The Legend of the True Cross and Piazza Grande in Arezzo in the morning, Cortona on the hill above the Val di Chiana in the afternoon.
Two towns in eastern Tuscany. In the morning Arezzo, the city of Piero della Francesca, Giorgio Vasari and Petrarch: in the church of San Francesco you'll find one of the most famous fresco cycles of the Renaissance, then the Pieve and Piazza Grande, on a slope, where the Giostra is held. After lunch Cortona, an Etruscan town on a hill, with steep streets, museums and views over the Val di Chiana and Lake Trasimeno.
Times are a guide: driving times are worked out without traffic, then come the visits and ten minutes at every stop to park. In summer towards the coast and at rush hour allow extra time.
In the main chapel of the church of San Francesco, Piero della Francesca painted, between about 1452 and 1466, the Legend of the True Cross: the story of the wood of Christ's cross, from the tree planted on Adam's tomb to the Emperor Heraclius. The figures are calm and solemn, the light clear, the perspectives perfect: it's one of the masterpieces of fifteenth-century painting.
Timed ticket, for small groups in turns: best to book ahead.
The Pieve di Santa Maria, Romanesque, has a façade with three tiers of loggias and a bell tower called 'delle cento buche' (of the hundred holes), for its mullioned windows. Behind it is Piazza Grande, on a slope, enclosed by the Logge del Vasari, from 1573. Here twice a year the Giostra del Saracino is held, and scenes from the film La vita è bella were shot here.
Free.
At the top of the hill is the Gothic cathedral, with stained glass windows by Guillaume de Marcillat. Near the sacristy door there's a small fresco by Piero della Francesca, the Magdalene, not to be missed. Next to it is the Prato park, with views over the hills.
Free.
Cortona was one of the great Etruscan cities and preserves sections of the walls from that time. In Palazzo Casali is the MAEC, the museum of the Etruscan Academy and the city, with the famous Etruscan bronze chandelier, decorated with sea monsters, satyrs and the head of the Gorgon. Outside is Piazza della Repubblica, with the steps of the Palazzo Comunale, where everyone sits to watch people go by.
The square is free; the museum charges admission.
In the small square in front of the cathedral is the Museo Diocesano, with the Annunciation by Fra Angelico, one of his finest works, and paintings by Luca Signorelli, who was born in Cortona. From the square the view opens out over the Val di Chiana as far as Lake Trasimeno. Cortona became famous worldwide with the book and film Under the Tuscan Sun.
Admission charge. Check opening days.
How long it takes from each town, the drive back included. Tap a town to see the plan from there.
Almost every old town has a limited traffic zone (ZTL) with cameras: park outside and walk in. The fine reaches your home, abroad too. ZTL and car parks town by town
Romagna Transfer picks you up at your hotel, drops you in front of every stop and brings you back: no parking, no ZTL, and the wine is yours to enjoy.
The centre on foot in the morning, the sanctuary of San Luca, the Certosa and the Arca di San Domenico in the afternoon
10 h 30 from Lido degli Estensi Full day
The plan
The Ducati Museum in Borgo Panigale, the Lamborghini Museum in Sant'Agata Bolognese, then Maranello and the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena.
10 h 50 from Lido degli Estensi Full day
The plan
The UNESCO World Heritage Cathedral and Ghirlandina tower, the Albinelli market, a vinegar cellar and the Ferrari Museum in Maranello.
9 h 25 from Lido degli Estensi Full day
The plan
The Roman Arena, Piazza delle Erbe, Juliet's house and the Scaliger Tombs in the morning, San Zeno and Castelvecchio in the afternoon.
10 h 15 from Lido degli Estensi Full day
The plan
Mantegna's Camera degli Sposi, the squares and Leon Battista Alberti's Sant'Andrea in the morning, Giulio Romano's Palazzo Te in the afternoon.
10 h 00 from Lido degli Estensi Full day
The plan
The Pilotta with the Teatro Farnese, the Cathedral with Correggio's dome and the pink Baptistery in the morning, the castle in the prosciutto hills in the afternoon.
10 h 25 from Lido degli Estensi Full day
The plan
The Duomo with the Piccolomini Library and Duccio's Maestà in the morning, Piazza del Campo, the Palazzo Pubblico and Torre del Mangia in the afternoon.
10 h 50 from Lido degli Estensi Full day
The plan
The Duomo with the Piccolomini Library and Duccio's Maestà in the morning, Piazza del Campo and the Palazzo Pubblico in the afternoon, and on the way back the walled village of Monteriggioni.
11 h 50 from Lido degli Estensi Long half day
The plan
The Scaliger Castle, a boat trip and the Grotte di Catullo in Sirmione in the morning, the walled village of Lazise on the Verona shore in the afternoon.
10 h 15 from Lido degli Estensi Full day
The plan
The Rocca Scaligera, a boat trip and the Grotte di Catullo in Sirmione in the morning, Lazise and Bardolino, the wine town, on the Verona shore in the afternoon.
11 h 35 from Lido degli Estensi Long half day
The plan
Medieval towers, the frescoed Collegiata and views over the Val d'Elsa, then the walled village of Monteriggioni.
10 h 45 from Lido degli Estensi Full day
The plan
Piazza dei Miracoli with the Tower, the Cathedral and the Baptistery in the morning, Lucca with its tree-lined walls, Piazza dell'Anfiteatro and Torre Guinigi in the afternoon.
11 h 35 from Lido degli Estensi Long half day
The plan
Piazza dei Miracoli with the Tower, the Cathedral and the Baptistery in the morning, the centre with Piazza dei Cavalieri, Borgo Stretto and Santa Maria della Spina on the Arno in the afternoon.
10 h 45 from Lido degli Estensi Full day
The plan
The Rocca Sanvitale in its moat with Parmigianino's little room, the fortress of the Meli Lupi princes, then the lands of Giuseppe Verdi.
11 h 25 from Lido degli Estensi Full day
The plan
The medieval village with the Rocca Viscontea, the walled town among the vineyards, then the fairytale village built by the Visconti di Modrone
11 h 25 from Lido degli Estensi Full day
The plan
The Torrazzo, the Cathedral and the Violin Museum in Cremona in the morning, the Gonzaga ideal city of Sabbioneta in the afternoon.
11 h 05 from Lido degli Estensi Full day
The plan
The Teatro Olimpico and Basilica Palladiana in Vicenza in the morning, Palladio's wooden bridge and grappa in Bassano in the afternoon.
9 h 45 from Lido degli Estensi Full day
The plan
Take the funicular to the old town: Piazza Vecchia, Santa Maria Maggiore, the Colleoni Chapel and the walls, then the Accademia Carrara
11 h 15 from Lido degli Estensi Full day
The plan
The castle where the emperor begged the pope's forgiveness, the red fortress of Rossena, then the mountain mentioned by Dante.
10 h 45 from Lido degli Estensi Full day
The plan
Colourful seaside villages in Liguria, one after another by train: the view of Manarola, the harbour of Vernazza, the beach of Monterosso.
12 h 00 from Lido degli Estensi Long half day
The planTrips written by our editors from the facts of our monument pages and the official sites. Opening days and hours change: the note under every place tells you what to check before you leave. No prices: you find them on the museums' sites.
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