Cortona day trip from Florence or Arezzo or Siena
A day trip to Cortona from Florence, Arezzo or Siena: Fra Angelico's Annunciation in the Diocesan Museum, the Etruscan finds in Palazzo Casali, the view from Piazza Garibaldi, Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza Signorelli, then the climb to Santa Margherita and the Girifalco fortress, and down to Santa Maria delle Grazie al Calcinaio. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Cortona in 1 day
Day 1
Diocesan Museum (Fra Angelico's Annunciation)
A small museum in a former church holding Fra Angelico's Annunciation, works by Luca Signorelli and Pietro Lorenzetti.
MAEC – Etruscan Academy Museum (Palazzo Casali)
Etruscan and Roman finds from Cortona's tombs, including a bronze lamp with carved figures, plus collections from the town's old academy.
Piazza Garibaldi
Terrace at the edge of the old town with a wide view over the Valdichiana plain to Lake Trasimeno, lively at sunset.
Historic centre of Cortona (Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza Signorelli)
Two linked squares with the town hall's steps, cafes and palaces, where locals meet for coffee and an evening stroll.
Basilica of Santa Margherita
Church near the top of the hill holding the body of Saint Margaret of Cortona, reached by a steep lane with views.
Girifalco Fortress (Fortezza del Girifalco)
Medici fortress at the summit of Cortona, with ramparts looking over the valley, the lake and the Tuscan hills.
Santa Maria delle Grazie al Calcinaio
Renaissance church by Francesco di Giorgio Martini on the slope below town, with a dome and fine rose window.
Watch: Cortona
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
From Florence and Arezzo, regional trains reach Camucia-Cortona or Terontola-Cortona (about an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half from Florence, much less from Arezzo), then a local bus or taxi climbs to the town. From Siena it is about an hour by car. Drivers park below the walls, near Piazza Garibaldi or Porta Colonia.
Staying in Florence or Arezzo or Siena? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Cortona
Spring and autumn are the best seasons, with mild weather for the steep streets and clear views over the Valdichiana. Summer is hot and the busiest time, especially at weekends. In mid-August the Sagra della Bistecca celebrates grilled Chianina beef in the public gardens.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Cortona on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Cortona on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Cortona on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Cortona
- Cortona is steep: streets climb sharply from Piazza Garibaldi to the fortress at the top, so start low and save energy for the climb.
- The Diocesan Museum is not open every day; check its opening days before fixing the date of the trip.
- Piazza Garibaldi has the famous view over the Valdichiana and Lake Trasimeno; it is a fine place for sunset too.
- Try the local Chianina beef and the Cortona DOC wines, such as Syrah, in the trattorias around the main squares.
- Trains stop down in the valley at Camucia or Terontola; check the times of the bus up to town before you leave.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Basilica of Santa Margherita: Sailko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Diocesan Museum (Fra Angelico's Annunciation): Fra Angelico, Public domain
- Girifalco Fortress (Fortezza del Girifalco): Diego Baglieri, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Historic centre of Cortona (Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza Signorelli): Patrick Denker, CC BY 2.0
- MAEC – Etruscan Academy Museum (Palazzo Casali): Sailko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Santa Maria delle Grazie al Calcinaio: Sailko, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
