Gli Affreschi

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Where History Meets the Table

Gli Affreschi sits within the Monastero di Cortona Hotel & Spa, a five-star property occupying the highest point of Cortona — an Etruscan hilltop town that surveys the Val di Chiana in southern Tuscany. The monastery itself has a history stretching back to Roman times, when the site was known for its abundant waters and housed a large cistern called the "Bagno di Bacco." That layered past is not merely backdrop: it is woven into the dining room itself.

The restaurant takes its name from the secular frescoes that adorn its walls — centuries-old paintings that experts believe depict the Battle of Montaperti, fought in 1260. Dining here means eating beneath artwork that predates the Renaissance, in a space that balances archaeological weight with refined comfort.

Chef Michele Ricci and the Kitchen's Philosophy

The kitchen is led by Chef Michele Ricci, whose menus are built around fresh, seasonal ingredients: selected cuts of meat, freshly caught seafood, and vegetables grown in the monastery's own garden. The Italian cuisine at Gli Affreschi moves between land and sea — guests can work with the chef to compose a fully personalised menu, whether leaning toward classic Tuscan tradition or more contemporary ideas. Nothing is fixed; the produce and the season set the direction.

This commitment to sourcing and craft has not gone unnoticed. The restaurant's cellar earned a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence for 2025, a distinction that reflects serious attention to the wine program alongside the food.

The Setting

The dining room's elegance is architectural rather than decorative — original stonework, vaulted ceilings, and those remarkable frescoes do the work that no amount of interior design could replicate. For warmer months, outdoor seating is available, and the hotel's terrace garden — the former monks' orchard, transformed into a space overlooking the Tuscan hills — adds another dimension to the experience.

Gli Affreschi is also available for private events and intimate celebrations, with the team able to assist in planning every detail of a bespoke dinner. It is, in short, a rare place where the room, the Italian cuisine, and the wine list all earn their keep independently — and together make a compelling case for the table.