Italy is usually introduced through its beauty: Renaissance cities, hilltop towns, food, landscape and a slower rhythm of life. Yet people who are seriously considering a move abroad tend to look beyond the postcard. They want to understand how daily life works, which services are available and whether the place they love today can continue to support them in the years ahead.

Healthcare is therefore not a secondary question. It can influence where retirees settle, how long second-home owners spend in Italy, whether families feel comfortable relocating and how buyers compare one region with another. A home purchase is also a decision about infrastructure, continuity and confidence.

The publication of Newsweek and Statista's World's Best Specialized Hospitals 2027 offers a useful new perspective. The ranking identifies leading hospitals across thirteen medical specialties and places several Italian institutions among the strongest in the world. Four Italian hospitals appear in the global top ten of their respective fields, while additional Italian centres reach the top twenty and top one hundred.

Four Italian Hospitals in the Global Top Ten

The four highest-ranked Italian results are spread across Rome, Milan and Bologna, demonstrating that internationally recognised specialist expertise is not concentrated in a single institution or medical field.

Beyond the top ten, the same ranking places the Carlo Besta institute at number 11 for neurosurgery and Policlinico Gemelli at number 11 for gastroenterology. The European Institute of Oncology in Milan ranks 14th for oncology, while Centro Cardiologico Monzino in Milan ranks 17th for cardiology. These placements are especially relevant because they cover very different areas of care, from neurological and oncological treatment to digestive and cardiovascular medicine.

Italian hospitals also appear throughout the top one hundred. In cardiology, for example, the ranking includes Monzino at number 17, San Raffaele at number 22, Gemelli at number 27 and Niguarda at number 68. In oncology, the European Institute of Oncology ranks 14th, Gemelli 29th, the National Cancer Institute in Milan 33rd and Humanitas in Rozzano 45th. In endocrinology, the University Hospital of Pisa reaches number 42, giving Tuscany a direct presence in the international ranking.

What Does the Hospital Ranking Actually Measure?

The World's Best Specialized Hospitals ranking is not a league table of entire national health systems, and it should not be interpreted as proof that every hospital offers the same standard or waiting time. It assesses hospitals within specific specialties using three weighted components.

The strong weight assigned to professional reputation means that the ranking reflects the views of medical experts as well as formal quality indicators. It is a meaningful sign of international recognition, but it is not a promise about the experience of every individual patient. The responsible conclusion is that Italy possesses specialist institutions with recognised expertise across a broad range of fields.

Why Does Healthcare Matter When Buying Property in Italy?

International property buyers do not all ask the same questions. A couple planning retirement may focus on continuity of care and future needs. A family may want to understand paediatric services. Second-home owners may be concerned about what happens if an unexpected medical problem arises during a long stay. Buyers who intend to establish residency need to understand whether and how they can register with the public health service, while others may maintain private insurance or combine public and private care.

For this reason, healthcare should be treated as part of the wider quality-of-life conversation. It sits alongside transport, community, language, property maintenance and access to everyday services. These practical elements do not diminish the emotional appeal of Cortona; they make the decision to live here more complete and realistic.

Cortona's strengths are not limited to its architecture or views across the Valdichiana. Daily life can include walkable streets, local shops, a weekly market, outdoor space and a community where relationships still develop face to face. For many international residents, wellbeing is shaped by this combination of environment, pace, social connection and access to essential services.

Research on health and ageing increasingly recognises that wellbeing is influenced not only by clinical treatment but also by social connection, physical activity, environment and a sense of belonging. A town cannot replace medical care, but the structure of everyday life can support healthier routines and reduce the isolation that sometimes accompanies relocation or retirement.

Can Foreigners Access Italian Healthcare? Understanding Access as an International Resident

Access to Italian healthcare depends on personal status. Italian and European Union citizens, non-EU residents, workers, pensioners, students and second-home owners may follow different registration routes and may not have identical entitlements or costs. Purchasing a property does not automatically create residency rights or guarantee registration with the National Health Service.

