Tips For Trips

Museo dell’Opera

Florence
Museo dell’Opera, FlorenceRadically renovated in 2015 and with the conception of an educational journey to discover places, artists and those that contributed to the Renaissance era.Sara Scoffield took a tour of the museum which left her wanting more and blown ...

Sara Scoffield -

Cascate del Mulino, Saturnia

Thermal springs
Cascate del Mulnio and SaturniaThe warm, thermal waters of Saturnia are an amazing place to explore and visit whilst in Tuscany especially in the cooler Autumn months.The thermal springs are located near to the beautiful town of Maremma and Saturnia ...

Team -
My Cortona

Lago di Garda and surrounding area

Mantova, Gardaland, Safari Park
Lake Garda and surrounding areaLake Garda, in northern Italy, is known for its crystal clear water. At the south end, the town of Sirmione is dominated by the Rocca Scaligera, a fortress with harbor views. The nearby Grotte di Catullo ...

Siena - A quick guide

Palio di Siena
SienaStarting from the 12th century, the city of Siena was considered a free municipality and incorporated surrounding territories and small villages. From this moment on, great economic development began which lasted for a long time and which made Siena an ...

Iginio Massari Pasticceria

Florence
Galleria Iginio Massari, Florencehttps://www.iginiomassari.it/pages/galleria-iginio-massari-firenzeTo keep your energy levels high, why not indulge in one of the best pastries in Florence.The Galleria Iginio Massari is located on Via dei Vecchietti and is one of the pastry shops of the ‘Masterchef’ Iginio ...

Team -
My Cortona

Odeon Cinema, Theatre, Bookshop

Florence
Giunti Odeon Libreria e Cinema:www.giuntiodeon.comThe Odeon cinema was one of the most beautiful cinemas of Florence. It was built around 1457  in one of the most important Palazzo’s of Florence, the Palazzo dello Strozzino. It was designed by Filippo Bruncelleschi with ...

Team -
My Cortona

Museo Marino Marini

Florence
Museo Marino Marinihttps://museomarinomarini.itThe Marino Marini museum mixes both old and new architecture and paintings.The collection is dedicated to the modern Italian artist from Pistoia who is best known for his large horse and knight-themed sculptures.The museum is located within a ...

Team -
My Cortona

Palazzo Strozzi

Anselm Kiefer Exhibition
Anselm Kiefer ‘The Fallen Angel’Everyday 10am - 8pm (11pm on Thursday) until 21st JulyPalazzo StrozziUntil the 21st July 2024 take a visit to the Palazzo Strozzi, www.palazzostrozzi.org where a major exhibition, ‘The Fallen Angel’, is taking place.It is an exhibition ...

Team -
My Cortona

Elba and the GTE

Nature and Culture
Elba and the Grande Travesrata Elbana (GTE)Elba:It’s an island that encapsulates charm, has extensive history as it was the place of Napoleons’s first exile and where the sea meets nature.It’s the third largest of the Italian islands and has a ...

Team -
My Cortona

Montecchio Castle

Step back in time
Driving from Cortona to Arezzo, just before Castiglion Fiorentino, turning a curve and you are faced with the Castle of Montecchio! It really does appear almost like a dream.The castle was originally built in the 10th century and enlarged and ...

Team -
My Cortona

A Day Trip in Casentino

Ponte Buriano, Castiglion Fibocchi, Il Borro
Il Ponte a Buriano A few kilometres from Arezzo we find the Buriano Bridge, a medieval architectural work which is able to sustain today’s traffic. But what really catches the eye is the structure, it’s massive arches make it look like ...

Team -
My Cortona

Fortress in Lucignano

FAI day trips
Again this year, the FAI (Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano) has organised it’s spring days with which villas and places, that are usually closed to the public, are open and can be viewed.This year, we went to Lucignano, to visit the ...

Team -
My Cortona

The Marble Caves of Valsora

Carrara
I had seen a famous photo taken by Nicola Bertellotti, of the marble caves of Carrara - and when I passed closed to Carrara on my way to the Cinque Terre, I promised myself that on the return journey, I ...

Team -
My Cortona

Cinque Terre and Portovenere

Hiking
Located in Liguria and near the city of La Spezia, are many little colourful towns and villages that have been developed between the mountains and the sea. They really are colourful with little roads, marinas and breathtaking views.Developed along the ...

Team -
My Cortona

Saints & Martyrdom in Rome

A somewhat macabre excursion with Patrick & Kaat Muylle to Rome's Santo Stefano Rotondo...
This time we turn our attention to Rome! We are not however, following any beaten track; so, no Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, or St Peter's Basilica…. We do need the Colosseum however, but that's only to find our way: ...

Patrick & Kaat Muylle -
Lichtervelde, Belgium

Matera - a history of poverty

Matera has gone from rags to riches, but the tourist boom of recent years, is perhaps somewhat voyeuristic...
The only time Val and I visited the southern Italian region of Puglia was 17 years ago. It was in connection with research for a book about Italy’s lesser-known regions that Val was creating with the Italian cook and food journalist, Anna del ...

Roger Jupe -
London, UK

Guided tour of San Giovanni Valdarno

Once again Patrick & Kaat Muylle explore and share interesting details for one of their more recent trips...
For this month's trip we visit San Giovanni Valdarno, a city of 17,000 souls, about 40 kilometers equidistant from both Florence and Arezzo. As the name implies, the city is located in the valley of the river Arno. It was ...

Patrick & Kaat Muylle -
Lichtervelde, Belgium

AREZZO-AN ALTERNATIVE TO FLORENCE?

COULD THE QUIETER, BUT BEAUTIFUL TOWN OF AREZZO BECOME THE NEW GO-TO TOWN OF TUSCANY?
As an alternative to holidaying in Florence or Siena where waves and waves of tourists make the viewing of just about anything, if not impossible, certainly no pleasure, Peter and Juan from San Diego, California decided this year, to try ...

Peter and Juan -
California, USA

Palermo: An explosion of the senses...

Lea McKnoulty takes a four day trip to Palermo - a colourful, energetic and chaotic place to the extreme...
Visit Palermo to Awaken your Senses: Nestled amongst the thrill of living my Italian dream it’s easy for complacency to creep in. Being in a place like Cortona for half the year, the rhythm of daily life is comforting. Walking the hills, strolling the ...

Lea McKnoulty -
Brisbane, Australia

LA CHIESA DEL CARMINE WINERY ESTATE

COUNTRY HOUSE, WORKING FARM AND WINERY, THIS IS A STUNNING DESTINATION FOR A WINE-TASTING TRIP...
The Chiesa del Carmine winery estate with its beautiful 13th century church, is a beautiful setting for weddings and holiday rentals, but it is also a thriving working farm with olive groves, a truffle wood, pastures producing a variety of organic produce and ...

Roger Jupe -
London, UK

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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