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, 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,  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. 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.



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.



Get around
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.

See



 * 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

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



 * Santa Maria delle Grazie (Church of Calcinaio), supposed to be the most beautiful Renaissance monument in Cortona. It is named after the old limestone quarry (calcinaio) which was owned by the shoemakers guild. The church is considered as the masterpiece of Francesco di Giorgio Martini. It was built between 1485 and 1513 on the plan of a Latin cross with an eight-sided dome above it. The stained windows are the work of William of Marcillat, the main portal and high altar were designed by Bernardino Covatti of Cortona.
 * Santa Maria delle Grazie (Church of Calcinaio), supposed to be the most beautiful Renaissance monument in Cortona. It is named after the old limestone quarry (calcinaio) which was owned by the shoemakers guild. The church is considered as the masterpiece of Francesco di Giorgio Martini. It was built between 1485 and 1513 on the plan of a Latin cross with an eight-sided dome above it. The stained windows are the work of William of Marcillat, the main portal and high altar were designed by Bernardino Covatti of Cortona.
 * Santa Maria delle Grazie (Church of Calcinaio), supposed to be the most beautiful Renaissance monument in Cortona. It is named after the old limestone quarry (calcinaio) which was owned by the shoemakers guild. The church is considered as the masterpiece of Francesco di Giorgio Martini. It was built between 1485 and 1513 on the plan of a Latin cross with an eight-sided dome above it. The stained windows are the work of William of Marcillat, the main portal and high altar were designed by Bernardino Covatti of Cortona.
 * Santa Maria delle Grazie (Church of Calcinaio), supposed to be the most beautiful Renaissance monument in Cortona. It is named after the old limestone quarry (calcinaio) which was owned by the shoemakers guild. The church is considered as the masterpiece of Francesco di Giorgio Martini. It was built between 1485 and 1513 on the plan of a Latin cross with an eight-sided dome above it. The stained windows are the work of William of Marcillat, the main portal and high altar were designed by Bernardino Covatti of Cortona.
 * Santa Maria delle Grazie (Church of Calcinaio), supposed to be the most beautiful Renaissance monument in Cortona. It is named after the old limestone quarry (calcinaio) which was owned by the shoemakers guild. The church is considered as the masterpiece of Francesco di Giorgio Martini. It was built between 1485 and 1513 on the plan of a Latin cross with an eight-sided dome above it. The stained windows are the work of William of Marcillat, the main portal and high altar were designed by Bernardino Covatti of Cortona.
 * Santa Maria delle Grazie (Church of Calcinaio), supposed to be the most beautiful Renaissance monument in Cortona. It is named after the old limestone quarry (calcinaio) which was owned by the shoemakers guild. The church is considered as the masterpiece of Francesco di Giorgio Martini. It was built between 1485 and 1513 on the plan of a Latin cross with an eight-sided dome above it. The stained windows are the work of William of Marcillat, the main portal and high altar were designed by Bernardino Covatti of Cortona.
 * Santa Maria delle Grazie (Church of Calcinaio), supposed to be the most beautiful Renaissance monument in Cortona. It is named after the old limestone quarry (calcinaio) which was owned by the shoemakers guild. The church is considered as the masterpiece of Francesco di Giorgio Martini. It was built between 1485 and 1513 on the plan of a Latin cross with an eight-sided dome above it. The stained windows are the work of William of Marcillat, the main portal and high altar were designed by Bernardino Covatti of Cortona.
 * Santa Maria delle Grazie (Church of Calcinaio), supposed to be the most beautiful Renaissance monument in Cortona. It is named after the old limestone quarry (calcinaio) which was owned by the shoemakers guild. The church is considered as the masterpiece of Francesco di Giorgio Martini. It was built between 1485 and 1513 on the plan of a Latin cross with an eight-sided dome above it. The stained windows are the work of William of Marcillat, the main portal and high altar were designed by Bernardino Covatti of Cortona.
 * Santa Maria delle Grazie (Church of Calcinaio), supposed to be the most beautiful Renaissance monument in Cortona. It is named after the old limestone quarry (calcinaio) which was owned by the shoemakers guild. The church is considered as the masterpiece of Francesco di Giorgio Martini. It was built between 1485 and 1513 on the plan of a Latin cross with an eight-sided dome above it. The stained windows are the work of William of Marcillat, the main portal and high altar were designed by Bernardino Covatti of Cortona.

