Perugia, Cortona & Montepulciano

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After a light brekkie - we head into the hills. Our first stop is Perugia - the capital town of Umbria (with a population in excess of 160,000 - it's a big place)! At 8:30am the traffic  through the main business district is heavy. Once we get up into the "centro storico" - it's quiet (too early for the tourists).

A view across the main square

Another magnificent cathedral, & no matter how many there are, every one has a different look & feel. 

And more magnificent views from the top of the town over the valley below.


After a coffee stop, we leave Perugia and head back into Tuscany on our way to Cortona - made famous by Frances Mayes in her book "Under The Tuscan Sun" later made into a movie starring Diane Lane and Sandra Oh.

Nowhere is on the level in this delightful Etruscan hilltop town!

The view from our lunchtime table (in Ristorante Tonino) is so incredibly good!

And the food here (Brenda's dish of breadcrumbed anchovies and deep fried prawns) - is also good!


Sadly, we must leave Cortona and head back. But on our way, is the beautiful hilltop town of Montepulciano - well known for its delightful red wine of the same name.

A view down the narrow alleys of Montepulciano towards the town square.

A view over the valley below with our rented MG SUV in the foreground.

And we had to shop for some of that great red wine from here.


Well after a busy day in the hills, it was time to return to our Airbnb to enjoy a cool swim followed by a small glass of vin santo (or maybe a little quality assurance of one of those fine reds)!


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