homepage welcometuscany holiday vacations
Tuscany home travel
inserisci banneradd a banner
Accommodation in tuscany hotel rent villa resort
tuscany online booking flag_language_engglish_american_usa_en_flag.gif prenotazione alberghiera in toscana by venere Hotel Toskana Städtereisen Reiseziele in alphabetischer Reihenfolge deutsch germany Hoteles Toscana espanol Ciudades principales Destinos en orden alfabético Hotels Toscane tuscany online booking français Villes principales Destinations par ordre alphabétique francais france 主要都市 観光地リスト(アルファベットA〜Z 順) tuscany online booking language japan 各酒店 托斯卡纳区 主要地城市 目标按字母顺序 tuscany online booking language zh
Cortona town a very nice town near Arezzo
Cortona town in Arezzo tuscany a millenary cultural centre, holds collection of works of art from 500 b.C. on. You will find all year round a lot of cultural and artistical manifestations, museums, etruscan excavations, wonderfull churches. Cortona has been the perfect setting for a romantic Italian movie ' Under the tuscan sun '' see details
Cortona Under the tuscan sun

Under the tuscan sun the tuscan movieCortona as been the setting of ' Under the tuscan sun ' a romantic italian movie more details

accommodation in this area:

Hotel residence Chianti Arezzo

Arezzo Poppi Bagnoro Policiano Anghiari
Cortona town

More hotel booking in Arezzo Chianti area

Hotel in Arezzo
Hotel in Chianti area
Hotel in Cortona charming town (Arezzo)


Country holidays farms Arezzo area

Arezzo Casentino Valtiberina Valdarno Val di Chiana Anghiari Bibbiena.
Cortona charming town

 
 

Italy country holiday travel vacation trip rent get notified for new review & offers Sign-up

Alloggi toscani prenotazioni

Hotel in toscana casa vancanza villa B&B prenotazione online albergo last minute
Firenze
Hills around Florence
Lucca
Pisa
Siena
Hills around Siena
San Gimignano
Montecatini Terme
Viareggio - Versilia coast
Chianciano Terme
Argentario e Giglio
Chianti
Chianti dintorni
Costa degli Etruschi
Crete Senesi
Isola d'elba
Maremma
Montagne Fiorentine
Monte Amiata
Mugello
Terme della Toscana
Val d'Elsa ed Empolese
Val d'Orcia
Val di Cecina
Val di Chiana
Val di Merse
Valdarno


A city of ancient and mysterious origins.

Perched high up on a hilltop stands the old and majestic town of
Cortona, which can be clearly seen in all its splendour even from afar: a rare trait for a Tuscan town.

The ancient hamlets are in fact situated high up on a hillock from where the surrounding lands can be surveyed for miles around. It was for this reason that Italian villages were usually concealed from view behind fortress-like walls.

Cortona has been designed in a fan-shape on consecutive levels so as not to be hidden by its surrounding walls. In fact just the opposite is true: the walls seem to draw the levels together and push them upwards, offering visitors an unforgettable first glance. This certainly makes the town seem a very attractive place to visit, but before setting out on your tour it is advisable to get to know at least some of the main aspects of Cortona's past that characterise its abundant culture and art. Cortona boasts extremely old Umbrian and Etruscan Lucomonia origins (dating back to around the 6th century B.C.).

It was defeated at the hands of the Romans (who called it Corito) and was then invaded by the Goths during the 5th century. In the 13th century it declared itself a free-governing municipality and in the 14th century recognised the rule of the group of hamlets, which exercised its supremacy over the neighbouring towns.

Cortona's historical centre comprises Palazzo Comunale (1241) with its flight of steps leading up to the entrance and an embattled tower, Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo (1250) and Palazzo Pretorio (1268). In the immediate vicinity of the town centre are three religious buildings of note. The 11th century cathedral of SS.

Maria Assunta, the 13th century church of S. Agostino and the 13th century church of S. Francesco, with its impressive Gothic portal.

All around this district steep roads and streets branch off and promise unexpected views along the way. The sights constantly change depending on what building you happen to come across, whether it be from the early Medieval Ages, the 13th century or the Renaissance.

