Tours in Tuscany - the best Tours in Tuscany and more...

Tour Length: 5 hours.
Dates: Every season.
Departure Point: From your accomodation. Please note that the rate includes a pick-up and drop-off in Florence. Driver can be arranged to pick you from the place you stay in any region within Tuscany.
Departure Time: between 8.00-10.00 am or between 1.00-3.00 pm.
Days of Week: Everiday.
Note: During this excursion transport will be made in a de-luxe limousine or minivan or motorcoach which offers the maximum comfort, with air-conditioning, large panoramic windows and comfortable seats.
Popularity:

Cortona

Perched at 500 metres above sea level, Cortona dominates the entire Valdichiana, with a view that stretches as far as Monte Amiata. The town is entirely surrounded by fortifications, that constitute an interesting archaeological element as well as one of its most beautiful aspects. Most of the buildings and streets within the city date from Medieval times – the Basilica of Santa Margherita and the Celle Franciscan sanctuary placed above the city make it natural for any tourist to conduct their visit ‘downwards’ into Cortona. The only horizontally-running street in Cortona is Ruga Piana, now called Via Nazionale, and leads directly to Piazza della Repubblica dominated by the Medieval Palazzo Comunale, formerly Palazzo Casali, once the home of this aristocratic family and that now houses the Museo dell'Accademia Etrusca.
The museum houses an interesting collection of Etruscan and Roman artefacts. On the opposite side of town, opposite the Romanesque cathedral, stands the Museo Diocesano, which contains some important works by Luca Signorelli and one of the finest Annunciations to have been painted by Beato Angelico. Beneath Cortona, further down the hill on which the city stands, there are the Etruscan Meloni I and II del Sodo tombs as well as a hypogeum dating from the 6th century BC.
Towards Foiano della Chiana stands the abbey of Santa Maria a Farneta, one of the oldest examples of Romanesque architecture. Of the annual events organised in Cortona, one of the most interesting is CortonAntiquaria antiques fair that is housed in the 18th century halls of Palazzo Vagnotti and Palazzo Casali from the last Saturday in August to the second Sunday in September. In 1990 played the movie "Under The Tuscan Sun" with the great Diane Lane.

Famous Lines About Cortona

"... mother of Troy and grandmother of Rome" (Virgil - Aeneid III and IV) Dante Alighieri was known to appreciate the so-called “copertino cortonese”, a blanked made of finely woven wool (I sonnet - Tenzone between Dante and Forese Donati) "... no field or clod of earth is kept better than here, and everything is clean ..."(Wolfang Goethe on the surrounding countryside) "... the mingling roofs of the houses and the town’s arrogant towers seem closer to Heaven than to the nearby railway station..." (Henry James, 1873) "... I have found a wonderful Tuscan wine from Cortona..." (Giosuè Carducci, 1886) Gabriele D'Annunzio celebrated Cortona among Italy’s silent cities. "... From Cortona there is a magnificent view; one’s gaze loses itself in the distance..." (François Mitterand, 1987) "... a marvellous city where everything speaks of God – the nature, the mountains, the woods..." (John Paul II, 1993) "... No map planner would describe it thus, but it is fascinating" (Frances Mayes - "Under the Tuscan Sun", 1997)

Trasimeno lake - the islands & the boat tours

With its 125km2 surface, Lake Trasimene is the largest stretch of inland water in the Italian peninsula. The lake is 257 metres above sea level and its basin extends for 396 km2 , while the overall area of the lake covers some 125 km2. There are three islands on Lake Trasimene: Isola Polvese, Isola Maggiore, Isola Minore.
The second largest island of the three is the Isola Maggiore, the only one to be inhabited and a popular destination for boat tours. Isola Maggiore has in fact been transformed into an environmental teaching laboratory.

A tiny fishing village with houses dating back to the 14th and the 16th centuries stands on the island, as well as the Romantic folly knwon as the Guglielmi castle (Villa Isabella), built in 1885. It was built on the site previously occupied by the 1328 convent and church of St Francis. It is said that St Francis spent his 1211 Lent on the island, sleeping on a rock that is now kept in the chapel that stands near his statue, on the spot where he landed. The paintings that once adorned the church of St Francis now hang in the 12th century Romanesque Gothic church of San Salvatore in the village.

Under the Tuscan Sun - the movie

Frances (Diane Lane), an American writer, returned from a painful divorce, receives a gift from his two friends a more expensive plane ticket to visit Tuscany and Leisure un po '. During a trip by bus was hit by an old property in the name of the characteristic "Bramasole." He decided to buy it and is dedicated to the renovation work of the villa and gardens. The meetings, including one with Marcello (Raoul Bova) and the experiences that will help set the different ways in his life.

The only thing more surprising than the chance she's taking...is where it's taking her

Directed by Audrey Wells. Screenplay by Audrey Wells, based on the book by Frances Mayes.

CAST:
Diane Lane - Frances
Sandra Oh - Patti
Lindsay Duncan - Katherine
Raoul Bova - Marcello
Vincent Riotta - Martini