Cortona, a walled medieval hilltown of Etruscan origin, is one of Italy's oldest cities and is located on the slopes of Mt. San Egidio with spectacular views over the Valdichiana, Mt. Amiata, and Lago Trasimeno.
In central Tuscany about midway between Rome & Florence, Cortona is convenient to both the A1 (Autostrada del Sole) and SS326 (Siena-Perugia Superstrada) as well as the Camucia & Terontola train stations. The location and excellent transportation connections make Cortona a superb base for touring the rest of Tuscany (e.g. Siena, Montepulciano, Montalcino, Penza) and Umbria (e.g. Assisi, Gubbio, & Perugia).
Cortona, a lively city with numerous restaurants, shops, and events throughout the year, has been blessed over many centuries with a wealth of famous citizens, structures, and artifacts. There are many important historical buildings, artwork, and archaeological sites in the city and nearby. For those with hiking or biking interests, there are numerous routes outside the city walls (several partly on original Etruscan or Roman roads) which have been laid out by the Club Alpino Italiano.
Cortona is also the home of Bramasole and is featured in Frances Mayes' book "Under the Tuscan Sun" as well as the movie by the same name (released in the USA Sept. 26, 2003).
A view from Casa Beata (enlarge)