It is hard to imagine that this tiny, impossibly hilly town once rivaled mighty Firenze for Tuscan dominance. But in the summer, Cortona sure rivals it for tourists per square inch. Nearly empty in the winter—the tourist office reports the summer population as 3000 and the winter population as “much, much less”—the town's three piazze and one main drag swell on breezy summer evenings with students from the University of Georgia's satellite campus and grown-up types from one of the many professional conferences held in town. Folks come here for the twisty, steep medieval streets and the breathtaking scenery, and because most streets end with a steep drop over the gorgeous green valley, panoramic views are a dime a dozen. Make sure to bring good shoes, though: you can't walk more than 50m on a flat surface in the entirety of Cortona.
There is no train station in Cortona. You'll want to use the Camucia-Cortona station, in the downhill satellite town of Camucia. Even this is a small station—there is no biglietteria, so buy tickets ...more
To get a proper sense of Cortona's topography, take a map, pinch it somewhere in the middle, and pull up. There you go. You will arrive in town via the Camucia-Cortona train station, which is at ...more
For some reason, Cortona is a place where people like to hold conferences. If the first hotel you try is completely booked, don't panic—it might just be the annual meeting of Stair Climbers of America ...more
The sit-down restaurants in town keep limited hours, closing between lunch and dinner, but there are plenty of other options. The small Despar in P. della Repubblica stocks basic groceries ...more
Eremo Le Celle, 40min. north of the city (☎ 0575 60 33 62; www.fraticappuccini.it), Getting here is a ~ hike, but it's worth it. Photos do not do justice to this 13th-century monastery built into ...more
When August 14 rolls around, Italian cows start to tremble. Yes, it’s time for the Sagra della Bistecca (Steakfest), the most important town festival, when the populace shares superb steak in the public ...more
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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