Cortona: Etruscan heritage above the Valdichiana
Cortona stands on a steep slope overlooking the Valdichiana. The walls, squares and uphill streets preserve Etruscan, Roman and medieval traces. The panorama is a consequence of the strategic position, not an element separate from the urban history.
History and identity
Cortona was an important Etruscan city; walls and tombs in the area belong to this phase. In the Middle Ages it became a free municipality and then passed under Florence. The Museum of the Etruscan Academy and the City of Cortona brings together finds and collections useful for following these transformations.
What to see
Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza Signorelli form the civil centre. The MAEC, the diocesan museum and San Francesco concentrate art and archaeology. Higher up are Santa Margherita and the Girifalco fortress; the archaeological park includes sites distant from the centre.
Understand the place
The slopes are challenging and the parking lots are at different levels. It is unrealistic to add all the Etruscan tombs to a short urban tour. Choosing a museum and a climb, checking timetables and shuttles, makes the visit more readable.
Prepare the visit
Times, access conditions and transportation may change. Before the trip, check the official pages linked from the source, protect the heritage and leave the entrances to the homes free. Source in local language.