Tips For Trips

PECCIOLI: WHEN WASTE BECOMES ART...

AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF HOW ONE SMALL VILLAGE WAS TRANSFORMED FROM A WASTE DUMP TO AN OPEN-AIR ART DISPLAY...
This time we took a two-hour drive from Cortona towards Peccioli, a municipality of circa 5,000 souls, located 30km north of Volterra, in the province of Pisa. This medieval village forms the surprising backdrop to numerous contemporary works of art.On entering the village ...

Patrick & Kaat Muylle -
Lichtervelde, Belgium

The Madonna of Vitaleta, Val d'Orcia

For 25 years, Patrick and Kaat Muylle, have made regular pilgrimages to the Chapel of the Madonna di Vitaleta
The Chapel of the Madonna di Vitaleta is located in the hills of the Val d’Orcia between San Quirico d’Orcia and Pienza, and offers one of the most iconic views of Tuscany, justly declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. No wonder one can ...

Patrick & Kaat Muylle -
Lichtervelde, Belgium

IN AND AROUND VENICE

A FULL ITINERARY WITH THE RIGHT MIX OF FUN AND CULTURE CAN MAKE A WEEKEND BREAK WITH THE KIDS A GREAT EXPERIENCE...
Nicola Burazzi enjoys weekend breaks with his daughter Bianca which provide the right mix of culture and entertainment.  His last trip took him to Venice where he stayed just outside of Mira - on the Riviera del Brenta - midway ...

Nicola Burazzi -
Foiano, Tuscany

Il Forte di Belvedere

If you're planning an itinerary of things to see in Florence, Nicola strongly recommends you add Belvedere Forte...
Should you be planning a stay in Florence, or even a day trip, one of the sights well worth visiting according to Nicola, is Il Forte Belvedere. The view from the fort is incomparable, with Florence laid out before you and villas and ...

Nicola Burazzi -
Foiano, Tuscany

SICILY 2 - A GASTRONOMIC GUIDE

BOTH REBECCA AND HER HUSBAND ARE KEEN COOKS, SO NO SURPRISE AT THEIR DELIGHT IN DISCOVERING SICILIAN CUISINE...
This second installment of our trip to Sicily focuses on its gastronomy: While we were in Palermo, we decided to explore the various markets, starting with the Mercato Del Capo which proved to have many choices in the way of typical Sicilian delicacies. ...

Rebecca Ghezzi -
Cortona, Tuscany

Sicily - more than a day trip

A family reunion in Sicily turned into a wonderful experience for Rebecca Ghezzi and her family...
Although once you get to Cortona, you very well may want to stay put, there are many places that are very accessible and make a great mini vacation. It seems a world away from Tuscany, but recently we travelled to ...

Rebecca Ghezzi -
Cortona, Tuscany

BEACHSIDE AT PORTONOVO

situated in the Parco Regionale Naturale del Conero, Portonovo is just a 2 and a half hour drive from Cortona...
Portonovo is a tranquil beach resort on the Adriatic coast, just a few kilometres south of Ancona and situated in the Parco Regionale Naturale del Conero. It is a 2 ½ hour drive from Cortona with the opportunity to stop over in some ...

Glenn Lewis -
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Day trip to Passignano

A trip to Passignano, on the shores of Lake Trasimeno, is sure to re-charge low batteries....
A trip to Passignano, on the northern shore of Lake Trasimeno – Italy’s fourth largest lake - makes for a great outing for both young and old. Whether you make it a half day trip - combined perhaps with its weekly Friday ...

Team -
My Cortona

Hiking the Via Lauretana

Nick Kelly, accompanied by friend Brendan, entertainingly documents his 5 day walk from Siena to Cortona...
Owing to COVID travel restrictions, I’d been deprived of the chance to visit our family’s little corner of Tuscan heaven at the foot of the hill of Cortona for nearly two years. I’d also long been envious of those energetic Camino-goers who Instagram ...

Nick Kelly, Dublin, Ireland -

ROAD TRIP TO PUGLIA: Part 2

In the second part of Sally Uhlmann's discovery of Puglia she stays in Ostuni, Lecce and Matera...
A quick 45-minute drive from Polignano al Mare brought us to Ostuni, known as the White City due to the old town’s plaster buildings painted uniformly stark white. This is a picturesque town meant for wandering. We rented a two-bedroom apartment, ...

Sally Uhlmann -
Cortona, Tuscany

ROAD TRIP TO PUGLIA: Part 1

Sally Uhlmann catalogues the historical, cultural and culinary richness of this fascinating part of Italy...
Puglia’s Siren Song: “Puglia’s the hot new spot,” a friend proclaimed while dining under the eaves of my porch in Cortona. In the fall of 2020, I purchased a second home in the very heart of Tuscany. By the summer of 2021, it’s like ...

