About Cortona

“Thou mayst have wandered far and wide through Italy — nothing hast thou seen more venerable than Cortona. Ere the days of Hector and Achilles, ere Troy itself arose — Cortona was” - 

George Dennis, Writer, Explorer and Etruscologist

A famous local saying; "Cortona, mother of Troy and Grandmother of Rome!"

According to the legend, Cortona was founded by Crano, one of Noah’s sons, 273 years after the Great Flood. Noah was so pleased when he saw the new town that he appointed his son as Corito, meaning “king”. Corito is exactly the ancient name of Cortona.

Corito’s son was Dardanus (does the name sound familiar? We have “Via Dardano” in town). He soon left the city and moved to Anatolia, where his descendants founded the city of Troy. Here is the reason for the”mother of Troy”!

Some centuries later, the more famous Aeneas led his descendants back to Italy while escaping from burning Troy. They moved to the Tyrrhenian coast and settled in a nearby area, where Romulus would later found the city of Rome… Grandchildren of Corito, thank you! For this reason, Cortona is considered to be the grandmother of Rome. 

It might sound a bit too “epic” to you, but as Cortonesi we are very proud of our origins – and considering the long and amazing history of this town, we have no reason to believe the contrary!

Thanks to Livingcortona!

The hilltop city of Cortona is housed inside her Etruscan (pre-Rome) walls and is the magnetic destination for thousands of Italians, Europeans, Americans and people from across the globe. Inside the walls contain dozens of excellent bars, restaurants, museums, art galleries and cafes. In addition, this thriving town has numerous family shops to satisfy all your needs whether they be for a butcher, fruit & vegetable stand, groceries,  freshly-made "to go" meals, wine, handmade jewelry or a hardware shop. Once you are "inside", there is no real reason to leave. Being on a hillside, Cortona's roads and alleys are frequently irregular. In fact, there is only one truly flat road, Via Nazionale that leads from Piazza della Republicca to the Giardini Pubblici. The roads are paved with new, old and ancient pavers which can provide a challenge at times. Also, several roads can be quite steep (this is how the locals keep in good shape, their own personal treadmill!) so good shoes are a must! 

Everyone has heard about, read or seen "Under The Tuscan Sun" written by local resident Frances Mayes and starring Diane Lane (and some local Cortonese as well!). But now a group of local residents wrote, directed, acted, filmed, edited and produced an award winning movie, Cortona 70's! The reception has been so great that a sequel is in the works. Possibly Cortona 80's??? Watch the trailer here https://youtu.be/XcCRpzOZtq4 and then spot the participants while strolling through town

Cortona is NOT a sleepy hilltop town! It is full of life and events. Throughout the year, the commune works hard to bring fun, family, culture and festivals (sagra) throughout the year. Cortona Jazz, Cortona On the Move, Cortonart, medieval pageantry, concerts, sagras for bistecca, porcini, olio, vino and several other food and harvest (vendemmia) celebrations. And this is just inside the walls! Neighboring towns host numerous other events. So there is never "nothing to do" in Cortona. 

"Donominazione di Origine" (DOC) is the protection designation to protect the special names of particular Italian wines and regions. Cortona is strategically situated, not only in its own DOC-zone, but surrounded by Chianti, Montepulciano, Montalcino and Trasimeno (Lago). Cortona's specialty is Syrah and Merlot. Wine tasting can easily be enjoyed within the walls at one of the many wine bottegas or day trips can be scheduled with one of the many wine tour companies in town. Regardless, wine is the life blood that flows through the veins & walls of Cortona whether you are splurging on a high end Brunello di Montalcino or simply ordering the "vino della casa" at a local ristorante. 

Cincin!

The cuisine of Tuscany is alive, diverse, fresh & unique in Cortona. From their very own recipe, pici al fumo, to the legendary "bistecca Fiorentina" using local Valdiachianina beef (the worlds largest beef cattle!), palates of all varieties will be satisfied with the culinary options available to them. We have Michelin restaurants, pizzerias, trattorias and plenty of pre-made "to go" options. Want to enjoy a homemade meal or cooking class in the villa (or in the garden)? Hire one of the numerous private chefs that are available to come to you! Or how about a cooking class in their kitchen! From local personality, Ilaria Salvadori, to Michelin starred chef Silvia Baracchi, you have unlimited choices to learn and feast! But the best culinary experience is when a newly befriended local invites you a special meal in their home or garden!  

Buon appetito!

One of the charms of Cortona are her shop keepers. Hard working and friendly faces that are eager to serve you but also open for a relationship. Within a 1-minute walk from the villa, you can do your simple grocery shopping at La Bottega and Romina will charm you with a warm welcome. Next door is the best place in the world for freshly made pasta, sauces and prepared foods from Lele & Nico. You can purchase Italian shoes from Ivo, find almost anything at Sando's hardware, beautiful handmade jewelry from Sebastian, artwork from Ivan (photo), antiques from Stefano, fresh picked local fruits & vegetables from Roberto and master mixed drinks from Massimo and his family at Tuscher Caffe. And we haven't even mentioned the restaurant owners! Here's a link on some of our favorite spots: https://goo.gl/maps/rwHFY4qDcs2xqmhG9

Again, being so centrally located, Cortona is the perfect hub to visit so many fantastic, historic and exquisite towns and cities in the surrounding Tuscan and Umbrian countryside. For the wine & cheese connoisseurs, Pienza, Montepulciano and Montalcino are within easy reach. Famous towns of Siena, Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano, Volterra and Florence are great day trips via car or train. Finally, beautiful Umbria offers the religious center of Assisi as well as the historic towns of Perugia and Orvieto. And this list really doesn't touch the dozens of other quaint and picturesque hilltop towns and villages.