Cortona, Tuscany

View over Cortona Italy, Etruscan Town of Cortona

Explore the Cities and Towns of Tuscany

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Overview

The town of Cortona is a beautiful hill-top town in South-Eastern Tuscany, that has become notorious in recent years because of the film 'Under the Tuscan Sun'. It is here where the lead character purchases her property in the lush countryside which surrounds the town.

An encounter with Cortona is an encounter with art, history and mysticism. Getting to know this timeless town is a real rediscovery of our past. Within its mighty Etruscan walls Cortona jealously guards its treasures and offers testimony to the history of a most noble civilization as well as enchanting views of the landscape enclosed by Lake Trasimeno and the Appenines.

From its high perch on top of a verdant hill Cortona dominates the Val di Chiana and offers commanding views over the valley all the way to the peaks of the Monte Amiata. The medieval aspect of buildings and alleyways gives the town a charming, unspoilt air. The Basilica of Santa Margherita and the Convent of Le Celle in the upper part of town invite guests to discover Cortona from up above down a path of art and faith, only a stone’s throw away from the city centre. A walk through the Rugapiana (the only flat street in town) will take you past the Piazza della Repubblica, overlooked by the commanding medieval Palazzo Comunale (town hall) and to the Piazza Signorelli with its Palazzo Casali, the current home of the Museo dell’Accademia Etrusca e della Città di cortona (MAEC) that houses vast collections of Etruscan and Roman archaeological finds.

Located at the northern end of town just across from the Cathedral the Museo Diocesano is a real jewel-case housing works by major local artists such as Luca Signorelli as well as one of the most enchanting Annunciations by Beato Angelico. Just outside the city gates at the foot of the hill the Melone I and II at Sodo are two of the finest examples of Etruscan burial-mounds dating to the 6th century B.C. A short drive in the direction of Foiano della Chiana will take you to the Abbey of Santa Maria at Farneta, one of the finest examples of Romanesque art in the area. An event not to be missed is the CortonAntiquaria antique fair, one of the most interesting national antique fairs. The event takes place every year in the 18th century Palazzo Vagnotti from the last Saturday of August to the second Sunday of September.

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Experience Historical Cortona, Tuscany Italy

Cortona, Tuscany

Cortona Italy, Aerial View

Historical Centre Cortona, Tuscany, Italy

Approaching Cortona Town, Tuscany, Italy

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Our Multi-Day Holidays Tours

TUR-00919

Flavors of Fall in Tuscany: Cooking, Truffle Hunting, Chocolate, Olive Oil and Wine Therapy on private 100% Tuscan owned organic estate with weekly departures in October and November 2024

This is an exclusive package we offer during the olive harvest and truffle festivals, which take place all over Tuscany during the month of November when the flavors of fall are at their finest. Experience daily cooking, wine tastings, and incredible...

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7 Days / 6 Nights

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TUR-01322

Full day Off beaten sites discovering Tuscany & Umbria

South from Florence, north from Rome, Tuscany & Umbria are Italy's green heart & the geographic centre of the country. A long way from either coast, what is to be enjoyed in Tuscany and Umbria is the rolling sea of green..

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1 Days

5 suite rooms and 3 apartments Beds 5 Baths 18 + 6

Air Conditioning +9 more

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Italy Vacation Specialists provides licensed private transfer services throughout Italy, including Cortona and surrounding areas. With over 20 years of experience, our professional English-speaking drivers offer both Business Class and Luxury Class vehicles for airport transfers, city-to-city rides, and full-day chauffeur services. All vehicles are fully insured, well-maintained, and operated by vetted local drivers who know the roads, traffic patterns, and best routes across the region.

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