Cortona

South of Arezzo, almost at the border with Umbria, rises Cortona, on the steep slopes of a hill which leans on the Alta Sant’ Egidio. Cortona was maybe founded by the Umbrians and became very powerful under the Etruscans, is nowadays, one of the main resorts of the province of Arezzo. On its hill, which dominates the Val di Chiana, into a circle of walls which are a monument of rare archaeological importance, with its steep lanes , the cloisters, it is the keeper of the glories of the past, of which it keeps jealously the relics in the museums and in the churches. Rare exemplars of Egyptian, Etruscan and Roman civilizations( very precious among them, an Etruscan “chandelier” with sixteen necks which can be considered one of the most beautiful works of craftwork in bronze of the ancient times)are kept in the Museum of the Etruscan Academy, of which the seat is in Palazzo Casali, an imposing architectural work of the XIII century. This museum keeps, besides ivories, silvers and bronzes, beautiful paintings, among which there are also work by Pinturicchio, Signorelli, Ghirlandaio and Piazzetta. There are also very interesting relics of more recent times like the room of the XVIII century, which belonged to G.B. Tommasi, already master of the Order of Malta. In the ex-Church of Jesus, a sixteenth –century work of great architectural harmony, has its seat in the Diocesan Museum, which keeps the magnificent “Annunciation” by Beato Angelico, some paintings by Luca Signorelli, Pietro Lorenzetti, some ancient relics and precious pieces of goldsmithry. Cortona has also a wonderful cathedral of the XVI century and a splendid church in gothic style, started by the successor of Saint Francesco, the friar Elia Coppi and it is called for this reason “Church of Saint Francesco”. Another interesting church is that of Saint Domenico, built at the beginning of the XV century, with frescos by Beato Angelico and works by Luca Signorelli. But, among all the artistic monuments of Cortona, the most important is considered the Church of saint Maria al Calcinaio, in the middle between Cortona and Camucia, on the southern slopes of the hill of Cortona. Masterpiece of the sienese Francesco di Giorgio Martini, is considered one of the most perfect architectural works of the Renaissance. Among the interesting monuments, we have to remember the Town Hall with its tower and the Palazzo del Popolo, rising in the wonderful “Piazza della Repubblica”. Cortona was the motherland of saints and artists. Here lived Saint Margherita, were born Luca Signorelli and Pietro Berrettini. Saint Francesco founded here the Hermitage of the Celle, and Beato Angelico left here some of his most beautiful works.