The Italian hill village of Cortona is a magical place that grabs hold of your heart and refuses to let go. I am very fortunate to have done a good bit of traveling and have seen some truly beautiful places. Given that, I have to say that Cortona, Italy is one of my very favorite places. My husband and I intended to only visit Cortona for a day, as we were staying in an Agritourismo (bed and breakfast) in Tuscan countryside but after only a few hours, we altered our plans and set up camp in Cortona.
Cortona is small enough that a visitor can easily become a part of the daily flow of life, which we did and loved. Take a stroll and grab the best tasting sandwich and farro salad from Molesini market. Later, visit Emma and Richard at Bar 500 for a campari and soda and don't be surprised when they graciously provide some nibbles. The nighttime ritual in Cortona is to walk the Via Nazionale, the main street through town, which is narrow and usually features only pedestrians. You will walk beside village elders, the shop dog Bruno (he is a charming pug full of personality), the pharmacist and other local color all doing what they do every single day- taking their daily stroll.
I will post my Best of the Best list for this jewel of a city soon but for now, enjoy these beautiful views.
*Images from gotoitaly.about.com,locr.com, visititaly.com
Recently, I had the pleasure of traveling to Italy with my husband and parents. Our first stop on this wonderful trip was the picturesque Amalfi Coast town of Ravello. A longtime destination for creative types Richard Wagner, M.C. Escher, Virginia Woolf and Giovanni Boccaccio frequented Ravello. Ravello truly took my breath away. I will be posting more about this amazing trip in the future, but for now please enjoy this amazing view. Ciao!
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