Your Special Event

Standard ~
The Standard service is a good place to start and it may be all that you will need.

» Local transportation
• We will pick you up at the local train station when you arrive, drop you off at departure time and also provide transportation to and from the train station during the week. We will also provide (up to 2) round-trip rides to Cortona each day.

» Breakfast each morning
• Each morning you will be served a typical Tuscan breakfast consisting of coffee drinks such as espresso, cappuccino, cafe' late (or, if you prefer, American coffee and tea), breads, sweet rolls, honey, preserves and fresh fruit.

» Kitchen management
• We will keep a supply of staples such as coffee, tea, spices, paper towels etc.
• A shopping service is available with one day of notice.

» Daily tidy up
• Each day the beds will be made, the dishes washed and the other rooms will be put back in order.
• Each mid week we will do a light cleaning provide fresh towels.
• At the end of each week a thorough cleaning of the entire house will take place including linens.

Deluxe ~
The deluxe service includes all of the Standard services plus the following.

» Arrival dinner
• On your arrival day you will have plenty of time to unpack, relax and freshen up for dinner. We will take you to a nearby restaurant where you can have a leisurely dinner with your friends.

» Private guided tour of Cortona
• You will spend about 2 hours learning the historical significance of the major buildings in Cortona as well as practical information about restaurants and shopping. This might be a good activity for the day after you arrive.

» Excursion transportation
• If there is a particular place you want to go to as a group, we will provide the transportation for a half-day or full-day excursion.

» Wine dinner at a restaurant in Cortona
• This will be a prefix dinner where the wine for each course will be matched with the food. The host will also explain the regional style of the wine and food for each course.

» Send off cocktail party and dinner
• We will bring in a professional chef for this event at Il Rifugio. The evening begins with drinks served on the terrace (weather permitting), followed by a sit down multi-course meal, from appetizers to dessert and after-dinner drinks.

Custom ~
As the name of this service implies, it's up to you. We can start with the Standard or Deluxe services and go from there or just start from scratch. Tell us what you want and we will quote you a price. Here are some suggestions in addition to the other services mentioned already:

» Excursions
• Arrangements and transportation for half-day or ful- day trips can be organized for garden tours, winery visits, outlet shopping, visits to other hill towns or a relaxing few hours (or the day!) at a thermal spa.

» Olive oil tasting
• Enjoy an olive oil tasting and learn about the different olives grown in the area, the process of making olive oil, and the varieties of subtle flavors in oils from different growers. Offered with food and wine; served as a light lunch.

» Meals at Il Rifugio
• There are many possibilities for in-house meals. Anything from snacks for a sunset cocktail party to a Tuscan style lunch on the terrace or a full dinner prepared by a professional chef can be arranged.

» Cooking classes
• We can arrange for professional cooking classes at Il Rifugio for a day, a few days, or a full week.

» Art & Craft lessons
• One-to-two day classes might include printmaking, fabric marbleizing, paper making and drawing.