Best Shops in Cortona — An Insider’s Guide to Shopping in Tuscany
Shopping in Cortona is nothing like shopping in a tourist trap. The town’s historic centre is home to a remarkable collection of independent shops, artisan studios and one-of-a-kind boutiques — places where the people behind the counter made what they’re selling, or know exactly where it came from. Here’s our guide to the best shops in Cortona.
DelBrenna — Handcrafted Jewellery
DelBrenna is Cortona’s most celebrated jewellery house — three generations of handcrafted silver and gold pieces made in their Tuscan studio. Their signature chain design is recognisable worldwide, and their underground Showroom in the cellar of an ancient palazzo is one of the most extraordinary shopping experiences in Tuscany.
Don’t miss the Cortona Coin — a replica of a medieval coin from Cortona, worn as a pendant. It’s the most meaningful souvenir you can bring home from this town.
Where: Boutique — Piazza della Repubblica, 12 | Showroom — Vicolo Corazzi, 17-19
Website: delbrenna.com
Insider tip: Always visit both locations — the boutique on the piazza and the underground Showroom. They are completely different experiences. The Showroom alone is worth the detour.
Clelia Tondini — Ceramic Art Studio
Halfway down Via Guelfa, you’ll find one of Cortona’s most colourful and joyful spaces: the studio and gallery of Clelia Tondini, ceramic artist and painter. Originally from Milan, Clelia came to Cortona in 1993 and immediately felt she belonged — and has been creating here ever since.
Every piece in her studio is one of a kind — hand-painted bowls, vases, cups and plates bursting with colour and life, alongside original paintings on canvas. This is not a souvenir shop. This is a working artist’s studio that happens to be open to visitors, and where everything you see was made by the person standing in front of you.
Clelia ships internationally — so even if you can’t carry a large piece home, she can get it to you.
Where: Via Guelfa (just off Piazza della Repubblica)
Website: cleliatondini.com
Insider tip: Ask Clelia about her work — she speaks English and loves to talk about her process. The visit becomes something much more than shopping.
Choclo Grain — Handcrafted Clothing & Jewellery
One of Cortona’s newest and most distinctive boutiques, Choclo Grain opened on Via Guelfa in June 2025 and has quickly found its audience. Run by a passionate artisan couple, the shop specialises in handmade clothing and jewellery made with natural materials — slow fashion at its most genuine.
The aesthetic is bohemian and earthy — think natural fibres, handmade silver jewellery, ethical production, and pieces that feel like they carry a story. If you’re looking for something original that you won’t find anywhere else in Cortona, this is the place.
Where: Via Guelfa, 21
Instagram: @chocloshop
Insider tip: The owners are genuinely enthusiastic about what they make — stop and talk to them. The story behind a piece makes it worth twice as much.
Glamour Dress & Shoes — Fashion in the Historic Centre
For fashion and footwear in the heart of Cortona, Glamour Dress & Shoes is the go-to destination. A well-curated selection of clothing and shoes in a town where most retail leans toward ceramics and souvenirs — a genuine find for anyone who wants to dress well without leaving the historic centre.
Where: Cortona historic centre
Tuscan Flowers — Fragrances & Home Perfumes
Tuscan Flowers is one of Cortona’s most original boutiques — a fragrance shop specialising in handcrafted room perfumes, soy candles, diffusers and spray scents, all made with natural Tuscan ingredients. Two locations — one in the historic centre, one in Camucia — make it easy to find.
If you want to bring the scent of Tuscany home with you, this is where to come. The gift boxes are beautifully presented and practical to travel with.
Where: Cortona historic centre & Camucia
Website: tuscanflowers.online
Insider tip: The room diffusers travel well and last for months. A much more memorable gift than a bottle of Chianti.
Arpi Woodworking — Olive Wood Craftsmanship & Workshops
On Via Guelfa, you’ll find one of Cortona’s most personal and authentic workshops: Arpi Woodworking, founded and run by master craftsman Arpi Czimbalmos. Born from a lifelong connection to woodworking — and a profound moment with his father that brought him back to his craft — Arpi creates bespoke handcrafted pieces from Tuscan olive wood, using traditional techniques with decades of experience behind them.
The workshop produces everything from hand-carved olive wood utensils and cutting boards to custom furniture, wall art, laser-engraved personalised pieces, and large-scale commissions for homes and restaurants across Tuscany. Every piece is made by hand, in Cortona, from locally sourced materials.
But Arpi Woodworking is more than a shop. It’s also an experience. Arpi offers hands-on woodworking workshops for visitors who want to try their hand at the craft — from beginner sessions to custom projects — as well as guided tours of olive groves and wine tastings in the Chianti region. If you want to go beyond the tourist trail and understand what makes Tuscany genuinely special, an afternoon with Arpi is one of the best ways to do it.
Where: Via Guelfa, 24-26, Cortona
Website: arpiwoodworking.com
Insider tip: Ask about the workshops — they are one of Cortona’s most unique visitor experiences. And if you need something personalised, Arpi’s laser engraving service can turn any wooden piece into a one-of-a-kind gift.
Best Shops in Cortona: Quick Guide
| Shop | What | Where |
| DelBrenna | Handcrafted silver & gold jewellery | Piazza della Repubblica + Vicolo Corazzi |
| Clelia Tondini | Ceramic art & painting studio | Via Guelfa |
| Choclo Grain | Handmade clothing & jewellery | Via Guelfa, 21 |
| Glamour Dress & Shoes | Fashion & footwear | Historic centre |
| Tuscan Flowers | Fragrances & home perfumes | Historic centre & Camucia |
| Arpi Woodworking | Olive wood crafts & workshops | Via Guelfa, 24-26 |
Insider Tip
The best shopping in Cortona happens on Via Guelfa and the streets around Piazza della Repubblica. Allow at least a morning — the shops here reward slow browsing, and almost every one has a story behind it. This is not a high street. It’s a collection of people who chose to make something and sell it in one of the most beautiful towns in Tuscany.
