Cortona is now famous
for “Under the Tuscan Sun” by Francis Mayes – and late 2002 and early 2003,
Cortona was transformed and given the Hollywood once over during the making of
the film version – which included a huge set of fountains with Roman lions etc –
however, don’t go searching for this as it was merely something installed to
make the town “more authentic”!
Cortona with its
Etruscan origins is rich in art and history. The prevailing character of
Cortona’s architecture is medieval with steep narrow streets situated on a
hillside (altitude 600 metres) providing magnificent panoramas to every point of
the compass, embracing the whole of the Valdichiana.
The Museo Diocesano is
home to a superb collection of paintings, including "Annunciation" and "Madonna
and Saints" by Fra Angelico, and also a group of work by Giuseppe Maria Crespi
known as Lo Spagnuolo called "Ecstasy of St. Margaret".
Inside the Palazzo Pretorio is the Museo dell'Accademia Etrusca that displays
items from Etruscan, Roman, and Egyptian civilizations and also art and
artefacts from the Medieval and Renaissance eras.
Cortona has a range of restaurants catering for all tastes. We shall
be pleased to offer you some advice and help you book a table.
As with most Tuscan
towns the churches are magnificent and well worth a visit.
