Antica Quercia Verde: Agriturismo in the Cortona Nature Reserve

A small-scale agriturismo in Tuscany where you can truly experience rural life—with your own cottage, a view of Cortona, and olive trees stretching to the horizon.

Why Antica Quercia Verde Is So Special

Antica Quercia Verde, just outside the medieval town of Cortona, is one of those places where you arrive and immediately feel: I want to stay here.

The agriturismo is situated on a green hill, in the heart of a protected Nature reserve. All around you’ll see olive trees, vineyards, and forests, and in the distance, the silhouette of Cortona with its Etruscan walls and stately Renaissance churches. Here you’ll have your own private cottage in Tuscany, but with the warmth and attention of the owner, Josiane, who lives in the main house.

Antica Quercia Verde is perfect if you:

• Looking for an authentic agriturismo in Tuscany
• enjoys running and walking (Cortona is within walking distance)
• want to sleep among the olive trees instead of along a busy road
• I want to combine Tuscany and Umbria into one trip

Location: surrounded by nature, within walking distance of Cortona

The three cottages at Antica Quercia Verde are situated on a hill, about a 20-minute walk from the center of Cortona. The walk there is an experience in itself: you’ll pass through a historic landscape filled with olive trees, cypresses, and ancient paths that have been in use for centuries.

The agriturismo is located right on the Via di Francesco, the pilgrimage route that St. Francis followed from Tuscany to Umbria. This makes Antica Quercia Verde especially appealing to hikers and pilgrims who want to walk part of the route, but also to anyone who simply enjoys peace and quiet, nature, and scenic views.

In addition, the estate is located:

• Halfway along the Le Celle Monastery (about a 20-minute walk), a serene, quiet place founded by St. Francis
• And the Etruscan tombs at Il Sodo (about a 15-minute walk). Part of the MAEC museum route

It is an ideal base for:

• nature lovers
• hikers
• trail runners and mountain bikers

Staying in Your Own Little Tuscan Cottage

Antica Quercia Verde offers 3 stylishly renovated Tuscan cottages, all with plenty of privacy and views of the natural surroundings. The thick stone walls keep the interior pleasantly cool, so air conditioning isn’t necessary—which is both comfortable and sustainable.

All homes have:

• comfortable beds
• a flat-screen TV
• a private outdoor space or patio
• access to the pool with a panoramic view of the valley and Cortona

Il Gonfianuvole (4 people)

Il Gonfianuvole is the largest cottage and is ideal for a family or two couples.

• Suitable for 4 people
• Fully equipped kitchen
• Bedroom with a double bed
• Second bedroom with two single beds
• Bathroom
• Beautiful view of Cortona and the valley

Here, you can enjoy breakfast on your terrace as the sun slowly rises over the hills, and in the evening, you can gaze out at the illuminated city walls of Cortona.

Il Risveglio, cozy cottage (2 people, possibly with a child)

Il Risveglio is a lovely, cozy cottage for two people, located near the pool.

• Suitable for 2 people
• Option for a third bed for a child
• Fully equipped kitchen with dining area
• Bathroom
• Private outdoor space with a stone barbecue

This is a great place if you enjoy cooking, love the outdoors, and spend most of your days by the pool, out and about, or on the hiking trails around the agriturismo.

La Fonte, small but charming, close to the pool

La Fonte is the smallest cottage and perfect if there are just the two of you and you don’t want to cook elaborate meals.

• Suitable for 2 people
• Double bed
• Compact “kitchen cabinet” with a 2-burner stove
• Bathroom
• A lovely patio right next to the pool

La Fonte is ideal if you spend most of your time outdoors: hiking or exploring small towns during the day, taking a dip in the pool in the afternoon, and enjoying a glass of wine on your own terrace in the evening.

Authentic agriturismo: olive oil, saffron, and homegrown vegetables

Antica Quercia Verde is a true agriturismo: it’s not just any rural lodging, but a working farm.

You’ll be staying in the heart of an olive grove that produces a multi-award-winning organic extra virgin olive oil, often described as one of the best in the world.

