CORTONA
TUSCANY
Cortona is one of the absolute highlights of Tuscany. We love this romantic Hilltop town in Southern Tuscany. When we bought our apartment in Tuscany, Cortona was on our radar, in the end we decided on Lucca, mainly because of its location. But we haven’t ruled out Cortona in the future. Like many people, Frances Mayer’s book Under the Tuscan Sun brought us here. I’m sure my wife has read the book and watched the film a hundred times. I must admit I have seen it too many times. Since our very first visit we have returned many times to Cortona for its peace and familiar surroundings.
It’s hard not to feel the pull of the noble palaces, the beautiful Piazzas, the enticing lanes and stepped streets.
Then, too, there is the simple pleasure of falling in love with small town Italian life, the excellent food and wine. Sitting in the Piazza and watch the crazy Italian world go by.
In this travel guide, we will show the best things to do in Cortona. How to get here, where to stay. Best place to eat and how long you need here.
PLAN YOUR TUSCANY ADVENTURE
These are our favorite companies we use when planning a trip, they consistently have the best prices, great customer service, and overall, are better than their competitors.
BOOK YOUR FLIGHT – SKYSCANNER – we always start here and usually always finish here. They price check over 1,200 travel sites to help you find the best prices. You can also try GOING to search prices across a variety of sites.
TRAVEL OPTIONS
CAR RENTAL – We recommend using Discover Cars or Rental Cars when booking a car rental, they work with hundreds of companies worldwide to help you find the best car for your needs.
TRAINS – TRAINLINE – is our favorite, this site is very reliable and easy to use.
BUS – OMIO – this website allows you to book train or bus tickets to travel from city to city the best and cheapest way.
ACCOMMODATIONS
BOOKING.com – is our go to for hotel searches around the world, we find they always have the cheapest rates and offer different payment options. In addition, VRBO is another terrific website for all types of accommodations.
HOSTELWORLD – is great if you’re traveling on a budget, and if you need a cheap place to stay.
SIGHTSEEING TOURS
GET YOUR GUIDE – is our favorite; they have stacks of tours and excursions available in cities all over the world. VIATOR is another great website for all types of tours.
TAKE WALKS – This walking tour company provides inside access to attractions and places you can’t get elsewhere.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
WORLD NOMADS – offer some of the most competitive and affordable plans tailored for your needs. WORLD NOMADS cover travellers from over 140 countries and make it easy to buy, extend and claim, even while travelling.
ARC’TERYX – is a go to reliable brand for outdoor adventure and travel, their wide range includes light weight durable, easy to clean travel gear.
Check out our RESOURCE PAGE for more additional planning.
General information about Cortona
Cortona is in the South Eastern corner of Tuscany, in the province of Arezzo, and lies 105Km south east of Florence. Cortona doesn’t get as many visitor as other Tuscan hill towns, but don’t expect it too be a ghost town. Quite a few people travel here to see Villa Bramasole the villa made famous by the movie UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN available at Amazon in a book or DVD.
Cortona dates back to the 4th Century BC, to the time when this land was inhabited by the Etruscans. The Etruscans lived in the region of Tuscany between the 9th century and 1st Century B.C. Cortona was an Important Etruscan city.
Cortona sits on a hilltop, you will walk quite a few narrow hilly streets with wonderful views of the countryside. These narrow streets, beautiful Piazzas and viewpoints, makes Cortona one of the prettiest towns in Tuscany.
GETTING TO CORTONA
BY CAR
The easiest way to get to Cortona is to drive here, from Florence is an easy one down the A1 Auto Strande. For Cortona you’ll need to exit at Betolle Valdichiana it should take about an hour.
CAR RENTAL
I recommend using the following 2 car rental websites.
Discover Cars includes offerings from all the major international rental companies as well as lots of smaller local agencies, which often have much better pricing.
Rental Cars is very similar although they tend to list mostly larger companies. Owned by Booking.com so it’s certainly backed by a familiar and reputable brand.
