About Tuscany, Italy

<BODY background="../images/back2.gif" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#000000" LINK="#804000" VLINK="#400000" ALINK="#000000" topmargin="3" leftmargin="8"><FONT FACE="Verdana" size=2><A NAME="home"></a> <p align=center><FONT FACE="Verdana" size=1><STRONG>Italian View - beautiful holiday villas in Tuscany, Italy</STRONG></font></p> <TABLE width=100%> <TR valign=top><TD rowspan=2 width=1%> </TD> <TD width=12%> <BR><FONT FACE="Verdana" size=2> <a href="../index.htm"><B>home</B></a> <BR><BR> <a href="../welcome.htm"><B>welcome</B></a><BR><BR> <a href="../properties.htm"><B>our villas</B></a> <BR><BR> <a href="../properties/cortona_propindex.htm"><B>villas in Tuscany</B></a><BR><BR> <a href="../regions.htm"><B>other<BR> regions of italy</B></a><BR> <BR> <a href="../bookings.htm"><B>how to book</B></a><BR> <BR> <a href="../form.htm"><B>enquiry form</B></a><BR> <BR> <a href="../contact.htm"><B>contact us</B></a> <BR> <BR> <a href="../sitemap.htm"><B>site map</B></a><BR> <BR> </TD><TD width=5%>   </TD> <TD valign=top> <FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE="2"> <TABLE width=100% cellspacing=5> <TR><TD><FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE="5" COLOR="#804000"><B>Tuscany</font><BR> <FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE="4" COLOR="#804000">Italy's Unforgettable<BR> Treasure</font></TD> <TD align=right><FONT FACE="arial" SIZE="1"><STRONG><A HREF="mailto:italy@italianview.com">italy@italianview.com</A></STRONG><BR><B><BR> <BR></B> </FONT></TD> <TD><IMG SRC="../images/tuscanview6a.jpg" HEIGHT="110" WIDTH="175" BORDER="0"></TD></TR></TABLE> <BR> <B>A beautiful area renowned for its magnificent rolling landscapes, enchanting medieval hill towns and wonderful food and wine, Tuscany is the perfect place to relax or explore at your leisure.</B> <IMG SRC="../images/sangimin.jpg" HEIGHT="136" WIDTH="231" BORDER="0" ALT="Holidays in Tuscany, Italy. Vacations in Tuscany" VSPACE="8" HSPACE="10" align=right><BR> <BR> Tuscany was at the very heart of the Rennaissance and this cultural and artistic revolution left a splendid and enduring legacy througout the region. <BR> <BR> Leonardo, Dante, Rafello and of course Michelangelo all flourished under Tuscan patronage. Its towns and cities - Florence, Cortona, Arrezzo, San Gimignano, Siena and Pisa - truly are treasure troves that house many of the world's most stunning works of art and archictecture. <BR> <BR> A beautiful patchwork of neat vineyards, dark green olive groves, bright yellow sunflower fields, meandering cypress trees and medieval hilltop towns make Tuscany's landscape a picture of unforgettable serenity and splendour. The warm summer sun is reflected by the hospitality of the local people who will ensure that you relax and take the time to enjoy their excellent locally produced food and wines.<BR> <BR> <B>To see details of our villas and apartments in Tuscany, click <a href="../properties/cortona_propindex.htm">here.</a><BR></B> <BR> <FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE="4" COLOR="#804000"><B>Around Cortona</B></font><BR> <BR> <B>In an occassional series of 'spot-lights' on Tuscan towns we visit the ancient Etruscan town of Cortona region, to explore its very own delights and features.</B><BR><BR> The town is commandingly situated at 600ms above sea level, with magnificent views over the <IMG SRC="../images/severini.jpg" HEIGHT="127" WIDTH="167" BORDER="0" VSPACE="8" HSPACE="10" ALT="Italian holiday properties and holiday rentals in Cortona, Tuscany" align=left> "Val di Chiana" the most extensive valley in the Apennine chain, which stretches out to the hills of Siena.<BR> <BR> Severini’s "Via Crucis" accompanies the mystic assent linking the town with the Sanctuary of Santa Margherita, which towers above the town and which in turn is overshadowed by the powerful defences of the Girifalco fortress. <BR> <BR>Many valuable works of art are preserved in the churches in and around Cortona and 20% of the world’s art treasures are housed within 80km. <BR><BR> <B>The Cortona Summer Festival</B> offers a full program of artistic and cultural events, open air performances which represent the first expressions of Italian Music, poetry and theatre, still in tact in their primitive form, having been transmitted from generation to generation and from piazza to piazza. <BR><BR> <B><I>Open air swimming pools, tennis courts and horse riding are all in the vicinity</I></B> <BR><BR> <B>Lake Trasimeno</B>, the largest in central Italy, with lovely beaches and ferries to the islands, is just 9km away. A short drive along its shores bring you to the Umbrian Capital of <B>Perugia</B>. Some of the most important tourist