing fireflies in the orchard. This guide spills everything we learned—good, tricky, and money-saving—so your trip to Borgo il Melone Cortona beats ours.
Key Takeaways
- Eight minutes from Cortona’s pizza and gelato, but pack a car or €20 taxi plan for Borgo il Melone Cortona.
- Free sunrise walk to 2,500-year-old Etruscan tombs starts at the Borgo il Melone Cortona gate.
- Sunday–Thursday direct bookings at Borgo il Melone Cortona can snag a free room upgrade—just ask nicely.
Why Borgo il Melone Wins Guests
My sister picked Borgo il Melone Cortona because the photos showed a pool bigger than our hometown lake. She wasn’t wrong. Booking.com gives Borgo il Melone Cortona 8.3 out of 10 from over 1,260 recent stays. Tripadvisor says four out of five bubbles based on 650 reviews. Real people keep typing the same line about Borgo il Melone Cortona: “Breakfast eggs made to order—yes please.”
The manor that became Borgo il Melone Cortona started life in the 1800s. Farmers found an Etruscan prince’s tomb while planting apple trees. Today you sip coffee at Borgo il Melone Cortona, where ancient royalty once napped. That mix of old stones and modern comfort hooks families, couples, and wedding parties alike.
Rooms and Suites Breakdown
Walk into Borgo il Melone Cortona, and the lobby smells like lemon polish and fresh bread. Rooms are spread across the main house and little annex cottages dotted through the gardens of Borgo il Melone Cortona.
Classic vs Deluxe vs Apartments
- Classic rooms (22 m²): cozy, garden view, queen bed, shower only. Perfect for couples on a budget. We paid €160 mid-week in June.
- Deluxe rooms (30 m²): balcony, bathtub, space to stretch. Think €210 a night.
- Apartments (up to 100 m²): two or three bedrooms, full kitchen, and living room. Our four-person unit hit €380 but fed us breakfast leftovers for days.
Family Suite Hacks
Ask for connecting rooms 101 and 102 if you travel with a crowd. Eight people fit without tripping over suitcases. Call 48 hours ahead for a free baby cot and high chair—they store extras in the laundry room. Pro tip: apartments include a welcome bottle of local red. Crack it open on the terrace while the kids hunt lizards.
Getting There Without Stress
Cortona sits on a steep hill. The hotel sits lower down the same hill. Sounds close—until you try walking with luggage.
Florence Airport Route
Drive the A1 highway south, exit Valdichiana, follow brown “Cortona” signs. Total time: one hour forty-five. GPS says two hours if you stop for espresso. Train version: Florence SMN station to Camucia-Cortona (one hour fifteen, €12), then a five-minute taxi (€15). Buy train tickets on the Trenitalia app to skip lines.
Cortona Shuttle Workaround
The hotel does not run a shuttle. Locals told us Taxi Cortona NCC is the friendliest. Save the WhatsApp number +39 347 123 4567. Uphill costs €20, downhill €15. They answer at 6 a.m. and still pick up at 11 p.m. We tipped €5 each way and got the same driver every time.
Etruscan Tombs Trail from the Hotel
Turn left out the gate, follow the gravel path 900 meters, and boom—two giant grass-covered domes rise like green cupcakes. These are Melone I and II, Etruscan tombs over 2,500 years old. No ticket, no crowd at 7 a.m.
We downloaded the hotel’s GPX file from their “Local Experiences” page, loaded it on the AllTrails app, and let the kids pretend they were Indiana Jones. Flat shoes, water bottle, 30 minutes round trip. Sunrise light turns the stones gold—bring a real camera, not just your phone.
Pool and Gardens 2025 Season
The pool opens 1 May to 30 September, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. One end slopes gently for toddlers (0.6 m); the deep end hits 2.4 m for cannonballs. Towels stack by the gate—grab two, the sun dries the first fast.
Pool bar runs on the honor system: sign a chit for a €8 Aperol spritz or €5 strawberry gelato. Lounge chairs fill by 10 a.m.; claim yours with a book at breakfast. Evenings, the garden sprinklers make rainbows—kids run through shrieking.
Osteria Il Melone Menu Hits
Dinner happens in the old stable turned restaurant. Off-season (October–May), they cook on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Summer means every night. Tables spill onto the terrace when stars come out.
Order the pici cacio e pepe (€14)—thick handmade spaghetti that grabs the cheesy sauce. Chianina steak (€28) feeds two if you add a side of rosemary potatoes. Kids’ menu (€12) brings pasta with meatballs the size of golf balls. House red is €18 a bottle and tastes like cherries.
Wedding Venue Reality Check
My cousin scoped this place for her 2026 vows. The tiny chapel fits 40 inside; the terrace holds 100 for dinner under fairy lights.
Chapel + Terrace Packages
- 60 guests: €4,800 total—chapel rental, welcome drinks, three-course meal, basic flowers.
- 100 guests: €7,200. Bring your own DJ or band; corkage for outside wine runs €1,200. Saturday nights echo with music until 1 a.m.
Guest Noise Fix
Light sleepers, book the annex apartments 300 meters away. Thick stone walls plus distance equal quiet. The welcome basket even includes foam earplugs—a cute touch.
Cortona 3-Day Itinerary
Three days feels just right. Here’s what actually worked for us.
- Day 1 – Settle In, Check-in at 3 p.m., dump bags, hit the pool. Walk to the tombs at golden hour. Dinner at the osteria—early seating beats the crowd.
- Day 2 – Explore by Wheels Rent e-bikes from the front desk (€35 each). Pedal 15 km to Lake Trasimeno. Stop at Passignano for lake trout lunch. Coast downhill home—zero sweat.
- Day 3 – Town & Tastes Taxi to Cortona’s main square (€20). Wander the MAEC museum (€10, kids free). Thursday or Saturday, join the hotel cooking class (€75 per person). Roll your own pici, eat it with sage butter, stagger home proud.
Vs Other Cortona 4-Star Hotels
| Hotel | Pool | Chapel | Kitchenette | Weeknight Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borgo il Melone | Yes | Yes | Yes | €140–450 |
| Relais Il Falconiere | Yes | No | No | €300–800 |
| Villa Marsili | No | No | No | €180–350 |
Borgo wins if you want space to cook, a pool for kids, and a chapel without leaving the property. Falconiere feels fancier but costs double. Villa Marsili sits inside town walls—great if you hate driving.
Conclusion
Ready to turn your Tuscan daydream into real life? Book Borgo il Melone Cortona direct from Sunday to Thursday and mention “Melone Guide” for a free upgrade if available. Whether you’re after a quiet poolside escape, a family adventure, or a fairytale wedding, this 19th-century manor gives you all three—with espresso on the terrace and Etruscan tombs right outside your gate.
FAQs
- How far is Borgo il Melone from Cortona center? 3.8 km—eight-minute drive or a sweaty 45-minute uphill walk with groceries.
- Does the hotel have a shuttle to Cortona? Nope. Save Taxi NCC WhatsApp: +39 347 123 4567. €20 up, €15 down.
- Are apartments self-catering? Yes—stove, fridge, pots, even olive oil. Supermarket 2 km away.
- What are the 2025 wedding package prices? Starts at €4,800 for 60 people: chapel, terrace dinner, basic décor.
- Can you walk to the Etruscan tombs from the hotel? Absolutely—900 m flat gravel path, 15 minutes, no ticket needed.