BY TRAIN
The two closest train stations to Cortona are the terentola station (on the terontola Perugia – Assisi Railway line and the Florence – Rome railway line) and the Camucia station (on the Florence – Rome Railway Line) from both station, you can get to the city centre by bus or Taxi. You can book you tickets directly with the service provider. We use Trainline We find their website is easy and straight forward to navigate.
BY BUS
The best way to get to Cortona by bus is to take the train to the Camucia or Terontola stations and then take the bus to the historic city centre.
DRIVING DISTANCES
- Montepulciano – 31Km
- Moutalcino – 66Km
- Pienza 50Km
- Prezzo 30Km
- Florence 120Km
- Siena 75Km
HOW LONG TO SPEND IN CORTONA
Cortona is well known as a beautiful Tuscan Hill town, so it’s very popular with day trippers as far away as Florence. Cortona can be seen in one lovely day but I think it is special enough to give two if you have time. A little more time to linger on it’s streets or take Cypress lined walk out to see Frances Mayes idealistic Tuscan home. This town is a place to relax, a place to sit in the Piazza or walk through the market leisurely. A place to take in breathtaking views while listening to the fountains as you have a picnic in the park, a place where you can walk through the back streets discovering Italy. This place is a place to see.
So, if you only have one day Cortona – take it. But if you have two ……even better.
Things to do in CORTONA
Piazza Della Repubbica
that you image when you think of Italy, it’s small and charming and full of life. Enjoy sitting savouring a cappuccino and cornetto at one of the cafes or just relaxing on the steps while taking in a little people watching Italian style.
Meet the Etruscans at Muso Dell’ Accademia Etrusca (MAEC)
From the eight century B.C. Cortona was a member of the Etruscan League of cities, and jewellery, bronzes, and other local finds are on display at this sophisticated Museum in the beautiful Palazzo Casali. The stand out is a massive, 2500-year-old oil-lamp chandelier that would be the prize of any modern home-design showroom.
It is a large museum spanning over several floors. A visit here lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour or longer, depending on your interest in Etruscan history.
Visit the Diocesan Museum
This art museum is located on Piazza del Duomo on the site of the church of Jesus. This museum contains notable works of art, including a cross paintreated by Pietro Lorenzetti, the Cortona trip tych by Fra Angelico, and Madonna and child by Niccolo di Segna.
STROLL ALONG VIA NAZIONALE
Stroll down the only flat street in town, Via Nazionale is the main thoroughfare through Cortona.
Along this pedstration street are small restaurants, shops, and places to go wine tasting. Via Nazionale connects two of the most popular Piazzas in town, Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza delca Repubblica.
TO THE TOP OF CORTONA
Basilica Di Santa Margherita and GIRIFALCO Medici Fortress, taking the walk up to the very top of Cortona’s hill to see Balilica di Santa Margherita will be something that you will remember forever. This is one of our favorite churches and the view is breathtaking. The walk up, although a bit of a trek, is lovely and takes you to some quaint and quite areas of town. If you are feeling a little more adventurous and still have a little more hike in you, you can continue up on the hill to side of the churches to see the GIRIFALCO Fortress.
VILLA BRAMASOLE
Villa Bramasole is featured in the movie UNDER THE Tuscan Sun filmed in 2003 starring Dianne Lane, this movie is based on Frances Mayes Memoir. This movie put Cortona on the tourist map and now people travel here from all over the world just to see the villa. If you head out of town through the city park it is about a 30min (2KM) walk. You can find it on google map if you search Bramasole. I wouldn’t do this walk in the heat of the day and make sure to bring some water and a snack as there isn’t anything along the way except some benches to sit on and enjoy the views.
SHOPPING IN CORTONA
There are so many beautiful and unique shops in Cortona as well as some great cafes and restaurants. There are some souvenir shops in Cortona, but you’ll find wonderful art galleries small boutique shops selling everything from food to clothing to shoes, and places to go wine tasting. Vini Di Toscana is a wine shop that offers tastings. It is located on Via Nazionale. We tasted beautiful Tuscan wine, Brunello di Montalcino, Sryah, and others. As a souvenir from Cortona purchase a bottle of the Bramasole, a Syrah produced in Cortona. Cortona is just the perfect town to go exploring and get lost in.
