CORTONA, ITALY - travel shorts
Cortona, Italy is one of the most famous the Tuscan hill towns although it's important to realise that Cortona is more of a Tuscany hillside town than hilltop town and consequently has a great many steep streets and lanes and only one horizontal one - by no means unique in this part of Italy. Nevertheless, for anyone visiting central Italy, the sights of Cortona are definitely worth a day at the very least, preferably two days. The Cortona Museums house world-class art, ranging from Etruscan and Egyptian in the Cortona Etruscan Museum, through early Renaissance in the Cortona Diocesan Museum. Cortona is well-endowed with a variety of Renaissance architecture even though the prevalent character of the townscape is mediaeval. The main piazza of Cortona, Italy, Piazza della Repubblica, has a wonderful ambience and forms the focal centre of Cortona. The highest point on the hill of Cortona is dominated by a huge Medicean fort from which the visitor can admire not only the town but the entire Val di Chiana.
Cortona has an active calendar of performing arts events, and hosts a famous annual antiques exhibition, the Cortonantiquaria, as well as a monthly antiques and bric-a-brac market. There is also a not-to-be-missed folkloric crossbow competition, the Giostra dell'Archidado on the last last day of Cortona Mediaeval Week in late May or early June.
Cortona is easily accessed by rail from Rome and Florence but the nearest station is Camucia-Cortona, three km away, requiring a bus or taxi ride to reach the centre of Cortona. Walking uphill to Cortona proper is for the fit only but one is rewarded by access to a number of Etruscan tombs along the route.
Places to see in ( Cortona - Italy )
Places to see in ( Cortona - Italy )
Cortona is a town and comune in the province of Arezzo, in Tuscany, Italy. Cortona is the main cultural and artistic center of the Val di Chiana after Arezzo. Cortona may be accessed by rail: the closest station is Camucia-Cortona, 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) away. There are direct trains from Florence, Rome, and Foligno (via Perugia).
The foundation of Cortona remains mixed in legends dating to classical times. These were later reworked especially in the late Renaissance period under Cosimo I de' Medici. The 17th-century Guide of Giacomo Lauro, reworked from writings of Annio da Viterbo, states that 108 years after the Great Flood, Noah entered the Valdichiana via the Tiber and Paglia rivers. He preferred this place better than anywhere else in Italy, because it was so fertile, and dwelt there for thirty years. One of Noah's descendants was Crano, his son who came to the hilltop and, liking the high position, the fine countryside and the calm air, built the city of Cortona on it in 273 years after the Great Flood.
The prevailing character of Cortona’s architecture is medieval with steep narrow streets situated on a hillside at an elevation of 600 metres (2,000 ft) that embraces a view of the whole of the Valdichiana. From the Piazza Garibaldi (still referred to by the local population by its older name, Piazza Carbonaia) is a fine prospect of Lake Trasimeno, scene of Hannibal's ambush of the Roman army in 217 BC (Battle of Lake Trasimene). Parts of the Etruscan city wall can still be seen today as the basis of the present wall. The main street, via Nazionale, is the only street in the town with no gradient, and is still usually referred to by locals by its older name of Ruga Piana.
Inside the Palazzo Casali is the Museo dell'Accademia Etrusca, displaying items from Etruscan, Roman, and Egyptian civilizations, as well as art and artefacts from the Medieval and Renaissance eras. The distinguished Etruscan Academy Museum had its foundation in 1727 with the collections and library of Onofrio Baldelli. Among its most famous ancient artefacts is the bronze lampadario or Etruscan hanging lamp, found at Fratta near Cortona in 1840 and then acquired by the Academy for the large sum of 1600 Florentine scudi. Its iconography includes (under the 16 burners) alternating figures of Silenus playing panpipes or double flutes, and of sirens or harpies. Within zones representing waves, dolphins and fiercer sea-creatures is a gorgon-like face with protruding tongue. Between each burner is a modelled horned head of Achelous. It is supposed that the lampadario derived from some important north Etruscan religious shrine of around the second half of the 4th century BC. A later (2nd century BC) inscription shows it was rededicated for votive purposes (tinscvil) by the Musni family at that time.
