Cortona

Cortona

Central Italy

Tuscany

Arezzo (province)

Val di Chiana

Cortona Cortona is a town in the Province of Arezzo , Tuscany . It was one of the twelve cities of the Etruscan League. At 600 metres elevation, it has magnificent panoramas to every point of the compass. It is not far from Arezzo .

By plane Cortona can be reached by flying to Italian major international airports in Rome and Milan , or to the two airports in Tuscany: Pisa International Airport Galileo Galilei ( PSA IATA ), 1.5 km (1 mi) south of Pisa city centre, served by many budget airlines . From there you can take a train (40 metres from airport). Florence Airport Amerigo Vespucci ( FLR IATA ), four kilometres from the centre of Florence . From there you can use the Sita/Ataf service "Fly by Bus" ( Vola in bus ) between the airport and Florence's Santa Maria Novella railway station (20 min). By train The closest train station is "Camucia-Cortona", with direct trains from Florence and Rome or "Terontola-Cortona" with direct trains from Florence and Venice . You can also take a train to Arezzo and then another train to "Camucia-Cortona". Buses leave every 30 min from the Camucia station bound for Piazza Garibaldi in Cortona. You may have to buy your bus ticket direct from the driver, in which case you should be prepared to pay the exact cash fare of €2. The driver is not obliged to provide change. Before your trip back to the station, buy a ticket from a tobacco shop (tabbachi) for €1.10. All busses have installed tap to pay if you want to use an alternative payment method. Not all buses from Cortona to Camucia stop at the railway station but there is another stop in town (at Viale Regina Elena & Strada Regionale 71) very close to the station. Taxis are available in front of the Camucia station and Terontola train station; however, apparently there are only few taxis serving this "route". If you want to be sure that there is a taxi for you, ask your hotel to book one for you. The other option could be rent a car and you can do it right outside of Terontola-Cortona train station and use your car to reach your destinations. There is no staffed ticket office (biglietteria) at the Camucia station. However, there are 2 ticket vending machines at the station that are designed to accept credit cards such as Visa.

Terontola-Cortona railway station ( Stazione di Terontola-Cortona ). ( updated Jul 2020 )

Camucia-Cortona railway station ( Stazione di Camucia-Cortona ). ( updated Jul 2020 ) By car Take the Autostrada del Sole highway (A1), exit at the Valdichiana toll-gate and get on the Siena-Perugia speedway, direction Perugia . Get off the speedway at the Cortona-San Lorenzo exit. Keep driving direction Cortona, drive past Camucia and follow signs for Cortona. Climbing up the hill, you will find the Cortona town-limit sign. Distances to Cortona: Florence 102 km, Arezzo 29 km, Siena 80 km, Montepulciano 28 km, Chianciano 38 km, Chiusi 30 km, Perugia 54 km, Assisi 76 km. By bus There are public buses from nearby cities such as Arezzo or Terontola. The ticket costs €1 per journey, sold at tobacco shops ( Tabacchi ) and should be validated on the machine inside the bus.

Cortona Piazza Garibaldi bus station .

The best way to explore Cortona is on foot as the town is very small. Driving in Cortona is very difficult as the streets are steep and narrow. Parking inside town is almost impossible. However, parking areas are available outside the town walls; some are free.

Fortezza del Girofalko was erected on order of Grand Duke Cosimo I de Medici above the city (651 m above sea level) in the 16th century. It offers a splendid view over the city walls. Etruscan tombs Palaces Palazzo Ferretti , Rugapiana . Built in 1730 by the German architect Marco Tsucher ; today the court of law. Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall) , Piazza della Repubblica . Built at the beginning of the 13th century and reconstructed around 1275 by Master Tuto . The balcony on the facade was added in the 16th century. The councilors' hall dated from the original building. It has a roof with painted beams and a 16th-century chimney piece.