• In October, guests can join in on the olive harvest
• You can watch the olive pressing at the local frantoio (olive oil mill)
• You literally taste the oil at the source, straight from the land

In addition, the estate features:

• a saffron field
• our own vegetables and fruit trees
• eggs from our own chickens

As a guest, you’re welcome to use it (by arrangement). It doesn’t get any fresher or more local than this. And it’s a wonderful way to truly experience Tuscan country life.

A Taste of Tuscany: Cooking Workshop, Pizza Night, and Dining on Your Patio

If you’d like to learn more about Tuscan cuisine, you’ve come to the right place. Upon request, Josiane organizes:

• cooking workshops, where you’ll learn to cook with local ingredients from the estate
• A fun pizza night, if there’s enough interest

Beyond that, it’s pure enjoyment—simple yet delicious dinners on your own terrace overlooking Cortona, surrounded by olive trees and with only the sounds of nature. A glass of local wine, a plate of pasta or grilled vegetables from the barbecue, and the sun setting behind the hills—this is the Tuscany that many travelers dream of.

Cortona is within walking distance

From Antica Quercia Verde, it’s about a 20-minute walk to Cortona, one of the most picturesque hilltop towns in Tuscany.

Cortona is known for:

• his Etruscan roots
• medieval streets full of stairways and small squares
• Renaissance churches and historic buildings
• a vibrant art and food scene

Over the centuries, artists, writers, and saints have found inspiration here while wandering through the countryside. In the summer, it can get a bit busier with tourists, but early in the morning and at the end of the day, that peaceful, timeless atmosphere still lingers.

The perfect base for exploring both Tuscany and Umbria

Antica Quercia Verde is located near the border between Tuscany and Umbria. This makes it very easy to combine two regions in a single vacation.

Within about a half-hour drive, you can reach places such as:

• Montepulciano: known for its Vino Nobile and panoramic views
• Pienza: a Renaissance town with picturesque streets and pecorino cheese
• Arezzo: historic center, antique market, and the Giostra del Saracino
• Lake Trasimeno: a large lake in Umbria, a beautiful nature reserve in and around the lake

By train (about an hour) from the local station, you can reach:

• Florence: for art, culture, and museums
• Perugia: a charming university town
• Assisi: the city of St. Francis, full of spiritual and historical sites

This way, you can combine the peaceful life at the agriturismo with day trips to famous cities in Tuscany and Umbria.

Tuscan festivals and village fairs (sagre)

One of the best ways to really get to know Tuscany is by taking part in a local village festival (sagra) or folkloric event.

From April through October, there’s a festival somewhere almost every weekend, often featuring a traditional dish or animal as the main attraction. For example:

• Wild Boar Festival: Featuring Wild Boar Dishes
• Goose or Pici Festival: Pici is the local, thick, hand-rolled pasta
• The famous Palio of Siena: the historic horse race in Piazza del Campo
• La Giostra del Saracino in Arezzo: a medieval jousting tournament
• L’Archidado in Cortona: a historic event featuring parades, costumes, and traditions

Many of these festivals and culinary events are easily accessible during your stay at Antica Quercia Verde. Josiane will be happy to provide you with up-to-date tips and let you know which festivals are taking place during your stay.

Sustainable travel to Antica Quercia Verde

Since Nature Travel Lab focuses on nature and Sustainable travel, here are a few more practical tips:

• Travel by train as much as possible: you can travel via Florence or Arezzo to the local station near Cortona and take a taxi from there.
• Leave the car behind sometimes: many hiking trails, as well as Le Celle, Il Sodo, and Cortona itself, are easily accessible on foot from Antica Quercia Verde.
• Eat local and seasonal: enjoy the estate’s vegetables, fruit, eggs, and olive oil, and visit local osterias instead of large chains.
• Respect nature: stay on the trails, don’t leave any trash behind, and enjoy the peace and quiet—this is a protected area.

This way, Antica Quercia Verde will remain exactly what it is today: a quiet, green place where people and the landscape are in harmony.