Cortona, the beautiful Tuscan town. For most of us, we were first introduced to this hilltop town first through the book by Francis Mayes, and then the movie. Under the Tuscan Sun put Cortona Italy on the map.
This Tuscan town lies in the province of Arezzo, in the Chiana Valley in southern Tuscany. Cortona to Florence is a 90-minute drive. Check out our Guide about Florence here.
Perched on top of a hill, Cortona is an ancient walled town with lively piazzas, endless winding alleyways and many churches. This is your guide of the best things to do in Cortona Italy.
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Gustavo A Feliciano
All these Tuscan towns look amazing truly want to visit the area one day!
The.Holidaymaker
Cortona is definitely one to add to your list when you go to Tuscany!
Emma
I love the medieval streets of old towns like this. Cortona looks beautiful and such amazing views! I haven’t been to Tuscany but now I’ve also got a new book for my reading list
JoJo Hall
Little towns and hill top views are always amazing, let alone in Italy, they’re just stunning! It’s my plan to visit smaller towns and places in Italy the next time I’m over there as I know they have so much to offer!
The.Holidaymaker
Oh definitely, it’s a real Italian experience in the small towns.
barry
Iv’e been to many places in Italy but Tuscany has still eluded me. The area looks impressive and those overhanging buildings on Via Janelli are beautiful – just the sight I love to see in an old town.
I know there are so many places to see in Tuscany but your post makes me want to put Cortona at the top of the list.
The.Holidaymaker
I’m happy to hear that this article has inspired you to add Cortona to your list of places to see in Tuscany.
Riana Ang-Canning
What a beautiful town! I remember being so blown away by the views from San Gimignano, and these ones look just as impressive. You’ve also reminded me that I’ve read Under the Tuscan Sun but I don’t think I’ve ever seen the movie. I must rectify this ASAP!
The.Holidaymaker
Oh yes, you must watch the movie. It’s the only one where I might say it’s better than the book!
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Jas
Tuscany is super high up on my list and reading this just makes me wanna fly over right this second! Piazza della Repubblica is just beautiful and it sounds like the perfect place to spend a relaxing afternoon. The views at the top of Val di are stunning too. I’m in awe!
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you Jas for your comments. If we all could just have the luxury of packing our bags and going wouldn’t that be a wonderful notion. Alas, most of us aren’t able to travel on a whim. That is what makes blogging fun, that you hope it inspires future plans and itineraries.
Erica
Great photos! Italy is so stunning, no matter how much you see, there´s always more places to go back for! I´ve yet to explore the Tuscany region that these pictures definitely inspired me. I love the rolling green hills and cobblestone villages like Cortona, and sounds like the perfect place for a chic passeggiata and a gelato!
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you for your comment Erica. Tuscany is a region of Italy that is so wonderful to explore when you want a laid back and relaxing holiday. We added this in the middle of visiting larger cities and it was a perfect way to unwind and really soak up what Italy is known for and that is good food, wine and scenery. I am always happy to inspire, and glad I did here.
Mohana
Your photographs are captivating!! They grab the attention right up at the front. The guide too is beautifully pieced together and offers a well-balanced experience for a visitor in Cortona. Piazza della Repubblica seems to be THE place to be. Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you for your kind comments and compliments. I am very appreciative of you taking the time to read it. You are right, the Piazza is THE place to be while in Cortona.
Michael Hodgson
We have always avoided Cortona simply because it was featured in Under the Tuscan Sun … book and movie. But may have to reconsider, though there are sooooo many amazing Italian cities we want to see first … all with amazing gelato and passeggiata tradition … with gelato being of highest priority naturally.
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you Michael for commenting. I agree, I am slightly opposed to any place that is considered a novelty for tourists as well. if you go in the evening or even early morning, you will instantly forget that fact, and enjoy the beauty of this town.
Heather
I love that the Estruscan walls are built into the medieval walls. So cool! I would definitely visit Cortona. I need to go back to Italy and see so much (only been to Rome). If I read correctly am I saying this right: Good to know that Cortona has very chic passeggiata! 🙂 Gelato in Italy is so flipping awesome and cute name-Snoopy!
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you for your comments Heather. Yes, you are indeed saying it correctly; and Cortona is one of the more upscale Tuscan towns where you can definitely witness passeggiata! Glad to hear that this has inspired you to potentially add to your future travel itinerary when you return to Italy.
Life Of Y
Cortina looks like such a lovely town! It’s not one I’m familiar with but I’m glad I stumbled across your post! I guess that’s another Italian gem I want to enjoy a gelato in. Especially if Snoopy is serving!
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you for your comment. Yes, indeed it is the perfect town to stroll and have a gelato in! Thanks for stumbling on my post, hope you return again.
Nitin Singhal
Beautiful medieval town!! I love how diverse Italy is. It has beaches, ancient ruins, medieval towns, city on canal. Hope I get to visit Italy someday.
