With its Etruscan, Roman, and medieval heritage… Cortona is a fascinating mix and the ideal choice for a day out.

Let us start from the heart of the village: Piazza della Repubblica with its beautiful Palazzo Comunale at the top of the staircase with the clock tower, the symbols of Cortona.

Taking the small street beside the staircase, you will reach Piazza Signorelli which is the location of a 19th-century theatre, where you can perhaps return in the evening for a show. In the square, there is also the MAEC (Museum of Etruscan Academy and the City of Cortona) housing precious Etruscan and Roman finds, as well as paintings by Pinturicchio and Signorelli, sarcophagi, Chinese chessboards, prehistoric fossils and artworks by futurists such as Gino Severini.

We also recommend a visit to the 14th-century Co-cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Diocesan Museum right in front of it (which houses magnificent paintings such as the Annunciation by Fra Angelico). Then if you are not afraid of a short climb, you can continue your trip with a walk up to the Church of Santa Maria Nuova from where you can admire the whole of Valdichiana.

For lunch, choose between the spectacular Osteria del Teatro or the typical Taverna Pane e Vino.

In the afternoon, you can go for a stroll along the alleys of the town centre before heading towards the ancient Girifalco Fortress, where you can admire Cortona from above. Just before reaching it, you will see the imposing Basilica of Santa Margherita.

Near the village, if you still have some time, you can visit the beautiful Archaeological Park of Cortona and the picturesque Franciscan Hermitage Le Celle surrounded by nature.

EVENTS
July-October: Cortona on the Move, international photography festival
Second Sunday of June: Giostra dell’Archidado, old crossbow games between the districts
August-September: Cortonantiquaria

(ph. Gabriella Clare Marino, Achim Ruhnau)