L’Ortino di Cortona: Where Monks Once Planted, L’Ortino Now Serves

Posted by Rowena Dumlao Rowena Dumlao - Giardina 9/12/2025

L’Ortino di Cortona: Where Monks Once Planted, L’Ortino Now Serves

Set on the hillside of southern Tuscany, Cortona welcomes visitors with its winding stone streets, lively piazzas warmed by the sun, and a deep sense of history that lingers in every building. In the heart of this timeless village, within a medieval palace dating back to the 1200s, a new chapter began in 2023: L’Ortino di Cortona. The restaurant was born in the same building where, in 1956, the Vannelli family first opened their pastry workshop. Just steps away, a small vegetable garden—once tended by Benedictine monks—provides inspiration for the restaurant’s name and philosophy. Ortino is more than a gesture toward the past; it represents a way of life rooted in authenticity, sustainability, and a profound respect for the land. Here, food is not simply consumed but celebrated, shaped by the rhythm of the seasons and the richness of local tradition.

A Family Dream

The project is the vision of two brothers, Giacomo and Pietro Vannelli, together with Monica Boin, who manages the dining room. Each plays a distinct role in bringing the dream to life: Pietro, Sous Chef, channels his creativity into pasta and first courses; Giacomo curates the wine list while guiding guests through the dining journey; and Monica ensures the atmosphere of warmth and welcome that defines the restaurant. Together, they imagined L’Ortino not simply as a restaurant but as a place to live an experience—where food, hospitality, and history converge into one unforgettable moment.

From left to right: Monica Boin, Matteo Tiezzi, Pietro Vannelli and Giacomo Vannelli

The Cuisine

At the helm of the kitchen is Chef Matteo Tiezzi, whose culinary journey began at ALMA and continued in the acclaimed kitchens of Combal.0 and Inkiostro. His cooking reinterprets Tuscan flavors with finesse, weaving memory, seasonality, and territory into elegant dishes. Much of the produce comes from L’Ortino’s own countryside garden, where organic and biodynamic methods dictate what arrives in the kitchen each day. This direct connection to the land reduces waste, limits water use, and ensures that each plate is an authentic expression of both season and place.

Guests who prefer flexibility may dine à la carte, selecting two courses for €60 or three for €80, with desserts such as delicate seasonal cakes or reimagined classics offered separately at €12. Yet for those who wish to fully immerse themselves in the restaurant’s philosophy, the tasting menus provide a more complete journey.

The Ortino Tasting Menu (€75) is entirely vegetarian, a celebration of the harvest that reveals the quiet beauty of garden ingredients. Simple vegetables are elevated into refined compositions, each dish proof of the depth and nuance that can emerge when produce is treated with both respect and imagination.

For those drawn to heritage, the Origini Tasting Menu (€85) offers a more intimate journey, paying homage to Tuscan tradition while carrying the unmistakable imprint of the Vannelli family’s lifelong passion for coffee. Here, Chef [insert name] transforms a centuries-old legacy into a contemporary dining experience, where each course carries a subtle echo of the family’s roots. From the opening appetizers to hand-crafted pasta, from layered main courses to the final crescendo of dessert, coffee is never an afterthought but a quiet protagonist — sometimes bold, sometimes whispering — guiding diners through a narrative of memory and flavor. Intimate yet daring, it is a celebration of origin reimagined through taste.

At its most expansive, the Origami Tasting Menu (€100) presents seven courses, including two of Chef Tiezzi’s signature creations: Guinea Fowl with stuffed pasta and spinach, and the striking Pigeon 2.0 Rossini Style. It is the fullest expression of the kitchen’s philosophy — deeply Tuscan at its core, yet unafraid to venture into bold, contemporary territory.

To accompany the food, the wine program offers pairings that can be tailored to the diner’s appetite, ranging from three glasses (€35) to seven (€70). Each progression is thoughtfully designed to enhance the rhythm of the meal, allowing wine and food to move together in harmony.

Coffee, Reimagined

For the Vannelli brothers, coffee is more than an afterthought at the end of a meal—it is part of their family identity. Growing up surrounded by pastry and specialty coffee, they have spent over a decade refining their craft and earning recognition on both national and international stages.

At L’Ortino, coffee is reimagined as a cultural journey. Through curated tastings, guests are invited to experience it not only as a beverage but as an ingredient, a ritual, and a story. The restaurant promotes a culture of specialty coffee, encouraging awareness of quality, sustainability, and the impact of what we consume. Coffee here is not rushed; it is savored, offering a moment of pause and reflection, perfectly aligned with the restaurant’s philosophy.

Recognition

The Vannelli brothers’ passion and dedication have been recognized with multiple Italian championships in Barista, Latte Art, and Brewers competitions. These accolades are not merely titles; they represent a lifelong pursuit of excellence that now flows naturally into the restaurant experience. From the careful selection of ingredients to the artistry of a perfectly balanced espresso, every detail is guided by precision, respect, and creativity.