Italian travel Articles By Jane Maripose

Articles Index: Cortona Hotels

Cortona is also famous for its gastronomic delights, based on excellent quality products such as an extremely delicate olive oil, try the one produced by Azienda Agricola Luigi D’Alessandro in Località Manzano (Tel. 0575 618667), and celebrated wines including Cortona DOC (Azienda Agricola La Calonica, località Capezzine, Tel. 0575 724119; Azienda Agricola Mario Baldetti, località Pietraia, Tel. 0575 67143).

Here the real star is the meat of chianina cattle – certified and coming from Valdichiana cattle farms – with an excellent selection of cuts such as the noteworthy steak. Macelleria Carnevali (Frazione Mercatale, Tel. 0575 844243) is one of the area’s most well-known butchers. Another real treat are the typical local deli meats such as Tuscan finocchiona (soft salami flavoured with fennel), local raw hams, sambudelli (pork sausages) and pig’s liver. An interesting titbit of information – the term infinocchiare (hoodwink) comes from the finocchiona which the peasants offered to people going to buy their wine so as to alter the taste thanks to the large amounts of flavourings and spices contained in this particular type of salami.

The most typical local cheeses are made with sheep or goat’s milk such as raviggiolo packed in small wicker baskets.

For those with a sweet tooth, Cortona has some excellent cake shops where you can find local specialities such as cantucci (crunchy hazelnut biscuits), ossi di morto (literally “dead people’s bones” due to their flaky consistency) and ricciarelli (soft almond biscuits). We also recommend that you drop in to visit the terracotta and pottery handicrafts and antique furniture shops. Cortona can boast an age-old antiques tradition, with its side streets and alleyways containing dozens of specialist shops, as well as a National Antique Furniture Show, held every year in Palazzo Casali and Palazzo Vagnotti from the end of August to the beginning of September and an attraction for tourists from all over the world.

Filed under: Cortona Restaurants Tagged: | cortona wines, gastronomy cortona, tuscan cheese, tuscan gastronomy, wine cortona, wine tuscany