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Cortona Online - the first and most complete website for Cortona and area |
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Cortona di Toscana
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GETTING THERE
BACKGROUND For those with hiking or biking interests, there are numerous routes outside the city walls (especially near Le Celle [#563], Torreone [#561], Mt. S. Egidio [#50] & Bramasole) which have been laid out by the Club Alpino Italiano; these are denoted by red & white stripes along the trail with trail numbers also appearing periodically (see example at right). A map of these trails titled "Sentiero 50: dal Trasimeno alla Verna" is available at bookstores & many Tabacchi. In recent years, Cortona has become well known to English speakers through the best-selling book (on the NY Times list of nonfiction) by Frances Mayes, Under the Tuscan Sun. "Bella Tuscany" followed in April '99; "In Tuscany" arrived October 2000, the next in the sieries "Bringing Tuscan Home" arrived Oct. 2004 and the most recent "The Tuscan Sun Cookbook" arrived March 2012 Cortona holds third place among Italian cities (after Venice & Positano) for weddings of foreigners. Cortona has recently improved the process for non-citizens to hold civil weddings. There is a fee of 500 € for use of the Town Hall by non-residents for their ceremony.
ADDRESS
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Cortona
- beautiful city which graces the slope of Monte di Nestled amid olive groves & vineyards, it offers stunning views across the Val di Chiana NEWS: New public swimming pool opened in the park.
Trail marker (Club Alpino Italia |
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How to get there By car: From the A1 (either north- or southbound) take the Valdichiana exit. After you pay your toll, go through the roundabout (the correct exit from the roundabout should be opposite where you enter from the toolbooth) and follow directions toward Perugia which will place you on the Siena-Perugia Superstrada (direction Perugia). Continue on the Perugia Superstrada for 12.3 km to the Cortona/Camucia exit (don't take the earlier exit unless you want to stop by Farneta). In just under 3 km you'll see Cortona on the hill. Follow the signs to Cortona; about 7 km further you'll be at the city walls. For a road map of the area, click at right MAP and enter Cortona in the "City" box of the "Maps in Europe" section. By air: Florence's Amerigo Vespucci [FLR], Perugia [PEG], and Pisa's Galileo Galilei [PSA] are the closest airports; Rome's Fiumicino [FCO], Milan's Malpensa [MXP], and Bologna [BLQ] airports are also convenient - e.g. there are fast shuttle trains from Fiumicino Aeroporto directly to both Roma Termini (8.80 €) and Roma Tiburtina (5.00 €) [Note: for many destinations, transferring at Roma Tiburtina (the eighth station from the airport) is faster and more convenient than Roma Termini]; the train ride to Cortona's Camucia or Terontola stations takes ca. 1-1/2 hours (click here for the link to train timetables); you can purchase tickets to your final destination at the train station in the airport. In Milan, take the direct shuttle bus from the Malpensa airport to the Milano Centrale train station if you are transferring to a train; if you are going to stay in downtown Milano instead of taking a train immediately to another city there's an express shuttle which goes to several of the metro (subway) stations. In Florence, take the direct shuttle bus from the airport to the Santa Maria Novella (Firenze S.M.N.) train station. By train: On both the main north-south line between Firenze and Roma [see notes above for shuttle info. from airports] as well as the east-west line between Perugia and Siena. The IC (Intercity) train ride to Cortona's Terontola station takes ca. 1-1/2 hours from Roma; slightly longer for the Diretto or Regionale from Firenze to the Camucia station (click here for the link to train timetables). Take the S/4 LFI bus from the station to Cortona (be sure to buy tickets at the Tabacchi or Edicola [newstand] before boarding the bus). [Note: if 3 or more are travelling together, you can ask for "Mini-gruppo" rates which are 20-30% lower; however tickets are not refundable if you don't take the trip.] Note: In most places, stamps and bus tickets can be purchased at the Tabacchi or Edicola. In Cortona, you can also purchase train and bus tickets at the Tourist office (A.P.T.) on via Nazionale. Ask for "quattro corse" - a ticket which can be stamped four times (once at each corner) and is discounted compared with purchasing individual tickets. Quattro corse are ca. € 3.45 for Cortona - Camucia/Terontola and ca. € 8.70 for Cortona-Arezzo. Also, when travelling by either train or bus, be certain your ticket is stamped (timbrato) in the machine on either the train platform before boarding or on the bus - there are hefty fines for travelling either without a ticket or with an invalid ticket (& your ticket isn't "valid" until it has been stamped). In larger cities - e.g. Firenze, Roma, & Venezia, you can obtain one- or multiple-day passes which are valid for all of the public transportation and are great bargains. Maps of the lines are available either free from the tourist office or (much better) from the edicola (newsstand) at the train station for a nominal fee. Auto rental: The closest major rental car companies are in Arezzo; Avis is across from the train station - Piazza della Repubblica 1/A. Hertz & Europcar are located in suburbs; Europcar's address is Via Fiorentino, 101 (reachable via the 4/4a, 6/6a, or 13 lines from the P.za Guido Monaco). There are also rental companies in Chiusi. Taxi warning - you will be approached in most major train stations and airports by freelance drivers who are not licensed - AVOID THEM since they may not only rip you off with outrageous fares but can also be dangerous. A licensed taxi driver usually has a taxi sign on the vehicle (which is most typically white or gray) and must display their credentials inside the vehicle - if you have any doubts, ask them to show your their credentials (patente) before entering their vehicle. A licensed taxi driver will also not approach you inside a terminal or train station - they will be waiting at the authorized taxi stand outside the terminal or train station. And when you're taking the taxi to/from your hotel and the airport or train station, have the hotel arrange it for you if possible and ask them to write down the fare in advance to avoid a misunderstanding. Euro conversion note: As of March 1, 2002 forward only the Euro is legal tender. (1 € = 1,936.27 Lit) Tips for staying connected (e.g. phone, internet) while in Italy - click here.
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