villa rentals in tuscany - Holiday Villa in Cortona, Italy

CORTONA: BRUSH WITH THE PAST
About 80 km from Florence, Cortona is a town and commune in the province of Arezzo, in Tuscany, Italy. Founded by the Etruscans, who called it Curtun in their language, Cortona was also an important town during the Roman era. But Cortona is most famous for the numerous legends that surround its origins.

The 17th-century Guide of Giacomo Lauro, which draws on the writings of many ancient writers, states that 108 years after the Great Flood, Noah arrived at the Val di Chiana and, because it was so fertile, stopped and dwelt here for 30 years. One of his sons named Crano came to the hilltop and, liking the high position, the picturesque countryside and the climate, built Cortona on it in the year 273 after the Flood. Noah, approving of Crano’s work, named him Corito, i.e. King, and heir to the kingdom.

Crano, taking this title, built a palace atop the hill, and you can still see its remains at Torremozza. Crano’s kingdom was called Turrenia, which was the original name of Tuscany, and its inhabitants were called Turreni. But as descendants of Noah, who was saved from the waters (ab imbribus), some were also called Imbri or Umbri.

Quite a legend, huh? Appropriately, most of Cortona’s architecture is medieval with steep narrow streets situated on a hillside, with a magnificent view of the Val di Chiana. From the Piazza Garibaldi you can look out to Lake Trasimene, scene of Hannibal’s ambush of the Roman army in 217 BC. And you can also see parts of the Etruscan city wall.

Inside the Palazzo Casali is the Museo dell’Accademia Etrusca that displays ancient Etruscan, Roman, and Egyptian artefacts, as well as those from the Medieval and Renaissance eras. Nearby are Etruscan chamber tombs, including the Tanella di Pitagora, believed to house Pythagoras’s tomb. Not to be missed are two panels by Fra Angelico in the Diocesan Museum, an Annunciation and a Madonna and Child with Saints. A third surviving work by Angelico is the fresco above the entrance to the church of San Domenico, painted during his stay at Cortona in 1436. Also magnificent is the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie.

Accommodation in Cortona Hotels range from hotels to farmhouses and luxury resorts, and includes Bed & Breakfasts, luxury villas, and country villas and cottages. As our list (www.yourwaytotuscany.com/Cortona.htm) will tell you, you can sleep in some of the most charming historical residences of the area, as well as experience the authentic rural life of Cortona in our list of exclusive accommodations. So what are you waiting for?

TUSCANY VILLAS: YOUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Tuscany is justly famous for its wine, food, warm and hospitable people, and dazzling natural beauty. However, in our opinion, Tuscany should also be celebrated for its beautiful villas, because the Tuscan countryside is dotted with some of the most superb villas dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries, and almost all of them are perfectly preserved, so that they can still be inhabited with ease. And guess what? We would like to invite you to stay in one of Tuscany's independent villas, which we have carefully selected for the discerning tourist. We can guarantee you every home comfort that you can ask for, in the luxurious and elegant atmosphere of these beautiful villas.

Without exception, the independent villas of Tuscany that we have chosen for you are located amidst some wonderful natural scenery. Take the Villa Ginestra, situated near the top of a hill in the Tuscan countryside, delighting guests with a magnificent view of the city of Florence. Also within view is the tiny village of Cercina. On a nearby hilltop, you can see the ruins of a great house that once belonged to a medieval bishop. The scenery is, in a word, magnificent. At Villa Ginestra, you will enjoy the best Italy has to offer – the timeless beauty of Tuscany’s rural countryside, and quick and easy access to Florence.

An orchard of half-century-old olive trees surrounds Villa Ginestra, providing visitors with a crown of green and silver. To the west is the still deeper green of a forested mountain, webbed with well-marked trails for the adventurous hiker. To the east is a superb view of the medieval town of Fiesole.

And that is just one example of what we can offer you. There are numerous independent villas in Tuscany that find place on our list, spread all across this beautiful region of Italy. Can you actually imagine staying in a place called the Villa Buonaparte? Well, we have it on our list too, and it is situated on San Miniato’s hills, about five km from San Miniato. It is a 16th-century building, carefully renovated and maintained to remind you of the charms of medieval Italy.

As we keep saying, these are mere samples. For a detailed list of independent villas in Tuscany, come to us and we’ll take you on a free and infinitely rewarding tour!

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