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Cortona

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PEARL OF TUSCANY

Cortona’s Highlights

 

Cortona is an enchanting Tuscan hill town nestled on a ridge 600 meters above sea level in southeast Tuscany. Its panoramic view over the vast Val di Chiana is known to have inspired the famous opening line of “Volare,” to fly. Rich with history and alive with daily Italian life, Cortona offers countless treasures for everyone to enjoy. 

  • Ancient Roots: Founded by Etruscans, 5th-century BC stone walls surround the town and rare archaeological treasures are preserved in the Museo dell'Accademia Etrusca (MAEC).
  • Medieval Heritage: The historic city center is a maze of narrow, steep streets with two bustling squares, Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza Signorelli. The upper floors of medieval houses extend over Via Janelli, allowing carts to pass under. Visitors can walk in the footsteps of Saint Frances and experience the unique tranquility of Le Celle Hermitage.
  • Art & Architecture: Art lovers who visit the tiny Diocesan Museum are stunned by Fra Angelico (Annunciation) and Luca Signorelli  (Lamentation) masterpieces and can view Pietro Lorenzetti’s Sagomato (oldest known in the world). A Medici fortress, Fortezza del Girifalco, crowns Cortona’s hill and offers breath-taking views.
  • Spiritual Sensibility. Saint Francis and Santa Margherita gave Cortona a foundation of reverent faith in the 13th century that pervades the town’s gracious spirit today. Santa Margherita’s 800-year-old body, shriveled but undecomposed, can be seen above the high altar at the basilica bearing her name.
  • Local Flavors make Cortona a foodie destination known for Chianina beef (bistecca alla fiorentina) and Cortona DOC Syrah wines. Pasta al fumo, invented in a local restaurant, is now enjoyed worldwide. Cortona olive oil, beers, gins, and amaros are winning international prizes. 
  • Nature & Clean Air: Roman stone roads wind through forests. Sports enthusiasts relish the unpolluted air as they trek and bike Cortona’s winding hillside roads and around Lago Trasimeno. 
  • Morning-to-Evening Vibe: Unique among Tuscan villages, Cortona remains lively from early morning into the late evening, with locals and visitors gathering in open-air piazzas for aperitivi and conversation. 
  • Friendliness: Cortona has been welcoming strangers since the Grand Tours of Europe in the 1700s. Intellectuals, writers, artists, and those who simply want to linger over a glass of wine and experience a few moments of La Bella Vita, can find refuge in Cortona.

Frances Mayes, author of Under the Tuscan Sun, wrote, “We first loved Cortona for its history, beauty, and food, but we moved here because of the people.” When visitors engage in its captivating culture and get to know a few locals, they fall in love with Cortona… and they return as friends.

Cortona is easy to find by car, train or bus. Parking is recommended only outside the city walls. Parcheggio dello Spirito Santo can be found at 43.2759°N, 11.9886°E and has an escalator into the town center. 

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