I have been living in and around Cortona for eight and a half years now and have seen what has happened to property in the Cortona area in that time. This lovely Tuscan town has always been an attractive proposition for many people looking to buy property in Italy or hoping for a slice of Tuscan real estate. Although it has become a little more touristy since my arrival in 2000, to me it still embodies everything that one could hope for in a hill top town in Tuscany. Two beautiful medieval piazze, teeming with people at all hours of the day and night, amazing stone palazzi on every street and many other things besides. Cortona enjoys a cracking view across the Val di Chiana towards Lake Trasimeno, Monte Cetona, Montepulciano and Monte Amiata in the distance. There are some stunning areas of countryside just outside Cortona; San Martino to the west hides the medieval gem of Le Celle, a monastery established by St. Francis of Assisi in 1211. To the east the prestigious Tecognano and Metelliano areas, where many of the most important Tuscan Villas can be found, including the most beautiful of all; Villa Fontana From here you head further east towards Pergo and Montanare, the area that has been my home for the last 4 years. The valley here is beautifully unspoilt, with a backdrop of wooded hills all around, yet only minutes from Cortona. Here can be found some of the most sought after Italian property on the market, such as Casa Il Toro and the stunningly restored Fondo Caprile both of which enjoy elevated positions and lovely views. For details of many more properties for sale in Cortona, or Tuscan real estate in general, go no further than www.abodeitaly.com
