Ancient Cortona sits high above the valley floor of the Valdichiana, the long road winding up through terraces of olive grove and vineyard to a walled medieval town that seems to cling desperately to the sharp ridges of rock. Steep narrow streets clamber up the rock and flat ground is at a premium in Cortona - thus cars are (thankfully) limited. It all adds to the sense of elevated isolation - though things can get pretty busy in summer.
Gaze down from here at night and you see the lights from the towns of southern Tuscany winking in the distance. There are sights aplenty, with Piazza Garibaldi giving fine views of Lake Trasimeno below. You'll find some superb restaurants in Cortona, and good bars and cafes around Corso Italia and on the piazzas Guido Monaco, Grande and San Francesco.
The Museo dell'Accademia Etrusca charts the long history of Cortona back to Etruscan times, with burial items and bronzes, while the Museo Diocesano has panels by Fra Angelico. The Duomo (cathedral) built on an old pagan temple, is right up against the city walls and looks down into the abyss below. Also see the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, and that of San Nicolo, with a Signorelli altarpiece. The church of Santa Margherita, meanwhile, holds the tomb of St Margaret of Cortona, the town's patron saint.
To the left you'll find a selection of Cortona hotels, just to whet your appetite.
See also Cortona hotels (full listings) and our Cortona hotel map.