Prospective residents should therefore verify their position before moving. This may involve checking visa or residency conditions, confirming whether registration with the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale is compulsory or voluntary, understanding which documents are required and deciding whether private health insurance is needed during any transition period.

Waiting times can also vary by service and location. Some residents use public care for most needs and choose private consultations for speed or convenience in particular circumstances. The right approach depends on health needs, residency status, insurance, budget and personal preference. No property agency should offer medical or immigration guarantees, but a knowledgeable local team can help clients identify the practical questions to ask before making a decision.

More Than a Beautiful Address

The 2027 international hospital ranking adds a valuable piece of evidence to Italy's quality-of-life story. Four Italian institutions are among the world's top ten in their specialties, and additional centres are recognised in areas including cardiology, oncology, neurosurgery, gastroenterology and endocrinology. At regional level, Tuscany exceeded the national sufficiency threshold across all three areas of the latest LEA assessment. At local level, Cortona forms part of the Azienda USL Toscana Sud Est network and is served by the Santa Margherita Hospital at La Fratta.

Taken together, these facts support a realistic conclusion. Choosing Cortona means choosing the human scale of a Tuscan hill town without being disconnected from a wider healthcare system. Everyday services are available locally, regional care is organised through the Tuscan network and Italy includes specialist centres recognised internationally for their expertise.

A home in Cortona is therefore more than a beautiful address. It is part of a life built around landscape, community, daily services and the confidence that important practical needs have been considered.

At Cortona International, we believe that finding the right property begins with understanding the life a client wants to build. Our role is to help international buyers look beyond the listing, understand the local area and make informed choices about living in Cortona and the Valdichiana.

Thinking About a Home in Cortona

Talk to our local team about Cortona, its communities and the properties that best suit your plans. We can help you explore not only the home itself, but also the practical details that shape everyday life in this part of Tuscany.

Frequently Asked Questions About Healthcare in Cortona

Is there a hospital in Cortona?

Yes. The Santa Margherita Hospital at La Fratta, within the municipality of Cortona, has an emergency department and serves the Valdichiana area as part of the Azienda USL Toscana Sud Est network. More complex or highly specialised cases are referred to larger hospitals elsewhere in Tuscany or to national centres.

Can international buyers use Italy's public healthcare system?

It depends on personal status. Registration with the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (Italy's National Health Service) may be compulsory or voluntary depending on whether someone is an EU or non-EU citizen, a resident, a worker, a pensioner or a second-home owner. Buying a property does not automatically create residency rights or guarantee registration, so prospective residents should verify their specific position before moving.

How does Tuscany's healthcare system rank nationally?

In the Italian Ministry of Health's latest published assessment (2023), Tuscany scored above the sufficiency threshold of 60 across all three Essential Levels of Care (LEA) macro-areas: prevention, district or community care, and hospital care. Tuscany was one of only thirteen regions and autonomous provinces to meet the threshold in every area.

Do I need private health insurance if I buy a home in Cortona?

Not necessarily, but many international residents use a mix of public and private care. The right approach depends on residency status, health needs, insurance coverage, budget and personal preference, and private insurance is often useful during any transition period before public registration is confirmed.

What should I do in a medical emergency in Cortona?

Cortona residents can reach the emergency department at the Santa Margherita Hospital at La Fratta for urgent local care. For specialist treatment, cases are referred through the Azienda USL Toscana Sud Est network to larger hospitals in Tuscany or to nationally recognised centres.

Sources

• Corriere della Sera, Gli ospedali italiani migliori al mondo per specialità, 17 September 2026, updated 18 September 2026.
• Italian Ministry of Health, Essential Levels of Care and results of the New Guarantee System for 2023.
• Regione Toscana, Welfare e Salute in Toscana 2025.
• Regione Toscana, Healthcare performance evaluation system.
• Azienda USL Toscana Sud Est, Santa Margherita Hospital at La Fratta, Cortona.

Editorial note: This article provides general information only and does not constitute medical, legal, immigration or residency advice. Healthcare eligibility, registration, costs, waiting times and referral pathways vary according to individual circumstances.