Ostello San Marco, Cortona, Italy

In the heart of Tuscany lies an ancient hill town called Cortona. You may recognize the name from Under the Tuscan Sun fame — the home of author Frances Mayes can really be seen there, after a short, scenic hike from the town’s base.

If you are looking to stay somewhere that is both a good value and of good quality, consider checking into Ostello San Marco, a convent-turned-hostel offering beds in this gem of a town.

The hostel is open year-round and offers clean rooms in which to stay, many with multiple bunk beds to sleep several travelers. The hostel is also in a prime area, as Cortona is just a train ride away from major Italian locales like Florence, Siena, Assisi, Perugia and Rome.

Laundry can be washed by hand in the hostel’s washing room, and there is also a dryer available for use, but I recommend drying your clothes the European way — by hanging them out on clothespins.

Ostello San Marco serves breakfast, lunch and dinner for varying prices, and there is a bed and breakfast rate. The hostel also offers family bedrooms, which contain two to four beds. The warden, Sergio Cherubini, is friendly and helpful, and the dinners are fresh and delicious, with meats, salads and pastas served daily.

The bed and breakfast rate will run you €19 per night, and lunches and dinners cost €11 each. The family bedroom rate costs €25 per person per night, including breakfast.

Ostello San Marco

Via Maffei – 57

Cortona, Italy 52044