| Framed by vineyards and olive-groves
Cortona is perched up on a steep hill resting on a buttress
of Mount Sant’Egidio and looks out over a wide and
stunning panorama of the valley. At Cortona’s foot
lies the broad Valdichiana hedged in at the horizon by
the rolling hills of Siena, mountains such as the Cetona
and the Amiata and lake Trasimeno. The origins of Cortona
are lost in the mists of time. Probably founded by Umbrians,
Cortona was, together with Arezzo and Perugia one of the
main cities of central Etruria. The town is still surrounded
by cyclopean Etruscan walls and evidence of the Etruscan
past of the town was found at different sites in the territory:
the celebrated Etruscan Lamp and the famous Tabula Cortonensis,
found in the surroundings of the town, are today housed
in one of the leading, state of the art museums of Italy:
The Museo dell’Accademia Etrusca e della Città
di Cortona.
Steep alleys, old houses, monasteries and a real wealth
of churches housing precious works of art bear testimony
to the medieval and Renaissance past of the town. During
medieval and Renaissance times Cortona gave birth and
was the destination of a number of saints and artists.
Saint Francis travelled to Cortona and here founded
in one of the most charming spots of town the Eremo
delle Celle. In Cortona lived and died Saint Margaret,
whose uncorrupted body is still worshipped in the sanctuary
standing at the top of the hill; here were born Friar
Elia, first successor of Saint Francis at the head of
the Franciscan Order who built in his town the large
and magnificent church dedicated to the Saint from Assisi
and painters Luca Signorelli and Pietro Berrettini.
Important works by Luca Signorelli are on display in
the local Museo Diocesano that also houses the famous
Annunciazione by Beato Angelico. Amongst Cortona’s
churches is also one of the most impressive churches
of the Italian Renaissance: Santa Maria del Calcinaio,
built to plans by Francesco di Giorgio Martini.
Cortona hosts several events amongst which the Fiera
del Rame (copperware market – late April), the
Giostra dell’Archidado, a costume cross-bow competition
(in May), the Steak Festival (August 15th), the Antique
Fair (late August-early September), the Tuscan Sun Festival,
(August). Amongst events held in the nearby towns worth
noticing Arezzo Wave (Arezzo – July), Umbria Jazz
(July – Perugia), the Settimana Musicale Senese
(August and September – Siena) and historical
re-enactments such as the Giostra del Saracino (Arezzo
– June and Septmber) and the Palio di Siena (July
2nd and August 16th – Siena).
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