Cortona is located in southern Tuscany, about 2 hours north of Rome and 90 minutes south of Florence, directly in the middle of Italy.

You can contact us to book your stay by emailing booking@sojourn-ventures.com. We suggest you contact us as soon as you know when you would like to travel so we can do our best to book your preferred dates.

Cortona is easy to access from both airports, with Florence being slightly closer. Rome is about 3+ hours by train or car, Florence is about 2+ hours by train or car. Florence is a smaller airport. Rome is a large international airport. We recommend that you make your selection by the city that works best for your specific travel needs and preferences.

The best season in Cortona depends on what type of experience you would like to have. Do you enjoy warm summer months, temperate spring and fall months, or winter weather? The busiest times are April through October.

You will only need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned date of departure from Europe.

You can get to Cortona by train, rental car, or private taxi. When you book your stay, we will send you your Cortona arrival instructions.

It will depend on your accommodations. Cortona is an ancient, stone village not designed for cars and with limited parking. While some of our homes have nearby parking, you may need to park up to 10 to 15 minutes by foot from your accommodations.

Yes, you will check in with our local Tuscan team. Specific arrival instructions will be sent to you upon confirmation of your stay. Someone will escort you to your accommodations, regardless of your mode of transport. All our Cortona partners speak English.

You need to get a special international plan for texting and phone service before arriving in Italy. We strongly encourage you to bring a Smartphone that has been activated with an international plan, in the event of an emergency or unforeseen delay to your arrival in Cortona.

You can usually buy euros in advance through your bank. There are ATMs in all airports and train stations, as well as several in central Cortona. Many restaurants and shops accept Visa and Mastercard.

There are a few doctors in town and a hospital in the valley about 20 minutes away. There is a pharmacy in Cortona. In case of emergency, dial 1-1-2 (Italian equivalent of 9-1-1) and get in contact with our Concierge Service.

Wheelchair access is unfortunately not as prevalent in Europe as it is in the U.S. You should be aware that most public buildings such as museums are not wheelchair accessible. In addition, city centers and train transport can be extremely difficult. Cortona is very hilly and has very few level areas for wheelchairs. None of the accommodations are entirely accessible by wheelchair. If you are an individual with reduced mobility, please contact us for more information.

Train and bus services are excellent. There are two train stations close to Cortona. A train ride to Florence is just over 1 hour and to Rome just over 2 hours. Buses depart from Cortona to much of the surrounding area.

Cortona is very small but very hilly. You can walk the entire town in about 1 hour. You would not use a car to get around town, only to leave Cortona for day trips. Only resident or commercial vehicles are allowed in the town center.

Yes, there is Molesini Market in the main piazza in the center of town. There are several produce stores in town as well as wine shops.

We recommend you book local tours with our partners to get an authentic experience of the area. They have many personalized tours available, the most popular being the wine tours and cooking classes.

We encourage you to book your tours far in advance of your arrival to insure that the tour you wish to take is available during the week you are in Cortona.

Comfortable clothing — and layers for different temperatures (consult your preferred weather website before departure). Always bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes. Cortona is not a fancy town, so casual dress is not a problem.

You will check out via our Concierge Service. Instructions will be provided upon check-in or you can make arrangements in advance via email.

Italy operates on a 220 volt system. You will need simple plug adapters for items like computers, cameras, and phone chargers.

You will need an actual electrical transformer or converter to convert the voltage for items like hair dryers, hair curling and straightening irons, or electric shavers.

Italians are used to having Americans tip, since we are a tipping culture. Your tips are more than welcomed and appreciated.

A 15-20% tip is recommended. These are some services where you would be expected to tip:

Restaurants

Taxis

Tour guides

Chefs from cooking classes

Hotel concierge service, bellhop

Cleaning services in private residences (Cortona) and hotels