Archaeological sites


You will find details here
 * The cistern of the Bagni di Bacco
 * Etruscan wall-remains within P.zzo Cerulli-Diligenti
 * Etruscan wall-remains within Palazzo Casali
 * Etruscan walls
 * Porta Bifora
 * Barrel vault in the Via Guelfa.

Do

 * Cooking Class, offered by several hotels in Cortona:
 * "Hotel Restaurant Corys" (see contact details in Sleep section).
 * "Relais il Falconiere", Localitá San Martino, 370. One day cooking class in one Michelin star Restaurant. Classes begin at 16:30 (last approx. 3 hr). Available every week on request, all year round except for July and August. Prices: up to 2 person €180/person, 3 or more €160.



Wine and olive oil

 * Cantine Faralli, Loc. Fasciano 4.
 * Molesini Market Enoteca Prodotti Tipici, Piazza Repubblica, Tel. 62544.
 * Molesini Market Enoteca Prodotti Tipici, Piazza Repubblica, Tel. 62544.

Patisserie

 * Pasticceria Banchelli, Via Matteotti, 119. Offers a fine selection of pastries, chocolates, cakes, espresso and cappuccino.

Eat
Cortona is small and loaded with tourists during the holiday season so that reservation is highly recommended, especially for dinner. Lunch and dinner are normally served at specific time so you might be sent away if you come outside this time. For less fancy eating possibilities, there are take-away pizza shops around Piazza della Repubblica.


 * Trattoria La Grotta, P.Baldelli 3. With outdoor tables in a secluded courtyard. Closed on Tuesday.
 * Trattoria La Grotta, P.Baldelli 3. With outdoor tables in a secluded courtyard. Closed on Tuesday.

Ice cream

 * Gelateria Snoopy, Piazza Signorelli, 24.

Drink
The red wine Sangiovese is the pride of Tuscany and famous worldwide with the popular name "Chianti". The Syrah has also received high recognition.

Wine

 * Caffè Degli Artisti, Via Nazionale, 18. Owned by Italian-Finnish couple.

Pubs

 * The Lion's Well, Piazza Signorelli 28.

Nightlife

 * Route 66 Cafè, Via Nazionale, 71, Angolo Piazza Garibaldi.

Cope
Tourist Information Agency (A.P.T.), Via Nazionale, 42.

Stay safe
Beware of your belongings as even when the town feels safe, it is still crowded by tourists which are good targets to pickpockets.

The town is hilly and some attractions (church or castle) are located on the hills so that it might be difficult to reach for some people. Consider renting a car if travelling with children or older people.

Go next

 * The Archaeological Park - Extra-urban route  covering:
 * The Tomb of Mezzavia
 * The Melone II of Sodo, Etruscan tomb of the 5th or 4th century BC, near SS 71
 * The Melone I of Sodo, Etruscan tomb of the 5th or 4th century BC, near SS 71
 * The Tanella Angori
 * The Tanella di Pitagora (Tomb od Pythagoras). The name is due to a misunderstanding: Crotone was mixed up with the ancient Greek city of Kroton where Pythagoras died. The tomb is said to date from the 4th century BC.
 * The Tumulus of Camucia, a tumulus with a diameter of 200 meters and 11 meters high.
 * The Roman Villa of Ossaia
 * The Roman road of Torreone: You may walk along this paved track in both ways alternatively starting from Torreone and hiking your way up to the Guglielmesca or driving up to the latter location and walking all the way down to Torreone. This trail running in the woods of the Cortona hills, also indicated as CAI trail nr. 561, offers, halfway, a stunning view over Cortona and the Valdichiana. You may also take a detour and hike down to the convent of the Cappuccini walking by the Maestà del Pianello a place where it is said to have been located the so-called “Tomb of the King”. The trail is equipped with basic road signs.
 * The Roman road of Teverina Bassa
 * The Roman road of Monte Maestrino
 * Rocca di Pierle (Pierle fortress), 16 km from Cortona. The fortress was built by order of Francesco Casali in the Middle Ages on the ruins of an older castle. In 1387 more than 60 conspirators were confined and finally killed here by Uguccio Casali. In 1411 the fortress was sold by Ladislaus King of Naples to the Florentine Republic for 1200 florins, In the 16th century Grand Duke Francesco de Medici order the inner part of the fortress to be demolished in order to prevent 'evil-doers from Tuscany or the Papal State' to find refuge in the fortress.
 * Arezzo, 33 km (21 miles)
 * Florence, 116 km
 * Siena, 73.4 km