Crossbows, Churches and Ancient Cortona:: Pt 4 Tuscany Series
Cortona is perched on Mont Sant Egidio, giving it a spectacular view of the entire Chianti Valley and the mountains of Siena. Perched on the top of the hill is an ancient Medici Fortress. The streets are narrow, cobbled and steep. As we climb up into the city, we are in awe of the massive medieval walls, which surround the city, one of the oldest in Tuscany. In sections of the walls and in the surrounding area, many remnants from the cities Etruscan beginnings can be found. There are monuments and tombs, including the famous “ Den of Pythagoras” from the 2nd century
Inside the city itself is the Palazzo Casali. It houses the Museum of the Etruscan Academy. The Etruscan rooms here contain a treasure trove of jewelry and artifacts including the famous bronze “ Lamp of Cortona.” The museum also houses Egyptian and Roman collections and an excellent picture gallery, which features the “Polymnia Muse” a spectacular painting from the Roman era. A world famous library featuring a huge number of printed volumes, incunabula, manuscripts and parchments are also part if this complex.
Works of well-known renaissance painter Luca Signorelli is featured in the Diocesan Museum, in the church of the Gesu, as is Fra Beato Angelico whose well known “The annunciation” is also featured here. Luca Signorelli was a native of Cortona.
Diocesan Museum art Click Here.
Like most ancient cities Cortona is a myriad of churches. The medieval churches of San Francesco (1245) and San Domenico (15th century), Santa Maria Delle Grazie (1485), the Renaissance churches of Santa Maria Nuova (1550) and San Niccolo (16th century) are of note. These holy places also contain many art treasures. Francis of Assisi lived here in “ The Alle Celle, which is also a tourist attraction.
As we trek around this ancient village, it is like being sent back to another age. Then we hear the sounds of a band and a parade of people in medieval dress, as they pass us on their way to marshal and wait. This put us over the top. For the next few hours we are in medieval Cortona.
The band waits out of sight as others also in medieval attire line up behind them.
Chairs are set up in the square and targets and banners put on the walls. It didn’t take us long to figure out that this was a special event about to take place.
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