The city of Cortona is located in the south of Arezzo province, Tuscany, partly on the plain and partly hilly, with the municipal territory extends for 342,00 square kilometres.

Cortona is a wonderful medieval town, it stands on a buttress which reaches the height of 600 metres above the sea level, with population around 23,000 inhabitants. It has the landscape that you can enjoy from there surrounds Valdichiana, the extinct volcanoes on Mount Amiata and Mount Cetona as well as the brightness of Lake Trasimeno.

This small town is characterized by the ruins of its Etruscan past, surrounded by flagged streets, ancient fortified walls, and the general impression given by the architecture is of stone.

Cortona was in origin and Umbran city, then conquered and enlarged by the Etruscans to become one of the most powerful city-states among the Etruscan confederacy together with Perugia and Arezzo. Evidence of its strategic position would be the extensive perimeter of its walls, the tombs of its royalty, all the archaelogical relics of this period which point out a rich city flourishing in artistic and industrial activity.

Around the year 310 B.C., the greater part of the Etruscan city-states were conquered by Rome and during that time has lost her strategic importance and economy. The fall of the Roman Empire was followed by the occupation of the Goths (476-553), and the Gothic War brought about a significant decrease in the Italic population: Cortona is reduced therefore to a desert land and the Municipality disappears.

The latter on, the town became independent, constantly battling with Perugia and Arezzo, the latter being responsible for another destruction in 1258.

Next came the patronage of Siena, giving rise to a quick revival of fortunes. Fast forward to the fifteenth century and the Kingdom of Naples stakes a claim, only to sell Cortona to the Florentines and hence a return to Tuscan tutelage, a state of affairs that was never again to change.

Known to have been a city of the ancient Etruscan civilization, then of the Roman Empire, it is one of the best preserved historical centers in Italy and has become a center of art.

Cortona gave birth to the painters Gino Severini, Luca Signorelli and Pietro Berrettini, known as Pietro da Cortona. The city's soul is ancient, Fra Angelico, the Medici, Saint Francis, Saint Margaret and Giorgio Vasari all left their mark. Proud in its history, Cortona has become a city rich in contemporary thought and culture.

Places to Visit

Town Hall

Already in existence from 1236, altered and enlarged in the course of the centuries, surmounted by a crennelated tower furnished with a clock, it overlooks the Piazza della Repubblica in front of the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo.

The Walls

Today a bit short of 3 kilometers, was constructed by the Etruscans around the end of the 5th century B.C. and can be seen at the base of the current day walls. It has a rectangular form with the two greater sides facing the north and south, the shorter sides face east and west. The short west side is very well preserved and the site of a recent re-opening and restoration of the Etruscan gateway with unique double barrel-vaulted portals.

The gateways

3rd century after the Roman conquest, the damaged parts of the walls were reconstructed and raised in height. Four gateways were placed at the exits from the Roman city, from the decumano Porta Santa Maria and Porta San Domenico and from the cardo Porta Sant'Agostino and Porta Colonia. In the middle ages the walls were heavily damaged during the attack of 1258, they were subsequently reconstructed and repristined with the help from the people of Perugia and most of all from the Sienese. The two-opening Etruscan gateway was closed (Porta Bacarelli) and other gateways were opened: Porta Montanina, Porta Berarda and Porta San Giorgio, the last two were closed-up probably at the beginning of the 17th century.

The fortress

In 1556, on the north east corner of the rectangular city walls, at its highest point, the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo I had a fortress constructed. It rose from structures which had been fortifications during Etruscan, Roman and Medieval times. The last having been destroyed in the sack of 1258. The fortress was the work of Gabrio Serbelloni, nephew of Pope Pius IV and Franceso Laparelli of Cortona.

Palazzo Casali

Erected by the Casali family in the XIII century,Lords of Cortona, and then becoming Seat of the Fiorentini Lords and Captains, houses in its interior the Museum of the Accademia Etrusca (1727), the Municipal Library and Historical Archives.

Basilica di S. Margherita

The church rises from an enchanting position on the high part of the hill with Roman Gothic imitations, it was constructed to substitute a previous church of the XIV century. Other than the precious works of art preserved in its interior, on the altar there is a silver urn containing the body of Santa Margherita.

Chiesa di San Francesco

Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi, the church was also constructed by Brother Elias in 1247 on land which was called Bagno della Regina and donated to him by the Comune on which existed notable remains of Roman constructions which were probably hot springs. It is Gothic in style but heavily remodelled especially in the 17th century. The impact of it's masses and the grace of it original lines, however, are still intact. The entry door and the large windows which have recently been restored are to be admired.

The Tombs: Melone of Sodo

It was explored for the first time in 1909. Its exploration only brought the burial chambers to light as they had be pillages over the centuries. In 1912 it was donated to the Accademia Etrusca by Giulia Baldelli widow of the member Girolamo Tommasi. Further restoration and research and putting the Second Melon in order, could render this an inviting place for visitors who want to view these two important monuments.

The Tombs: Tanella di Pitagora

This is a cylindrical shaped construction with a diameter of a little more than seven meters which brings to mind a smaller version of the "Mole Adriana" in Rome. It is located in an inspirational spot, framed by cypress trees. It was known already in the 1500's and visited by Vasari who seems to have judged it as the tomb of Archimedes. Since then vistors have let their imaginations run wild, some would have it the tomb of Ulysses others that of Pythagoras, all due to the Greek-Hellenic style of its architecture. The monument underwent progressive decay from the 1500's to the 1800's when the French troops passing through caused extensive damage. The most recent examinations by experts date it to the second century before Christ. It was donated to the Etruscan Academy in 1929 by Mrs. Maria Laparelli Pitti.

The Communal Library

The Communal Library it is a world famous. It contains 22,000 printed volumes, 1172 parchments, 133 incunabula, and 633 manuscripts.

For more information visit

• Cortona: Città d'arte in Valdichiana
• The Museum of the Accademia Etrusca
• The Communal Library Cortona