Places to Stay in Florence or Cortona?

I'm going to both cities next month & I can say that Cortona is about €30 cheaper to stay in per night! I hope you have plenty of time to make your reservations, because I made mine 4 months in advance & my first couple of choices were already booked up.

Florence and Cortona are entirely different places - Cortona's out in the middle of nowhere. You'll need a rental car to go anywhere, It is some distance from other Tuscan sites. Florence is a small crowded city where having a car is unwise. But it was the cradle of the Renaissance, so there is much to see in the city itself.

Yes, I noticed that too. I think I like the countryside look more than being in another city. Thanks

I would also recommend Cortona, as it is a nice relaxing town to wind down your day. It is also right in between Florence and several towns in Umbria worth visiting if you are considering such day trips. Enjoy your travels!

If you're a military history buff, just south of Cortona is Lago Trasemino, which was the scene of one of the largest and most successful ambushes in history. Here's a link: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lake_Trasimeno I was unaware of this battle until I started checking out the area in preparation of my visit next month (The battle was 2,157 years before I was born!) and I don't know what kind of park, monuments, etc. they have to mark the spot.

Doug is right. You can't compare the two at all, but both are wonderful. We have spent, at various times, three days, a week, three days again, and four days in Florence and would happily go again. It is just a magnificent place, very easy to walk around, and plenty to see (and eat!). Cortona is a lovely small town with a couple of neat little museums, nice views, and not so much to do after that except stroll and sketch. We found it restful and pleasant, but have no particular desire to go back.

I have stayed in Cortona and Florence. I love Florence, but Cortona is the town that we always visit when we are in Italy. I think it is best to have a car if you are in Cortona, but you can make many trips by train, particularly Florence which is an easy day trip from Cortona.

Thank you all so much. I did decide on Cortona, after going to Rome and Venice, Cortona will be a nice relaxing place for awhile. Thanks again!