Thanks so much, Jill. I'll definitely look up the Etruscan 'treasure hunt'!

When we stayed in Montepulicano a few years ago, we visited Pienza (a couple of times), Montalcino and Sienna and maybe one more town that's now slipped my mind, but there is obviously a great wealth of towns within a short drive that we've never been to.

We stayed in Cortona three times... I guess before Frances Mayes discovered it. Loved sitting in the town square at night and watching the passegiata. But those were quieter times. When was the escalator built?

Forgot to mention Asciano as a great daytrip option! Their basilica is really interesting, there is a good museum, and the town is small - friendly - and VERY uncrowded. It's also quite close to Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore with its amazing frescoes.

>>> I'm not too worried. I know many people prefer to stay in the beautiful Tuscan countryside and I absolutely understand that, but I like to stay in town. I like a little hustle and bustle<<

I thought Cortona was ok (I liked Montepulciano also), but very steep (you will build some leg muscle!). I'm not a fan of the towns along the lake, but I'm sure you will find some day trips.

I think Perugia, Assisi, Deruta, Montefalco and that area would make good day trips from Cortona since you seem to have seen quite a bit of southern Tuscany already. You might also consider Arezzo.

Thanks again, TA and kyb. All this info is going to come with me. I'll look up all these small towns -- it will be my plane reading!

>>> I guess I'll get to decide for myself. >>>


The best way, really.

jamikans, there is an escalator in Perugia and other hilltowns in Italy. Your horrified reaction to one in Cortona is naive.

goddesstogo,

more plane reading

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annunciation_of_Cortona

I DO remember doing a number on my wedgy espadrilles climbing up the main street in Cortona. Also remember we parked our car in the hotel's garage on that same street. That was quite an operation too.

I remember walking up the hill from parking in Montepulciano. Our host had come down to show us the way and he had to sit down on a bench halfway up!

Jamikins, I know you've been to Urbino, which has an escalator to get up to the town from the parking lot. Siena does also, and maybe has more than one. I know there's one at a big parking lot, and I think there's another at the train station.

Many, many hill towns in central Italy have escalators, elevators, or funiculars. One reason is to encourage people to leave their cars at parking lots down in the valley.

Further south in Le Marche, Camerino has an elevator. Poor beautiful Camerino, badly damaged by the recent earthquakes, doesn't really need an elevator now. Most of the center is off limits.

Haha never had a horrified reaction to any place in Italy. How ridiculous. I was just saying it isnt a funicular...It is an escalator.

I don't understand why anyone would care if someone doesn't like someplace anyway. There are so few places I have not liked in Italy. Cortona is one of the only places I can think of. It is the only place I have experienced an escalator...there may be one in Urbino etc...I never saw it in any of my visits but fair enough.

The whole point of these boards is to hear others points of view. If you wanted some standard answer than why bother. Cortona on vacation is better than most people's homes where they work anyway. But if you want honest opinions...

I trust your judgement absolutely, jamikins. That said, I feel pretty sure I'm going to like Cortona.

"Cortona on vacation is better than most people's homes where they work anyway."

So absolutely true!

(And to be fair to myself, I didn't really ask for opinions about Cortona -- just about suggestions for daytrips.)

Goddess I have no doubt you will love it...Italy is amazing, and I know you will find joy in wherever you decide to stay!!

You're a doll, jami. Generous and kind, as usual.

Love you guys goddess...hope you make it back to London so we can catch up !! Xxx

I remember visiting Urbino centuries ago and there was an elevator as I recall. Loved Urbino, had one of the best meals ever there. First time we visited Volterra I remember walking and walking to get to the center. On a later visit there was an elevator. Sure hope it wasn't there the first time!
I'd love to visit all of these places again... even if they had to drop me in from a helicopter.

Jamikins,

Your initial post in this thread was pointing to the existence of an escalator in Cortona as a red flag of something negative or too touristy about Cortona in contrast to other other Italian towns. No one had mentioned anything about it or a funicular before you introduced the subject into the thread -- why, I'm not sure.

Maybe "horrified" is not the right word, but it certainly looked like you were marking down Cortona for having an escalator -- even when so many other town in Italy have them for quite good reasons.

No one is discouraging honest opinions. But it's fair to correct wrong impressions. To find an escalator in a hilltown in Tuscany (or elsewhere) is not a sign that the town caved to the worst of accommodating tourists. Even if a film crew footed the bill or was the immediate cause of building an escaltor, Italians long ago embraced escalators, funiculars, cable cars, elevators as a way to make their antique hilltowns more livable for Italinas * user-friendly for visitors. They are very proud of their technology and skill in building these on difficult terrain, rightly so.

Massimop... to each there own. Isn't it great that we can all have our own opinions.

You and I always seem to oppose each other. I could care less...but please feel free to spend (waste) your time opposing me and "proving" my opinions wrong.

;)