towns, like <B>Florence</B>, <B>Rome</B> and <B>Siena</B> are within easy reach by either train or car and so too are the many delights of Tuscany..... <BR><BR> <TABLE width=80% cellpadding=3 cellspacing=3 border=1><TR> <TD colspan="6" align=center><FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE="2"><B>Distances from Cortona in km</B><BR></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE="2">Rome</TD><TD><FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE="2">Florence</TD><TD><FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE="2">Siena</TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE="2">Perugia</TD><TD><FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE="2">Assisi</TD><TD><FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE="2">Lake Trasimeno<BR> </TD></TR> <TR><TD><FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE="2">190km </TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE="2">110km </TD><TD><FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE="2">65km </TD><TD><FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE="2">55km </TD><TD><FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE="2">75km </TD> <TD><FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE="2">10km<BR></TD></TR> </TABLE> <BR> <BR> <BR> <FONT FACE="Verdana" SIZE="2"><B>Click <a href="../properties/cortona_propindex.htm"><B>here</B></a> to see details of the vacation properties we have available in and around Cortona, Tuscany</B></FONT> <BR> <BR><BR> <a name="contact"></a> <center> <TABLE BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0 width=450> <TR><TD align=center valign=top colspan=3 bgcolor="#FFD3A8"><FONT FACE="verdana" SIZE="3" COLOR="#804000"><B>How to Book This Property</B></FONT><BR></TD> </TR> <TR><td bgcolor="#FFD3A8" colspan=3><IMG SRC="http://www.italianholidays.co.uk/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="450" HEIGHT="2" BORDER="0" ALT="villa rentals in Italy"></td></tr> <TR><td bgcolor="#FFD3A8" ><IMG SRC="http://www.italianholidays.co.uk/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="2" HEIGHT="2" BORDER="0" ALT="villa rentals"></td> <TD align=center valign=top bgcolor="#ffffdd" width=448><IMG SRC="http://www.italianholidays.co.uk/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="2" HEIGHT="6" BORDER="0" ><BR clear=all><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="verdana,arial">We would appreciate enquiries by e-mail which will be promptly dealt with by our experienced staff who have first hand knowledge of the properties. <BR clear=all><IMG SRC="http://www.italianholidays.co.uk/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="2" HEIGHT="8" BORDER="0" ><BR clear=all> <b>e-mail: <A HREF="mailto:italy@italianview.com">italy@italianview.com</A></b> <BR clear=all><IMG SRC="http://www.italianholidays.co.uk/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="448" HEIGHT="4" BORDER="0" ALT="holiday villa rentals"><BR clear=all>or you can complete the <a href="../form.htm">enquiry form</a> <BR clear=all><IMG SRC="http://www.italianholidays.co.uk/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="2" HEIGHT="10" BORDER="0" ><BR clear=all> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="verdana,arial"> Our booking office is open from 10am - 4pm <BR clear=all><IMG SRC="http://www.italianholidays.co.uk/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="2" HEIGHT="6" BORDER="0" ><BR clear=all> tel: +44 (0)114 255 7770; fax: +44 (0)114 255 8880 </font></STRONG> <BR clear=all><IMG SRC="http://www.italianholidays.co.uk/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="2" HEIGHT="6" BORDER="0" ><BR clear=all> <STRONG><I><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="arial">Reg. Office 1 Ruby House, 42 Carfield Avenue, Sheffield, S8 9HZ</font></I></STRONG><BR clear=all><IMG SRC="http://www.italianholidays.co.uk/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="2" HEIGHT="4" BORDER="0" ></TD> <td bgcolor="#FFD3A8" ><IMG SRC="http://www.italianholidays.co.uk/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="2" HEIGHT="2" BORDER="0" ></td></tr> <TR><td bgcolor="#FFD3A8" colspan=3><IMG SRC="http://www.italianholidays.co.uk/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="450" HEIGHT="2" BORDER="0" ></td></tr> </TABLE><BR> <BR> <BR> <FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE="1"><B> <a href="#home">back to top</a> | <a href="http://www.italianholidays.co.uk">home page</a> </B></FONT> <BR> <BR> <FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=-3><center><STRONG>© Netizen Ltd. All rights reserved. <BR></center></FONT> </TD> <TD rowspan=2 width=1%> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> </BODY>