Alot to see in ( Cortona - Italy ) such as :
Diocesan Museum
Cortona Cathedral
Museo dell'Accademia Etrusca e città di Cortona
Church of San Francesco, Cortona
Santa Margherita, Cortona
Piazza della Repubblica
Fortezza Medicea di Girifalco
Molesini
Porta Bifora
Porta Sant'Agostino
Porta Colonia
Porta Berarda
Porta Montanina
Porta Santa Margherita
Audit Artea
Galleria Etrusca
Cathedral (Duomo) of Cortona (Santa Maria)
Basilica of Santa Margherita
Guzzetti Chapel
Spirito Santo
San Benedetto
San Cristoforo
San Domenico
San Filippo Neri
San Francesco
San Marco
San Niccolò
Santa Chiara
(Former) church of the Gesù
Abbey of Farneta
Franciscan Convent de Le Celle
San Donnino (or, Madonna della Croce)
Pieve di San Michele Arcangelo at Metelliano
Sanctuary of the Madonna del Bagno
San Biagio at Pierle
San Marco Evangelista
( Cortona - Italy ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting the city of Cortona . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Cortona - Italy
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Under the Tuscan Sun Serenajoe's photos around Camucia, Italy (information about camucia italy)
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Taking the Train in Italy - Instructions
Learn how to take the train in Italy! Get on the right train with these step by step instructions by Nada Vergili of Nada's Italy. For more information on trains please read and for other useful tips on traveling to Italy, please visit
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Visiting the surroundings of Cortona | Cortonaweb.net podcast
The surroundings of Cortona are rich in history, art and magic. Hermitage Le Celle cannot be missed. It was built by Saint Francis for a small community of Franciscan friars and was restored by Brother Elias. The area is characterized by small houses of hermits, from which derives the name celle. In this place of peace and rest, where a few capuchin friars still live, you can visit saint Francis' cell, which has been kept intact after his death in 1226.
Not far from this hermitage we find the Church of Santa Maria Nuova, designed by Vasari and Cristofanello in the sixteenth century. This beautiful church with Greek cross plan has three identical facades and an imposing dome, which was influenced by the Baroque style.
About 10 km far from Cortona you cannot miss to visit the Abbey of Farneta of the Benedictine monks, dating back to the eighth century. The most beautiful part of the abbey is its crypt, which is sustained by magnificent Roman columns and capitals.
Near the border with Umbria we find other historical and artistic jewels, like the Roman Villa of Ossaia dating back to the late Republican and Imperial period. In the villa of about 1000 sq. m. archaeologists found beautiful black and white and polychrome geometrical mosaics, as well as marbles and funerary inscriptions.
A few km away from the Roman Villa it is worth visiting the Church of San Michele Arcangelo in Metelliano, built in the seventh century by the Lombards and renovated around the eleventh century in Pre-Romanic and Byzantine style. The nave and the aisles are alternated by big pillars that make the architecture very harmonious, therefore the church has been declared national monument in 1907.
Finally we cannot forget the Fortress of Pierle of the thirteenth century, built by the Casali family and sold to the Florentine Republic together with the town of Cortona in the fifteenth century. Today only two of the four towers are still visible, the building is fairly ruined but its fascination has not ceased as centuries have gone by.
Property ID 36542 Luxury Villa in Cortona , Poggio di Cortona
This luxury villa, surrounded by a gorgeous and impressive garden, has been recently restored with great care of details and with respect to Tuscan tradition. What a great location! The villa is ideally located close to village and services offering at the same time absolute privacy and quietness. Villages are within walking distance and it lies between Cortona and Camucia. Restaurant at 300 m far. The location is ideal to visit all major Tuscan cities like Siena ( 50 km) Florence 100 km, and other places of beauty like Montepulciano 20 km, Assisi 20 km Todi 40 km, Rome 250 km. The medieval village of Cortona is world famous for the Tuscan Sun festival of music and the truly charming ambient of the main square. Poggio di Cortona is one of our best and most recommended villas. The villa offers complete privacy and tranquillity with bright comfortable, elegant interiors and beautiful grounds. Outside the striking garden has a lovingly manicured lawn and colourful displays of copious varieties of flowers. A beautifully constructed pergola awaits you for dining al fresco. The panoramic pool (5 x 10m - depth 1,20 to 1,75), is about 40 m from the house. From the pool there are tremendous panoramic views of the Cortona valley below stretching as far as lake Trasimeno. Inside elegant furnishings and a high level of comfort are found everywhere including air conditioning and wireless internet connection.
