If you’ve ever seen the movie Under the Tuscan Sun, you might be familiar with the sights of Italy. But did you know this movie was set in the lovely region of Tuscany in a town called Cortona?
Natural charm, breathtaking hilltop views and excellent food—welcome to Cortona.
Cortona is located in the Province of Arezzo with views overlooking the Val di Chiana valley. Its grey stone walls and medieval architecture reflect its historical charm and relaxed pace—a setting well suited for such a likeable film.
We arrived at a lovely bed and breakfast and were delighted at the views of scenic Tuscany as we swung our romantic European windows outwards and stared lovingly at the Tuscan views. My first thoughts were that I should travel here every year to write books.
Well, that didn’t happen, but one can dream.
We spent most days walking around the town, taking in the sights of local fruit and veggies, cafes, shops, churches and eating lunch in alleyways. We did a lot of walks in nature (and even came across an escalator from a car park that takes you to the town)—yes, you read that correctly. An escalator, nestled among nature. It doesn’t quite fit the vibe of Italy, but hey, I wasn’t complaining as I stood motionless, taking in the sweet views while the escalator did the “walking” for me.
A memorable moment was eating at a hilltop restaurant with sights overlooking the beautiful region of Tuscany. It was one of those “a picture couldn’t even capture half of this beauty even at its best shot” moments. Everything about Cortona felt calm and relaxed, and we truly felt like we were living among locals, observing the culture and pace of life it exuded.
Every night, we ran (literally) to the edge of the hilltop near a church to catch the sunset. The sunsets were vibrant and reflected the beauty we felt while exploring this town.
I got overly excited at the place we stayed because they served pre-dinner snacks each night and exuberant breakfast buffets. This was where I ate my first-ever Nutella croissant (loved it, by the way).
Cortona is a wonderful place to visit if you’re looking for a local vibe, a small setting to explore, delicious food (I mean, it is Italy, after all), and a place you can reference from a movie!
Tuscany, I’d love to explore more of you because you were a delight.
The Editing Eagle 