Nyc Cruise - Visit Cortona For a Taste of True Tuscany

Why not book a Tuscany villa for your break, if it's an Italian holiday steeped in culture and history you're after?

The city is part of Arezzo and has much to offer fans of art and culture. Which is famed for its medieval streets and architecture, book your holiday villa in Tuscany at Cortona, to be right at the centre of the historical hub.

If you wander down the steep and narrow paths you'll notice that some parts of the wall go right back to the Etruscan era, set in a hillside location. Cortona was deigned the third Italian city to be built following the biblical flood of Noah, steeped in legend and religious references.

Which was the scene of a battle after the Roman army was ambushed in 217 BC, as well as one of the main squares - Piazza Garibaldi - and Lake Trasimene, you'll also be able to take in spectacular views of the Italian valleys that make up the Valdichiana, as you stroll down the hillside.

Which dates back to the second century BC, further down towards the Valdichiana you'll come face to face with Etruscan tomb Tanella di Pitagora.

In addition to medieval and Renaissance items, roman and Egyptian civilizations, the museum houses artefacts from Etruscan. Why not take a look around Museo dell'Accademia Etrusca set in the Palazzo Casali, into the centre of the city?

You might want to head back to your Tuscany villa for some rest and relaxation ready for the next day of exploring, if you've tired yourself out after all that walking.

Which is known for its unusually high arches, and the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie al Calcinaio, built with a square ground plan and a centralised design in 1554, travel back into the city's centre the next day to gaze in awe at some top examples of Renaissance architecture in the form of the Church of Saint Maria Nuova.

The museum also houses the renowned Maternita painting produced in 1916 by Gino Severini. Inside you'll be able to see first-hand two panels by Fra Angelico along with works by Giuseppe Maria Crespi. Which is home to some of the city's most famous artefacts, why not also pay a visit to the Diocesan Museum?

You're sure to find cultural surprises around every corner, wherever you choose to explore in Cortona.