Category Archive

This article originally appeared in the November 2019 issue of Dream of Italy. You won’t see the Tuscan port city of Livorno topping many “best of Italy” lists—and that might be precisely why it’s worth visiting. It would be tempting to call the city’s appeal a combination of Naples-style grit and Pietrasanta-esque elegance; while that’s not far off, it’s a gross oversimplification. No …

This article originally appeared in the August 2019 issue of Dream of Italy. When it comes to showcasing regional food and wine, Vittorio Camorri has become a one-man Chamber of Commerce for Cortona in particular and Tuscany in general. Vittorio grew up in Cortona, and now operates an agriturismo in what was once his family’s 17th-century farmhouse, at the foot of Cortona’s …

This article originally appeared in the August 2019 issue of Dream of Italy. Many Tuscan cooks – in their homes and their restaurants – are passionately committed to slow food that highlights local, seasonal cuisine, not so much because it’s a movement of the moment, but because it’s a way of life. Chef Emiliano Rossi of Osteria del Teatro– just north …

This article originally appeared in the August 2019 issue of Dream of Italy. Continuing along Via Nazionale leads to Piazza della Repubblica, the vibrant heart of Cortona. It’s framed by the massive stairs of the 12th-century Palazzo del Comune on one side and the 13th-century Loggia della Pescheria on the other side. Frances has called this piazza “the living room of …

This article originally appeared in the August 2019 issue of Dream of Italy. When it comes to finding a place to rest your head in Cortona, you have the complete range of options – from luxury hotels to more affordable accommodations plus B&Bs and agriturismi– both inside the town walls and in the nearby countryside. Here are some recommendations: Monastero …

This article originally appeared in the August 2019 issue of Dream of Italy. “We are so lucky,” Frances Mayes says on the Dream of Italy Podcast.“In the walls of the town, there’s a restaurant every time you look, and you can’t go wrong. They’re all wonderful.” How many places can you say the restaurants are all good? Most chefs in …

This article originally appeared in the August 2019 issue of Dream of Italy. If you’re visiting Cortona, here are key events and sights to factor into your plans. Special Events Archidado– Each spring, in late May and early June, Cortona holds a week-long medieval festival. The Archidado Joust commemorates the 1397 wedding of the Lord of Cortona to a noble …