Cortona and Montepulciano private tour - Departing Rome travel northwards along scenic farmlands skirting the Tiber Valley with its string of delightful hill-towns and reach Cortona in Tuscany. This ancient Etruscan town, still surrounded by cyclopic fortifications of the 5th century B.C. ,encloses an amazing middle-age atmosphere totally untouched by modern times. Strolling about the historical centre discover its intriguing medieval character and the hidden silent corners to absorb the magical timeless mood. Let yourself be immersed in unspoiled Italian provincial daily-life of this beautiful birthplace of great artists like Luca Signorelli, one of the masters of the Sistine Chapel, and Pietro da Cortona, forerunner of baroque art. The town is also an important art centre offering many treasures for art-lovers. Drive on to Lake Trasimeno, Italy's 4th largest lake, which enthused great authors like Goethe, Stendahl and Lord Byron, and enjoy the dream-like charming setting and see the shores where in the 3rd century B.C., Hannibal with his elephants defeated the Roman Legions during the second Punic war in his bid to check to growing power of Rome.