Walking the backstreets of Cortona

Meandering your way through alley ways and hidden corners of Cortona is a great way to spend an afternoon...

Monday 17th May was one of the few sunny days we’ve had in Cortona and I felt that a walk was definitely in order. I came up with the idea of taking photos of the many window boxes and flower displays the Cortonese love to nurture, but Monday would seem to be laundry day – and despite regulations against hanging washing out to dry (in the literal sense) - there seemed to be an awful lot of it about! Personally, it just seemed to add charm to the afternoon.

Vases full of flowers...and pretty sheets blowing in the breeze

Bell tower and more sheets

A really lovely display of potted plant

I began my walk at the bottom of via Guelfa, and as taught to me by my colleague, Roberto Ghezzi who grew up in Cortona, wove my way up through the town; weaving is apparently something the locals learn to do as soon as they can walk - taking alternative routes through back alley ways, small, secluded squares and characteristic side streets - in order to avoid the steeper inclines. Whether or not time is actually saved by taking these routes is questionable, but they’re definitely easier on the leg and provide so many distractions along the way, that it’s easy to forget time even exists!!

I’ve seen little of Cortona this last year, keeping largely to my mountains, but I had a sudden yearning to walk its backstreets and alleyways where after 35 years I still manage to discover corners I could swear I’ve never seen before; one being the amazing gardens to be found in the area of Il Poggio and San Niccolò – gardens with vines and olives and views to take your breath away.

Hope you enjoy the photos.

Alison Koetser, 22/05/2021 11:29:14

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