Here at Mammaprada, we are always on the lookout for exceptional places which can take care of each traveller’s needs. We’ve recently been speaking with Simonetta who runs the stunning B&B Casa Bellavista in Cortona, Tuscany.

The setting of this property is incredible and Simonetta’s ethos is that hospitality should be based on a deep sense of respect for the surroundings. It’s also a great find if you want to eat vegan or vegetarian food on holiday in Italy.

If you are looking for a release from the stress of the past year then Casa Bellavista will heal you.

A large green lawn with a swimming pool , cypress trees and a villa

Let’s hear more from Simonetta about how her idea for the B&B came to fruition and what it’s like to be her guest…

I decided to open my B&B in 2001. At the time I was a hotel manager specializing in opening new facilities. I enjoyed my work very much because every assignment was a fresh start. I enjoyed meeting new people and working in different locations. However, I had two young children at the time and found it very difficult to reconcile work with raising my children. So, I made the decision to transform part of our house into guest rooms and from there Casa Bellavista B&B was born.

My cooking school Eat with Simonetta, was begun after I participated in the English reality TV show, A Celebrity Taste of Italy broadcast on Channel 5 in 2017.

You have purposefully chosen to make your property very environmentally friendly and in tune with its surroundings. Why is this important to you?

I believe that respect for the environment and nature is very important. Fortunately, I was able to pass these beliefs on to my children. Reverence for nature and respect for people are two essential and indivisible values that are very important to me.

A lady cracking eggs into a bowl in her kitchen

What type of holiday can people expect when they stay with you?

Holidays at Casa Bellavista are an immersion in the rhythms of nature and relaxation. Here guests can listen to the rooster welcome the morning sun, the birds sing their joyful songs and they can watch the lizards play on the wall of the balcony. Or they can enjoy contemplating the historic hilltown villages that surround Casa Bellavista.

Guests can also disconnect from stress while enjoying the Tuscan sun as they lounge next to the swimming pool. New for 2021 is our spa which offers exclusive use for the period of time guest books it. For those who may need to continue working our wifi network will help them stay in touch with their office.

Is your B&B completely vegetarian?

It can also be vegan but neither meat nor fish is served.

Do you offer any experiences for your visitors?

Absolutely! At Casa Bellavista, guests may enjoy dinners, cooking classes, oil tasting, yoga on Friday evening, our spa and holistic massages.

In addition, other holiday adventures can be enjoyed in collaboration with other agencies. These include wine tours with guides, Vespa and electric bicycle rental with and without guides and walking routes with environmental guides.

A small spa with jacuzzi, relaxation begs and sauna

What size of party can you cater for? Do you accept families or mainly couples or individuals?

Casa Bellavista can accommodate a maximum of 9 people (3 double bedrooms plus 1 suite with extra bed) for both couples, groups of friends and families.

A bright bedroom with doors out to a patio

What is there to see and do in and around your beautiful location of Cortona?

There are many points of interest to see within a short distance from Casa Bellavista. I recommend that guests have a car or take a driver because valleys like Val d'Orcia or the Crete Senesi are landscapes of such fascinating beauty that everyone should see them and they are not accessible by public transportation.

Montepulciano is only 45 minutes by car, Siena 50 minutes, Arezzo 30 minutes and Assisi one hour. The city I recommend visiting by train is Florence. In only 1 hour and 10 minutes, you can reach the city centre and the local train station is only 15 minutes from Casa Bellavista.