Instituto Santa Margherita

The house of the nuns

We stayed in the convent with the kids for two nights after 4 nights in conventional hotels in Northern Italy. It was in stark contrast to the previous nights.

The nuns have turned over one wing of their convent to accommodating tourists. The rooms are very clean, basic and amazingly good value for Cortona, where all tourist amenities are in great demand. Tne nuns are friendly, all under 5 feet, with incredible enthuiasm for life. Neither they nor the cleaning staff one speak English, so brush up on your Italian. It's very much WYSWYG. We didn't find it intrusive but the kids found it 'old and scary' , rather unfairly.

Accomodation for a room for 4 people 2 nights 144 euros.

Unique Quality: There is a great view of the hill looking towards Camucia in the valley below.The convent in Via G. Luigi Lagrange is at the bottom of a steep street - close to the main tourist area - which stretched the kids, but they got used to it. It's a great base for Cortona and the surrounding towns of Arezzo etc and lake Trasimeno.