Cortona Travel Guide

Cortona is a historically robust Tuscany Region that sports a soothing medieval charm and rich old fashioned beauty with its ancient structures and splendid natural landscape. The Cortona Travel Guide offers travelers a lavish peek into the characteristics, attractions and accommodation options of Cortona.

Under the Tuscan Sun

Cortona was catapulted to instant stardom and public limelight with the famous Frances Mayes publication Under the Tuscan Sun . This now celebrated region in the east of Tuscany, located in Arezzo Province, is a part of the Etruscan League. The region is decked with medieval streets, a panoramic countryside and ancient town walls. Remains of a rich Roman legacy grace this town along with works of celebrated Renaissance artists. Cortona can be accessed by train from Florence, Arezzo and Rome along with bus services that connect it to other major regions of Tuscany.

Attractions

Piazza della Republica is an effervescent and popular hub for tourist activity with a fascinating town hall and a mammoth clock tower that graces the skyline of this visually captivating region. The area is interspersed with small albeit charming cafes that let you sip on a delicious cappachino while watching the world go by. The Duomo is another Rennasaince monument that is constructed on an old Etrusan temple site and houses stunning works of ancient art. Museo dell' Accademia Etrusca and Museo Diocesano are fascinating storehouses of Etruscan artifacts ranging from Baroque paintings to vintage ivories. Visit San Domenico for the fabulous  altar piece that dates back to the 15 th century and head towards Cortona’s Walls to meander through the bylanes of the town’s old historic center and catch a brilliant view of the valley below. The annual Tuscan Sun Festival event held here in summer is a crowd-puller for its live performances.

Food and Accommodations

The best places to dine at Cortona are the humble pizza shops spread all over the Piazza della Repubblica area. They serve some of the most authentic, flavorsome and scrumptious pizzas in the region. Trattoria La Grotta and Osteria del Teatro are other bets along with Caffè Degli Artisti, famous for its well-stocked wine cellar.

Cortona has a variety of accommodation options that are perfectly customized for all budgets. From the high priced boutique Hotel Casa Portagioia and the Casa Capucci Holiday Homes to the more practical hotels like Agriturismo Casamontan, Hotel Italia and Agriturismo Rocca di Pierle. Book in advance as the accommodations tend to full in the peak tourist season in summer.

Cortona is a beautiful mosiac of glorious anicent appeal, natural beauty and breath-taking architectural wonders.