Cortona - Italy

Cortona (AR)

Tuscany (Italy)

It was one of 12 cities of the Etruscan League and its primitive walls can still be seen whether the impressive medieval walls just changed. Apart from a few Renaissance palaces, the prevailing architecture of Cortona's architecture is medieval, conferring on the steep narrow streets a strong sense of atmosphere.
Given the elevated position, from every point of Cortona enjoys a wonderful view on the whole Val di Chiana.
The remarkable medieval churches of San Francesco and San Domenico, the Palazzo Comunale, Palazzo Casali and Renaissance churches of Santa Maria Nuova and San Nicholas.
In the Museo dell'Accademia Etrusca are interesting Etruscan chandelier, one of the most celebrated bronzes of antiquity and the Tabula Cortonensis, the third text, length, written in the Etruscan language.
The Diocesan Museum displays works by Luca Signorelli, distinguished Renaissance painter and native of Cortona, you can enjoy a much-admired "Annunciation" by Beato Angelico.
Outside the city are the Etruscan tomb called "Tanella of Pythagoras" (second century BC.) Cannal in area; underground Etruscan tombs at the seventh-sixth centuries BC commonly referred to as "Melons" in the Sodo underground tombs in Camucia; in area Metelliano the Romanesque church of San Angelo and the foothills of Cortona, in the locality Calcinaio the century temple of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
The Convent of Le Celle, founded by St. Francis, is one of the prettiest spots in the area.
The "Via Crucis" Severini (twentieth century) accompanies the mystic ascent linking the town overlooking the shrine of St. Margaret in turn dominated by the powerful Medici Fortezza del Girifalco.
In places Farneta rises the beautiful Romanesque church with a Latin cross crypt built before the tenth century.