We hiked up here to watch the sunset. Beautiful views! The only downside was that there was a…read moreconcert there the night before and there was trash still scattered everywhere, but that didn't completely detract from the beauty. 2025 #67

What an amazing place! The best food, fashion, sights galore. Amazing foretress built over a town…read morethat you can still walk through. Panoramic vistas everywhere. This is a stunning location and is a new favorite of mine. Many high end hotels make this a must see when visiting Italy. Convenient to get to and filled with so much to do and see that you will wish you had stayed longer.

Ok.. I LOVE this place. It has a Great Lake and the festivals are also fun! The people are wayyyy…read morenicer here than most cities. Gorgeous! I recommend driving around and going to the center and the lake!!

The seat of city government this is decorated with giant frescoes, stained glasses windows and…read moreoriginal hard woods. Well worth a quick stop In while walking the piazza.

Nice shopping area with medieval buildings around. There are many stores from high ends to budget…read morestores - clothing, candy, pastries, and a variety of local products. Great place to buy dry pastas or olive oils as souvenirs. There's also and all kinds of eateries, from fine dining to snacks so no worries if you need to take a break. There's also the National Gallery of Umbria and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo and Museum right near by. Located on a hill top, this popular tourist area is about 10 minutes walk from another main attraction, the Etruscan Arch. If you arrive in Perugia by train, the Arch is about 10 Euro taxi from the train station. Once you reach the Arch, you can walk up to the plaza. Last but not least, walk through the shopping area and you'll reach a cliff that gives you magnificent views of the Perugia town and the green fields beyond. Absolutely the travel magazine Italian landscapes!

We were lucky enough to see the cathedral in October when the floors were uncovered and it was…read moretruly a sight to see. Absolutely worth the visit and make sure to go to the top of the bell tower during your visit for a spectacular view and a great photo opportunity.

The interior of the cathedral is lovely, especially the marble floors and stained glass windows…read more There isn't any printed information or leaflets. They have an audio guide but you have to use your phone. I didn't have good reception on my mobile so I wasn't able to get any information about the church or art. I did really enjoy the crypt, so I am glad I got the ticket that included access to that.

What a beautiful city. Narrow streets, barely wide enough for cars -- of course this village…read morepredates the Romans and is at least 3000 years old with parts of the Etruscan walls still standing. Cortona is built on a hilltop. There are no flat streets. Parking space is limited in the old city. The central squares host street musicians and markets on certain days. So picturesque with views forever. Beautiful buildings and restaurants where you can enjoy the mild Tuscan weather and shopping available. Made popular by the movie Under the Tuscan sun.

2009. We pedal up to…read moreCortona, another medieval Italian town that sits on top of a hill. The road up is a steep serpentine that never stops serpentining. We push on, each switchback like another cruel demonstration of the defensive advantage of building a town on top of a fricking hill. Cortona and its environs is where 'Under the Tuscan Sun,' Francis Mayes' insanely popular 1996 memoir about renovating a farmhouse in Tuscany, is set. The book was then adapted into an equally popular movie that was also shot around Cortona, though the plot was jazzed up, Hollywood-style. Instead of a memoir of a couple college professors doing a gut rehab, the movie is about a San Francisco writer who finds out her husband is cheating on her, so she moves to Italy and buys a run down villa and, you know, slowly repairs the house and her broken heart. The book + movie turned Cortona into a pretty serious tourist destination. More than that, it turned it into a fantasy destination. A place you can go after your life falls apart to find good food and laughter and a significant other with Hollywood looks. In other words, a place you can find in your guide book and reserve a hotel room in, but that doesn't actually exist.

GORGEOUS!!!! Like watching the sunset in Hawaii:))) wow! Love it here!! Photos don't suffice..read more

If you know me, you know I love a good cathedral and this one is pretty great…read more Orvieto is a gorgeous, perfect hill town crowned with this jewel of a church. Started in 1294 (!) it took 300+ years to build. There's plenty of art including spectacular frescos by Signorelli. When you look at the elaborate decor - inside and out- reflect that most of this is hand laid mosaic work. Incredible

If you can only visit one place in Orvieto, the Duomo should be it! This strikingly beautiful 14th…read morecentury cathedral is likely the crown jewel of the small mountain town. It has amazing statues (check out all 18 of them, including the two right in front of the altar-- the unbelievable Angel of the Annunciation and the Virgin of the Annunciation! ) masterpiece frescos, and stained glass windows so vibrant that they etch into your heart! For just 5 Euros (at this writing) the beauty and memory you get is simply out of this world. A true marvel !!!

Beautiful town with stunning views, a beautiful church--actually at least two…read morechurches--restaurants, and cute shops. We enjoyed a tour of the churches and enjoyed the beauty and history of this village.

Pienza is a beautiful hilltop town in the heart of the Val D'Orcia in Tuscany and is a UNESCO World…read moreHeritage Site. The town is best known for being rebuilt by Pope Pius II as an "ideal city of the renaissance." The town is small and you can easily walk from one end to another. The center of the town is where you'll find the duomo and the Palazzo Piccolomini. It's stunning and surrounded by beautiful flowers. And if you're a fellow foodie, this is the place to stock up on Pecorino cheese (sheep's milk). The town is packed with cheese shops, which are all pretty much identical, so there are plenty of opportunities to make a purchase. The views from Pienza are also stunning, but this is luckily the case with most of the hilltop towns in the Val d'Orcia.

From the Middle Ages to the present day, Piazza della Signoria, between Piazza del Duomo and the…read moreArno River, is the beating heart of the historic center of Florence with its distinctive L-shape, which my partner, our friends, family member, and I visited in mid-September. Palazzo Vecchio, the traditional seat of the Florentine government, with its distinctive tower, is yet another symbol of the city. In front stands a copy of Michelangelo's David (the original can be seen at the Accademia Gallery). One of the most impressive squares we've ever seen! The piazza looks like an outdoor museum, full of iconic statues and history in every corner. One can't miss the Fountain of Neptune that was commissioned to celebrate a Medici marriage. It is a colossal statue of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea and the counterpart of the Greek god Poseidon. The atmosphere is vibrant and lively with both tourists and locals, perfect to enjoy both during the day and at night. Definitely a must-see in Florence!

Nice gathering place next to Ponte Vecchio. There's a beautiful fountain here and plenty of places…read moreto gather and dine. I love these Italian palazzos!