The City of Cortona is magical in so very many ways. The book "Under the Tuscan Sun" along with the movie based on this book, made tourists to discover Tuscany's delighted Cortona.

Expediently the town is located between Rome and Florence, this town of 30,000 people is located on a hill about 500 m. above sea level.

Cortona has a long and fascinating history: The Etruscans built the city's walls 3,000 years ago. You can still see Etruscan stone work at the Guelfa gates. You can see more at the MAEC -Museo dell'Academia Etrusca, which has artifacts from the Etruscans and the Romans period as well as many historic artworks, and also paintings of the renaissance period made by the greatest artists of that time.

When you walk in the narrow streets to the Piazza Garibaldi, from where you can see beautiful panoramic view of Lake Trasimeno and the valley of Chiana, you shouldn't miss this photo opportunity, as it is a unique and memorable view.

There is also a stunning church and a park, at the center of which is a fountain decorated with two playful dolphins of bronze. Take a break, sit down and enjoy the view among the chestnut trees.

Arriving to Piazza della Repubblica, with its 4th century town hall. "Palazzo Casali". on the first Saturday of each month, there is a market where you can find souvenirs, food and other wares to buy for yourself or for a gift. At the end of August there is the National Market of Ancient Furniture at Cortona's town hall Palace.

Cortona is stuck in time; you can feel the medieval atmosphere just walking in the steep narrow streets, look for the Torre del Pulcinella, the town clock that uses cymbals rather than bells to make known the time.
Cortona is full of history, but not only, has it appeared that tourists enjoy the small "Trattorie" restaurants, with Tuscan delicious dishes and superb service , and the "enoteche" wine taverns, as much as the many ceramic ware and cloths boutiques, shopping is great in Cortona. There are several shops specializing in leather goods and you can find purses, satchels, belts and other leather goods, there are also several nice permanent art galleries and always a selection of temporary art exhibits.

When visiting Cortona, rest assured that all the usual tourist amenities are available to make your trip easy, at the area of Cortona, there are plenty of Hotels, villas, farmhouses to let, some are luxurious and in real Tuscan style authentically renovated, such as Villa La Mucchia at the foot of Cortona, an excellent location for day trips and relaxation.

If you're fond of religious history, go to the Great Cloister of the "Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore" (monastery of the Mount of Olives) to see the frescoes of St. Benedict. Signorelli painted these in the 15th century.

You can also visit Montepulciano, Siena, Pienza and Asissi, or Perugia and the Lake of Trasimeno in Umbria within half an hour drive from Cortona.