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you for your comment Nitin. I absolutely agree – Italy has wonderful diversity in landscape and makes for a fantastic travel destination. I think that is why it is one of the most popular European countries for holiday. I hope you get there one day soon too!
Josy A
This is all beautiful, but that view from the hilltop of the Val di is just perfect!
This is one part of Italy that I know embarrassingly little about so your words and wanderlust-inducing photos are incredibly helpful!
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you Josy for commenting and your kind words. I am always happy to share my travels and hopefully inspire future plans, so I do hope that you get to travel to this wonderful part of Italy. Oh, yes, the hilltop views are beautiful.
April Key Rode
I always enjoy your article about Europe and it’s good to read this one! Italy is in our bucket lists and yes gelato is a must try in visiting this country! Happy travels and thanks for sharing!
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you so much April for being a faithful follower of my blog posts! It is great to hear that Italy is on your list, and hope that this has inspired you to perhaps move it up the list ;).
Louise France
Would love to visit this whole region one day and dedicate some time exploring towns like Cortona
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you Louise for your comment. The best part of Tuscany is that many of these wonderful must-see towns are in close proximity making it easy to fill your day with 2 or 3. Hope you get to travel to the Tuscany region one day soon.
Laura Pedlar
I have loved my visits to Italy but I’ve only been to the major cities so far. This looks like a quieter way of life in Tuscany. I like people watching in piazzas and I also love gelato! I’m not a big fan of visiting churches but I think that this place might be nice to stop on an Italian road trip.
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you for your comments Laura. Tuscany is indeed the laid back and relaxing region of Italy. It’s slow pace of life is definitely intoxicating. We always try and mix large, vibrant cities with a relaxing beach or rural destination all within the same holiday. It feels like a holiday within your holiday. I too am not a big fan of visiting every church or museum either, but at least try and take a picture of the main attractions of each place we visit. Our ideal is just to wander the streets, eat good food, peruse the shops and take in the surroundings. Italy is definitely a great road trip kind of country.
Sage Scott
Of all your magnificent photos, I’m most drawn to the church dome in the first one. It looks like a smaller-scale version of Brunelleschi’s Dome atop the Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. Do you see the resemblance? ~ Sage Scott, the Everyday Wanderer
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you for your comment and your kind compliment. Yes, I do see the resemblance after you now say this.
Jerry and Fiona
We missed Cortona twice on our trips to Italy, opting for Pitigliano and some towns in Umbria instead. The Etruscan influence in that part of Italy is really interesting to us. That passeggiata is something else, too.
Missing Cortona twice means we must return to finally see it one day – which is fine with us!
The.Holidaymaker
There is nothing wrong with returning for a third time! I want to explore more of the Umbria area and that will be our next trip there hopefully. Thank you for your comment.
Cindy
I’m thinking of going to Tuscany and Umbria in the fall, and now I want to add Cortona to my list of towns to see. I’m with you – – I like nothing better than wandering narrow streets in towns like these, perhaps with the occasional break for gelato or vino.
The.Holidaymaker
How fantastic Cindy that you may be going to this area in the fall. I am happy that I was able to inspire you to add Cortona to your list. Thank you for your comment.
Patricia Pagenel
Tuscany is high on our travel plans for Italy, but we have yet to make it happen! The mix of scenic roads, the small villages, the wine and food, and like in Cortona, the village life, and of course, the Etruscan history – from the walls, the museums, the temple, the tombs… You are giving us Tuscan wanderlust!
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you for your comments Patricia. I am pleased to hear that you already have Tuscany on your travel list. You can’t go wrong! There are so many villages and towns that are wonderful to visit, and Cortona happens to be one of them. It doesn’t matter where you go in Italy, you can always find amazing food, wine and views. Happy travels!
Nic
This is a great guide for visiting, it’s one of those “regions” you say you want to visit but in fact have no actual idea of exactly where to base yourself or to visit so this is really useful. Next time we’re back in Europe we’re hoping to do more of Italy so this will be awesome.
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you for commenting Nic. I know that exact feeling; Tuscany is a large region and you can’t see every town or village, so how do you narrow down that list. We chose the Siena part of the region and we were in close proximity to many wonderful towns. Cortona happened to be one of those. Hope this helps with your travel planning.
Rachel
That gelato looks amaaaazing!!😍
The.Holidaymaker
It does indeed doesn’t it Rachel! It is a necessary daily fix to have one! 😉
Haley
Great post! I’d love to visit!
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you Haley for stopping by and commenting. I hope you get to travel there one day soon!
Faith
Always love reading your blogs! I can just imagine strolling the streets eating some fresh gelato 🍧😍
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you Faith for taking the time to read and comment. Life doesn’t get any better than a gelato in hand and strolling this lovely historic town.