Help make our trip to Europe amazing, Cortona edition

March 27, 2016 10:12 AM

Our family will be spending a few days in Cortona Italy in July. We're traveling with kids, so our plan is for a mostly low-key trip filled with swimming at the public pool, exploring the city and eating gelato in the main square. But we're also looking for other unique or special experiences we could do as a family that would really make our trip special.

We would love to hear any ideas that might involve:

- Meeting and interacting with locals
- Visiting special places in the city/area that might not show up in guide books
- Anything food or wine related that shouldn't be missed

Couple important details: We'll have a car and we'll also be staying within the city walls.

Thanks!

posted by quantum to Travel & Transportation around Cortona, Italy (1 answer total)

There's a bar/pizza place called Fufluns which has really good pizza.

I recommend walking up the trail to the Chiesa Santa Margherita, it's very scenic and the ancient mosaics are pretty neat, but it would be a substantial hike for small children. there is also some sort of ancient fortress at the top of the hill, which may or may not be open for tours (it wasn't on a Sunday, when I was there).

In general, there are way too many great restaurants to try. La Teatro was probably the best restaurant at which I ate, and the bathroom is interestingly decorated. Opinion was divided within my group as to which gelateria was the best; probably Gelateria Snoopy, which is right on Piazza Signerelli, where there is frequently live music etc. until late in the evening. Also lots of small children out in strollers or on scooters, even at 11:00 PM or so.

If you're interested, there's a contemporary classical music festival at the beginning of July called the Cortona Sessions at the Hotel Oasi Neumann, which is a big converted monastery down the hill from town.
posted by daisystomper at 12:09 PM on March 27, 2016