WHERE TO STAY
Cortona is small and very much on the map for tourists, so don’t be surprised if you can’t find cheap accommodation if staying here. Of course, being a tourist destination means it has lots of options, many of which are very nice, so you have a good selection to choose from.
Below are some places in town that we would recommend:
Villa Di Piazzano is just at the bottom of the hill that Cortona sits atop. Villa di Piazzano is a fantastic 5-star hotel set inside a noble villa with manicured gardens and grounds.
Monesary Di Cortona Hotel and Spa
This Boutique Hotel – kids free hotel is located in an ancient Monastery and boasts a beautiful garden.
Hotel San Michelle is located inside one of the oldest buildings in Cortona, the ancient Baldelli Palace, located right in town.
Stylish apartments in the center of town are attractive and very comfortable, you will be tempted to settle in for a very long time.
*Me and You Apartments*
In the delightful full historic center, a very comfortable apartment and has every comfort you need.
RESTAURANT AND DINING
A favourite in any Cortona menu is Chiana beef which hails from the valley below town. These huge T-Bone, simply grilled, usually serves two. They’re often accompanied by Cortona’s own doc red wines. For lunch or dinner consider trying any of the following restaurants.
TRATTORIA DARDANO
Specialises in grilled meals – chicken, duck, beef, quinea hen all locally raised – served ina homey setting alongside other Tuscan classics.
OSTERIA AL TATRO
Character filled candle lit rooms are the setting for the creations of chef Emiliano Rossi, who pairs local meats and the freshest produce with Cortona wines.
TRATTORIA LA GROTTA
Any meal at Trattoria La Grotta, whether you enjoy it in a medieval, brick vaulted dining room or in the courtyard in good weather, should include the house specialty, light as a feather Gnoochi.
RISTORANTE LA LOGGETTA
This is one of our favourite restaurants, we always seem to come back here, either for lunch or Dinner, we just love the setting above
PIAZZA DELLA REPUBBLILA
The location alone makes it special. But the real highlight are the steaks and the local produce that do justice do the setting.
TRATTORIA TOSCANO
Lays claims to introduce Cortona to the citys now favorite pasta, Picci alla fumato, a very rich combination of ham, cheese, and cream.
DAY TRIPS FROM CORTONA
Several Tuscan hill towns can be added to your visit to Cortona. Here are some of our favorites.
ASSISI
Assisi is located in Umbria, an hour from Cortona by car. This city, which is the birthplace of St. Francis, is also one of Europe’s most popular Pilgrimage sites. People come from around the world to pay homage to the humble saint at the imposing Medieval Basiclica where he is buried.
AREZZO
Arezzo is a 45-minute drive from Cortona, Arrezzo is another beautiful Tuscan town that is a delight to visit. Beyond the modern outskirts is a beautiful Medieval city centre. Welcoming cobblestone streets filled with several churches and art treasures. Wander through the historic city center, and have lunch or dinner in the main square.
PIENZA
Pienza is about an hour from Cortona, it’s a beautiful small town, with a population of about 2000 surrounded by the charming hilly landscape of Val d’orcia, this Renaissance town is even listed as a Unesco world heritage site. On a trip to Pienza, he is sure to try the excellent pecorino cheese, a semi-hard sheep milk cheese that is considered the best in Tuscany.
MONTEPULCIANO
Montepulciano is only about half an hour from Cortona, the beautiful hill town is famous for its wines, Vino Nobile and Rosso di Montepulciano. Go wine tasting, tour the underground wine cellars, and stroll the picturesque streets.
TOURS OF CORTONA
There are lots of tours that include Cortona. From Florence, visit both Cortona and Montepulciano. Cortona you can take a 3 hour private walking tour or a cooking class.
Siena, Cortona Private traditional
Montepulciano town or vegan
Val d’orcia Florence Italian
To Cortona Cooking
Montepulciano
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