Cà di Maestro - holidayshouse in Cortona -Tuscany.
facebook/cadimaestro
appartamenti con cucina completa.giardino riservato,ombroso oliveto, barbecue, piscina.ferienhaus located a few km from Cortona. apartments equipped with kitchen.large private garden, shady grove,barbecue,swimmingpool.
Parcheggio Posti auto
Trasporti pubblici restaurant,pizzeria , 1 km
market , 1 km
bus near post office, 300 mt
train ( camucia-cortona station ) , 8 km.
highway ( A1 exit monte sansavino ) , 18 km.
club horse 8 km.
hospital 10 km.
Casa Ombretta Slide Show
Casa Ombretta is a lovingly restored medieval home, located in upper Cortona, an neighborhood known as Poggio. This residential neighborhood was the wealthier part of Cortona in the middle ages, and was where Cortona nobility lived. Homes were larger and it had the best views of the valley. Casa Ombretta has an enormous walled private garden that wraps around the mountain, with an amazing view of the valley that stretches out seemingly forever. Gardens this large are almost non existent in Cortona, it being a medieval hill town with small dwellings and almost no outside spaces except courtyards and terraces. The rooms are all spacious with high ceilings and and are appointed with beautiful Tuscan antiques.
Casa Ombretta has 4 double bedrooms, 2 of the bedrooms have a single day daybed as well as a queen size bed, and one of the double bedrooms also has an adjoining living room suite with a double sleeper sofa, so that a family of 4 could use these 2 rooms quite easily. The latest renovation is a garden apartment which has its own self contained kitchen and bath, which can be entered from its own entrance from the street and also from the garden in back. There is an adjoining door which also connects the apartment to the main house. There are 4 full bathrooms. The home will accommodate from 8-10 people comfortably with the option of adding 2 additional people in twin beds that are in existing bedrooms. Casa Ombretta is exquisite and the owner, Ombretta Tenani, is very proud of her creation, this home has been in her family for generations. Ombretta and Torquato are lovely hosts and are available to assist in making you stay at their home the most memorable ever.
Brief Description
Independent villa with garden
Location: Cortona centre
Minimum stay: 1 week, arrival day Saturday
Free parking available
Garden area: furnished with Umbrellas, Tables for 10 people, chairs, BBQ,
Bedrooms: 4
on ground floor:1 suite, on 1th floor: 1 suite, on 2nr floor: 1 suite ,1 double bedroom
Bathroom 4 each one en-suite
on groun floor 1 with shower, on 1th floor 1 with Jacuzzi Tub, on 2nd 2 Jacuzzi Shower
Linens and towels included: yes
Washing machine: yes
Fireplace : no
Windowscreen: yes
Dishwasher : yes
Air Conditioning : no
Extra costs: heat:according to consumption fyi heating is per Italian law only permitted from November- April
Final cleaning: included in rate
Chef Service available: 35€- 45€ per person upon reques
Cooking class: 750€- 855€ per person upon request
Surrounding:From the villa, you can reach some breath-taking villages in Tuscany and Umbria. For excursions to the large cities like Rome, Florence, Perugia, Assisi, Orvieto, or Arezzo we recommend to get there by train that depart from Camucia and in a short time, you are right in the center of the city. If you do not have a car to get yourself from the villa to the train station in Camucia, we can call you a taxi.
For the small villages like Montepulciano, Pienza, Corciano, Castiglione del Lago, Montalcino, Siena, Trevi, Spello, Gubbio, Val d'Orcia, and il Casentino, it is necessary to have a car. Everyone of these villages can be reached in under one and half hours of driving.
Bologna San Luca 2017 Prove Tecniche e di Gara