TJinSOMA

We are renting a villa in Cortona for a week so we are looking for day trip ideas which are a little unique. We are bigger fans of natural sites and architecture rather than museums or cathedrals.

We have been to Tuscany (including Cortona) several times so have done the usual (San Gimignano, Siena, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Orvieto, Assissi, Florence) so interested in some other ideas. We haven't headed into Umbria so not sure if there are some cool things that direction?

So far I'm thinking Spello, Bevagna and Montefalco may be in the running.

Jean

Uh, if you've been to Assisi and Orvieto, you've been in Umbria. However, much of Umbria is a bit far from Cortona to be an easy day trip.

Spello and Bevagna are small and could be visited in one long-ish day. Ask at the tourist office in Bevagna about a guided tour of the Roman baths and the opera house. When we were last there, both sites were only opened by a T.I. person when there was a request.

Todi and Deruta would also be possible in one long-ish day. Todi seems a bit more prosperous and sophisticated than other Umbrian towns. Deruta is famous for its ceramics.

Cortona to Gubbio (via Umbertide) is a scenic drive, and Gubbio is a fun destination. There are the ruins of a Roman theater at the base of the town, and the famous Gubbio 'Bucket of Bolts' funicular takes you to the top of the town for great views.

You could also spend a day exploring Lake Trasimeno, riding the ferries, checking out the towns along the shore.

Dr_DoGood

Arezzo is just up the road for the fresco cycle <i>Legends of the True Cross</i> by Piero della Francesca.
If you've not already seen it do so!

Get the ferry to Isola Maggiore from Passignano sul Trasimeno for a nice quiet day out. Not much to do on the island but explore a bit, take it slow and maybe enjoy a light meal or drink at the bar/café. En route you'll drive over the site of The Battle Of Lake Trasimeno (somewehere between Cortona and the northern shores of the lake - no one knows exactly where) where Hannibal defeated (read annihilated) the Romans in 217BC.

Dr D.

adrienne

<< We are bigger fans of natural sites and architecture rather than museums or cathedrals >>

Some further clarification please. You don't feel that museums and cathedrals fall into the architecture category? Is it only cathedrals that you'd rather miss or all churches?

TJinSOMA

Thanks for the advice. My comment on museums is I tend to not love walking through a museum versus exploring a town. My call out on cathedrals is while I appreciate the architecture of them, they end to run together in my mind after awhile. Also appreciate hikes and good scenery so think Lake Trasimeno sounds interesting.

Thanks for the clarification on Umbria Jean. I always think of Umbria as just being along the Eastern Coast of Italy. Are any of the coastal towns over there interesting?

kybourbon

>>>I always think of Umbria as just being along the Eastern Coast of Italy. <<<

Umbria is landlocked. It doesn't have any coastal area. Coastal areas to the east of Umbria would be in Le Marche.

StCirq

Lake Trasimeno is fascinating, with a wealth of towns to visit around its perimeter, a godd outdoor market, nice beaches, and a ferry that takes you out to Isola Maggiore.

Umbria also has some wonderful warm spring and spa towns. Some are glitzy resort types; others are rustic ancient places (like this one: http://www.benessereviaggi.it/terme-...an-gemini.html). You have tp get fairly far off the beaten track to the west and up into the mountains to find the really fabulous ones, but it's well worth it.

There are often outdoor concerts on weekends, by the way, in Panicale and Magione - probably lots of other places as well, but I enjoyed them there.