Cortona

Three thousand year old CORTONA is Dolce Vita’s “country home”; it’s all the very best of Tuscany… bite size. Overlooking the green Valdichiana valley and serene Trasimeno Lake below, this ancient hilltop town was more recently re- discovered with help from Francis Mayes’ book “Under the Tuscan Sun”. Despite Hollywood’s shallow portrayal, the REAL Cortona offers much to discover. Saturated in Etruscan history and art, blessed with fertile lands, good wines and gracious people, Cortona remains true to her past with simple small town beauty, antique markets, fairs and a wonderful medieval festival in the spring (see: Archidado). Cortona is also perfectly located between the Tuscan and Umbrian border: Siena and Florence are 1 hour north; Perugia and Assisi are 1-hour south. However, it’s in Cortona’s own poppy covered hills that you’ll find the true magic of Tuscany.

After strolling pedestrian friendly Via Nazionale, lined with 12 and 13th century palazzi and shopping for one of a kind gifts at Ivan’s or Alessandra’s, everyone usually ends up sitting at the main square’s church steps, savoring a gelato and watching life pass by. From there choose your own alley to discovery. Start above town with views from the 16th century Medici fortress, next to the Church dedicated to Santa Margherita, Cortona’s patron saint (margherita is Italian for daisy, hence the daisy motif on town pottery). Make time for the Duomo, and some of Italy’s best-preserved Etruscan artifacts at the newly renovated and beautifully designed Etruscan Museum. Outside of town visit the idyllic waterfall setting of the cells of Saint Francis, the Etruscan tombs, churches or any of the equally famous, neighboring towns.

Suggestion: It’s easy to spend a day in Cortona, but so much more rewarding to spend a week at a Cortona villa from where you can easily day-trip to the many surrounding towns. Dolce Vita usually visits twice year and stays with Signor Accioli, either at the luxurious Rellais: or, for a more family feel, at the self-catering farm house il casale.

Dolce Vita is happy to assist with any travel itineraries or wedding plans in the Cortona area.

The neighboring medieval towns of LUCIGNANO (spiral built) and CASTIGLION FIORENTINO (with a piazza “window” overlooking the valley below) are about 15 minutes away. In these areas you can find the wine wisdom and warm hospitality at the vineyards residences of our good friends Marta, and Riccardo.

Within a 15 minute drive East of Cortona is the peaceful lake TRASIMENO (once a bloodbath for Hannibal and the Romans). You’ve actually crossed into the region of Umbria! Walk through the town of CASTIGLIONE DEL LAGO, stopping at the many delis offering samples of local salame, cinghiale (wild boar) sausage, cheese, jams and everything imaginable… perfect for a picnic at the lakefront town of PASSIGNANO.

20 minutes south is MONTEPULCIANO known for the just re-finished High Renaissance Tempio di San Biaggio. Walk through the town and stop for a coffee and view at the elegant Caffe Poliziano. Walk back down stopping for samples of the well-known Vino Nobile wines.

15 minutes further is the tiny town of BAGNO VIGNONI with a “water bath” for a main piazza. Climb down the south side of town to soak in the carbonated and volcanically warmed waters.

Medieval MONTALCINO is about an hour from Cortona. Walk the top of the impressive 14th century fortress walls and visualize its history before visiting the wine tasting shop inside for Tuscany’s favorite Brunello wine.

The alabaster abbey of SANT’ANTIMO, about 2 hours from Cortona, is perhaps the most photographed stop as well as the most spiritually rewarding. Begun in the 1100s, Benedictine monks have lived here since the 1700s. The country side’s incredible scenery becomes complete with the monks’ hypnotic Gregorian chants, sung several times a day. Check their schedule and leave time for another picnic in their fields.