Need some help here please. I plan on seeing Arezzo and Cortona, then Siena and San Gimigmamo. Would you home base in Cortona and then day trip to Arezzo or vice versa? Same question for Siena and San Gimignamo. I've read SO MUCH on all 4 places, so now I'm looking for some personal opinions and experiences. I will be using public transportation, not renting a car.
Any help or feedback would be much appreciated. Susanna
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5895 posts
Cortona is a hill town which gets a lot of daytrippers. Arezzo is a small city with a nice, historic center. A couple of years ago, I spent a few days in Cortona and took a day trip from there to Arezzo. I was glad that I stayed in Cortona. I really enjoyed Cortona in the morning and evenings when it was not packed with tourists. I also used public transportation. To get to Cortona, I traveled to the Cortona-Camucia station where you can get a bus up the hill to the town. I used this same station when I took a day trip to Arezzo.
Posted by
OP
Midwest, USA
88 posts
THANK YOU Laura. I appreciate your response.
Posted by
Westwood, KS, USA
15 posts
Susanna, Cortona is going to have a more quaint, hill-town feel but moving around on public transportation is going to be more challenging as you will have to bus to the train station. Arezzo is going to have better access to public transportation having conveniently located and larger train station with more direct connections to other towns. It's a larger town, not as quaint, nor is really a hill town, but does have a very nice historic city center.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Cortona is also very hilly, which both gives it charm and makes it harder to get around in. Arezzo is flat with easy connections to other places since it's the major transit hub in the area.
Posted by
OP
Midwest, USA
88 posts
Ryan and Michael, THANK YOU for the input. It helps in my decision.
Posted by
Austin, TX, USA
492 posts
We've stayed in Cortona and used it as our base for Tuscany day trips and led it. However, without a car and relying on public transport, I'd make Cortona a day trip and look at one of the other locations as your base. The two closest train stations to Cortona are down the hill and you would probably want to taxi or bus to them and it just makes the logistics more difficult. With a car a day trip to Siena and San Gimigiano is pretty easy, I think I'd probably train to Arezzo though and leave the car at the Camucia station. How much time do you plan spending at each town? That might make a difference in the recommendations.
Posted by
OP
Midwest, USA
88 posts
THANK YOU Nadine. All the suggestions were much appreciated. I have decided to stay in Arezzo, with a long day trip to Cortona. It seems to be easier with the public transportation offered.