Passerini Palace ( Palazzo Passerini ), Via Maffei . Originally the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo was built in the 13th century. Its tower was destroyed later. The interior of the palace was renovated by Cardinal Silvio Passerini, who owned the palace from 1514 onwards. It appears to be as a vacation rental location. ( updated Jul 2020 ) Palazzo Mancini Sernini , Via Guelfa 5 . The palace is the work of Giovanni Battista di Cristofano Infregliati , called Cirstofanello . It was begun in 1533. Today it is the seat of the Banca Populare of Cortona. Palazzo Casali , Piazza Signorelli . The original palace was built in the 14th century. It was the seat of the Casali family, lords of Cortona until 1409. only a few walls of the original building remained. The Renaissance front from the beginning of the 17th century is the work of Filippi Berretini . Today the palace is the seat of the city library, the historical archive, the Etruscan Museum and the Etruscan Academy. The courtyard of the Casali Palace is the best photo stop in Cortona. Palazzone ( Passerini Palace ) ( in the Eastern part of the city ). The Renaissance building was erected on order of Cardinal Silvio Passerini (1469-1529), who was commissioner of the Pope for Umbria and envoy to Perugia. It was designed by Giovan Battista from Perugia. It is reported that the painter Luca Signorelli fell from the scaffolding while painting the frescoes for the cardinal's chapel and died here. Today the Palazzone is part of the Scuola Normale di Pisa. Squares Piazza della Repubblica : the most famous piazza in Cortona. The fountain in the center of the square was destroyed around 1550. It is presumed that it looked similar to the Fontana Maggiore in Perugia. Piazza Signorelli : next to the Piazza della Repubblica and less crowded. On Sundays it has a flea market where they sell antiques. The Teatro dell Signorelli and the Casali Palace are here. Piazza Garibaldi Built by the French during the Napoleonic Wars PIazza Pescheria (Fish market) with the Passerini Palace. Streets Rugapiana is the main street of Cortona with houses dating from the 16th to 18th centuries and the Ferretti Palace. Vicolo della Scala and Vicolo Vagnucci Via Roma with the Porta del Morto (Door of the Death) from 1247 and the Palazo Cinaglia Churches

Cortona Cathedral (

Tuscan Sun Festival - an annual summer event with concerts, art exhibitions, literary talks, and culinary events. Cooking classes are offered by several hotels in Cortona, including Hotel Restaurant Corys and Relais il Falconiere. Agriturismo Il Frantoio offers horseback riding lessons and trekking in the nearby woods. 3D3 World Maya Training at Castello Neve offers intensive 3D animation courses.

Trattoria Dardano, Via Dardano 24. Closed Wednesdays. Trattoria La Grotta, P.Baldelli 3. Outdoor tables in a secluded courtyard. Closed Tuesday. Osteria del Teatro, Via Maffei 2. Hosteria La Bucaccia, Via Ghibellina 17. Bar 500, 44/46 Via Nazionale. Wine bar/restaurant in the historical centre. Open Mar-Nov, 12:00-23:00, closed Tue. Gelateria Snoopy, Piazza Signorelli 24 - ice cream.

The red wine Sangiovese is the pride of Tuscany; the Syrah has also received high recognition. Caffè Degli Artisti, Via Nazionale 18. The Lion's Well, Piazza Signorelli 28 - a pub. Route 66 Cafè, Via Nazionale 71 - nightlife.

Budget: Agriturismo Casamontana (Portole) - panoramic position 800 m above sea level. Agriturismo Il Frantoio (San Martino a Bocena) - apartments in a converted 15th-century mill, horseback riding available. Ostello San Marco, Via Maffei 57 - B&B €12.50. Mid-range: Bed & Breakfast Le Gelosie, Via Dardano 6 - €95-120. Hotel San Luca, Piazza Garibaldi 1 - panoramic views. Hotel Villa Marsili, Viale C.Battisti 13 - refined rooms, €135-230. Splurge: Belvedere Apartments, Via San Sebastiano 31 - elegantly restored with valley views. Casa Portagioia (10 km from Cortona) - small boutique hotel with heated pool, high season from €170.

Cantine Faralli, Loc. Fasciano 4 - wine and olive oil. Molesini Market Enoteca Prodotti Tipici, Piazza Repubblica - local specialties. Pasticceria Banchelli, Via Matteotti 119 - pastries, chocolates, cakes and espresso. Wine Bar La Casa Gialla, Via Gramsci 113 - local wines.

The Archaeological Park - Etruscan tombs including the Melone di Sodo, Tanella di Pitagora, and Tumulus of Camucia. Rocca di Pierle (16 km) - medieval fortress with panoramic views. Arezzo - 33 km, with its famous frescoes and antiques fair. Florence - 116 km. Siena - 73 km.