A local curiosity are the "porte del morto" (the doors of death) which can be found next to the entrances of some of the medieval palaces.

Narrow in structure and slightly raised off the ground they were used to carry coffins in and out of the palaces. An absolute must during your stay is a visit to the Museo dell'Accademia Etrusca (the Etruscan Museum) that houses many Etruscan artefacts from the 5th century B.C. Objects include the famous bronze "lampadario" (chandelier) with the head of Gorgon in its centre and fantastical animal embellishments (satyrs and sirens) and the extraordinarily beautiful "Musa Polimma", a beautiful fresco of Polymnia, the muse of song, believed to be from the Roman period.

The Museo Diocesano is made up of two churches built by Jesuits at the end of the 16th century. The most famous work of art housed here is L'Annunciazione" (The Annunciation) by Beato Angelico. At the very top of the town stand two impressive monuments.

The first is the 14th century Santuario di S. Margherita da Cortona (the sanctuary of S. Margherita from Cortona) containing the Gothic tomb of the saint herself. The second is the Fortezza Medicea (or Fortezza del Girifalco), built in 1556 on a rock, from where views over the Val di Chiana and Lake Trasimeno can be appreciated. Located on the outskirts of the town are the Etruscan tombs, known as "Tanella di Pitagora" (2nd century B.C.) in the district of Cannaia. There are also Etruscan tombs ad hypogeum from the 6th and 7th centuries B.C. in the locality of Sodo and the beautiful 16th century temple of S. Maria delle Grazie at Calcinaio.

The local cuisine in Cortona is made up of simple but genuine dishes. Of particular note are the panzanella (summer salad of tomatoes, basil, cucumber, onion and bread), crostini neri, galletto ai carboni (cockerel cooked over charcoals) and pici al sugo di ocio.

Links:

Cortona.net
 

Click agigungi un sito Segnalaci siti notizie per turisti o eventi


Tuscany florence social network

Share experiences
Follow us on Twitter
welcometuscany on twitter

Follow us on Facebook


INSERIMENTO HOTEL

Scheda con foto, video, link al tuo sito per prenotazioni dirette: dettagli
Per provare gratis e senza impegno alla scadenza: contattaci

click to open this area
Open area Map

How to reach Cortona
By car: when coming from Milano, Rome or Florence on the Autostrada del Sole, exit at the Valdichiana exit and take the superstrada toward Perugia. After a few kilometers, take the Cortona exit.
By train: the closest station is the one in Camucia, but some express trains and Intercity trains stop at Terontola (approx. 10 kilometers from Cortona) while others stop in Arezzo (30 kilometers from Cortona)

 
search direct booking accommodations and travel tips in tuscany powered by clickz.it italy-travel-guide.it partner welcometuscany welcometuscany is powered by Venere.com an Italian company specializing in online reservations at cool independent hotels throughout tuscany. homestead.it hotel-discount.it european-vacation.it trovi.net italian search engine for past present and future partner welcometuscany

welcometuscanY HOME SINCE 2001 - sitemap - Welcometuscany Japan - STAFF

accommodation Tuscany Hotel holiday HOUSE RENTAL B&B

Welcometuscany is powered by expedia venere company specializing in secure online reservations at selected charming independent accommodations throughout tuscany.
Accommodation Florence Chianti hills Siena Lucca Pisa Versilia coast Tuscan Spa resorts Montecatini terme Val di Chiana

Welcometuscany is powered by clickz italy-travel-guide.it to search direct booking accommodations and travel tips in tuscany http://tuscany.it.clickz.it
Farmhouse - Hotel - B&B - residence - villa - castle vip luxury - apartment townhouse - advanced search

Guida toscana dal 2001 in inglese per turismo dall'estero inserisci il tuo alloggio senza commissioni
Inserimento strutture ricettive: hotel casa vacanza alloggio privato agriturismo con: galleria fotografica, video, mappa, link diretto al tuo sito e molto altro: dettagli pacchetto full
Prova gratis inserisci il tuo alloggio fai da te: 1) Registrati 2) Contattaci
3) Realizza la scheda: ignora pagamento e attendi - senza commissioni ne impegno alla scadenza.

Locations of visitors to this page