Part 4 of Italian trip: Cortona, Arezzo, and Siena.
Cortona is an ancient walled town originally settled by the Etruscans before being conquered and consumed by the ancient Roman Empire. The small town provides a couple of streets lined with shops and cafes. Views over the countryside from the town are spectacular with valley and mountains stretching every direction into the distance.
Arezzo provided disappointments and pleasant surprises. The town has long outgrown its ancient walls, and operates as a regional hub. As such, traffic and parking can prove to be hassles. Since it no longer survives on tourism, its Medieval and Renaissance attractions seem to receive minimal promotion. Nevertheless, its Grand Piazza and duomo are worth the visit.
Siena is noted for its central piazza used for a once-a-year horse race. While I opted to spend an extra day in Cortona, five of our group drove to Siena. They reported back the charming ambiance of the piazza and the magnificence of the duomo. Next trip I must add it to my itinerary.
No comments:
Post a Comment