Sally Uhlmann -
Cortona, Tuscany

A weekend at Genova

Genova's harbour area is the perfect destination for a weekend trip away with the whole family...
If you like the idea of a weekend getaway, especially somewhere that will also appeal to young children, then Genova comes highly recommended by CI’S Nicola Burazzi who took his daughter on a weekend trip to see the aquarium, the largest in Italy ...

Nicola Burazzi -
Foiano, Tuscany

A walk from Bologna to Florence

Leah Wood embarked on this week long walk, with a group of friends, during a break from her studies...
La Via Degli Dei and the wonderful people we met: With our pockets full of taralli, almonds and dried fruit, I set off with two friends on La Via Degli Dei – the 130km hiking trail across the Apennine Mountains from Bologna to ...

Leah Simmons Wood -
Cortona, Tuscany

Cala Violina and Lago dell’Accesa

With temperatures reaching as high as 40°, Lucy Wood and family decided on a day out ... destination swim!
Fully acknowledging that being August both roads and beaches would be populated, we set off in search of places to cool down – August has recorded some of the hottest temperatures ever. Our destinations are both in the Provincia di Grossetto:  Cala Violina is ...

Lucy Wood -
Cortona, Tuscany

Castiglione della Pescaia: A must do!

Castiglion della Pescaia is the perfect sea side town to visit if you have a young family...
Castiglione della Pescaia is a bit like Cortona-on-the-sea with slightly less panache. It is an extremely quaint town, dating back to the Etruscans and historically a fishing port, situated between blue sea and green hills. It is just 159 km from Cortona (1hr ...

Team -
My Cortona

Florence: Some fun facts!

From wine windows to the protection of Michelangelo's David, some interesting history of Florence...
Centuries ago, the bubonic plague, otherwise known as the Black Death, swept through Europe, killing one-third of the continent’s population at the time. Originating in Asia, the disease made its way to Italy during the late Middle Ages, and spread north from there.Thus, ...

Doumina Whyman -
Seattle, Washington, USA

SIENA: FUN FACTS AND USEFUL TIPS

Siena is one of Tuscany’s most beautiful towns and is just 50 minutes from Cortona, making it an easy day out...
Doumina Whyman, founder of the Enthusiastic Traveler, shares her notes on what to do and see in Siena, as well as some interesting facts on the famous Siena horse race, Il Palio which is held twice each year, on 2 July and ...

Doumina Whyman -
Seattle, Washington, USA

San Gimigniano

San Gimignano made a comeback in the 19th century, when it was discovered by northern European tourists...
About an hour's drive from Cortona, you can organize a day trip to San Gimignano; a very famous town, with a glorious history.San Gimignano was born along the Via Francigena - initially a very small village (about 1000 years ago).The trade and flow ...

Nicola Burazzi -
Foiano, Tuscany

RAPHAEL IN THE TIME OF COVID

Marking 500 years since the Renaissance artist's death the exhibition has been extended to 30th August 2020...
Perhaps understandably Raphael would have worn a face mask to cope with the foul smells on the streets of Renaissance Italy. It was in keeping then, that Val and I should cover our noses and mouths when we ventured to Rome on a ...

Roger Jupe -
London, UK

THE CITY OF ORVIETO

Starting in Etruscan times the residents of Orvieto excavated a shadow, alternative city in the obliging tufa stone
Orvieto, with its spectacular cathedral and memories of the days when the popes made it a favoured retreat, takes 75 minutes by car and less than an hour by train from Camucia-Cortona.The town sits on a pedestal, a sheer-cliff mesa, and looks much ...

Roger Jupe -
London, UK

Castello di Brolio - Gaiole in Chianti

Baron Bettino Ricasoli was an important figure for Chianti…he created the recipe for Chianti wine…
The castle of Brolio, in Gaiole in Chianti, dominates a beautiful part of Chianti with breath-taking views over an unspoiled landscape. It is a one hour drive from Cortona.The first recorded data regarding the castle dates back to 1009. In 1141 it was ...

Nicola Burazzi -
Foiano, Tuscany

THE CITY OF AREZZO

AREZZO IS THE HOME OF ANTIQUES WITH ITS MONTHLY FAIR HELD ON THE 1ST CALENDAR SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH...
Arezzo is a beautiful city, alive, rich and relatively little known.It was once referred to as, "the city of gold", a large industrial zone with thousands of metalworking companies.Today it is changing direction and is opening up to tourism and events; it was the ...

Nicola Burazzi -
Foiano, Tuscany

THE CITY OF LUCCA

AN EXCEPTIONAL TOWN IN NORTHERN TUSCANY FAMOUS FOR ITS HOSTING OF AN ANNUAL SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Lucca is definitely one of my favorite cities - it is the essence of Tuscany - extremely elegant and proud of its history and traditions. It is a place rich in culture, with a strong identity (sometimes even a bit snobbish).It is ...

Nicola Burazzi -
Foiano, Tuscany

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