Tuscan Breaks is an independent travel guide to Cortona and the eastern corner of Tuscany — the Val di Chiana, the Province of Arezzo and the wine country that runs south toward Montepulciano and the Val d'Orcia. The domain has been associated with travel and villa stays in the Cortona area since the mid-2000s, and today it exists to do one thing well: help you plan a genuinely good trip to this part of Italy.
What we cover
We focus tightly on one region rather than thinly on all of Italy. That means the town of Cortona itself, the surrounding hill towns and villages, the Cortona DOC vineyards and their unusual Syrah, where to stay (from farmhouses with pools to boutique B&Bs), and the day trips that make Cortona such a good base.
How we research
Our guides combine on-the-ground knowledge of the Cortona area with current, verifiable information — opening realities, transport options, wine appellations and the practical logistics that change from year to year. Where details matter (train lines, DOC rules, distances) we check them against primary and official sources, and we date every guide so you can see how fresh it is.
How the site is funded
Tuscan Breaks is free to read. Some of our links to accommodation, tours and wine experiences are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you book through them — at no extra cost to you. This never changes what we recommend. You can read the full affiliate disclosure for details.
Get in touch
Spotted something out of date, or run a business in the Cortona area? We'd like to hear from you — see the contact page.