The Area
With its prevailing medieval character, Cortona is equally ancient and noble, making it a robust tourist destination.
Situated on a hill, this city resides 50 miles from Florence in the Arezzo province. Clay-colored roofs and amber stone structures blanket an entire swath of hillside, which is set against a profusion of rising emerald green Cypress trees.
Surrounding the town are the gentle, sloping mounds and basins of the ever-familiar Tuscan plains, forever a collage of textures. Far in the distance lies a panorama of dusky mountain ranges overlooking the beautiful Lake Trasimeno, an added boon to the area's stunning views.
You can still catch glimpses of old Etruscan tombs or stone walls in the Cyclopean style, standing in ruin after their formation some 3000 years ago. As the setting for Frances Mayes' Under the Tuscan Sun, Cortona is captivating.
