Best things to do in Cortona

Cortona's Essential Treasures

Cortona's heritage spans from its Etruscan origins to the Renaissance. This hilltop town features the MAEC museum, housing rare artifacts like the bronze Tabula Cortonensis. Architectural highlights include the 13th-century Palazzo Comunale and the Renaissance masterpiece Santa Maria delle Grazie al Calcinaio. Religious sites range from the neo-Gothic Basilica of Santa Margherita to the 13th-century hermitage of Le Celle, founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. The Diocesan Museum preserves significant works, including Fra Angelico’s Annunciation.

Cortona's Essential Treasures — Map

Unknown Master, Italian (active in the… / Public domain

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Santa Margherita, Cortona

Basilica of Santa Margherita is a neo-Gothic style, Roman Catholic church, located just outside the Tuscan town of Cortona, Italy, at the…

De Grummond, Nancy / CC BY-SA 4.0

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MAEC - Etruscan Academy Museum

Housed in the 13th-century Palazzo Casali, this museum displays significant Etruscan and Roman artifacts. Notable exhibits include a 5th-century BC bronze chandelier and the Tabula Cortonensis, one of the longest existing Etruscan inscriptions.

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Cortona Cathedral

Cortona Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Cortona, Tuscany, central Italy, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

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Palazzo Comunale

Dating back to the 13th century, this historic seat of government dominates Piazza della Repubblica. It is characterized by its prominent clock tower and a grand 16th-century stone staircase leading to the main entrance.

Geobia / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Church of Santa Maria del Calcinaio

A Renaissance church designed by Francesco di Giorgio Martini in the late 15th century. Built on the site of a former lime pit, it features a harmonious Latin cross layout and a high octagonal dome.

Didier Descouens / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Convent de Le Celle, Cortona

The Convent de Le Celle is a 13th-century Franciscan Convent located in Le Celle, just outside Cortona, region of Tuscany, Italy.

Luca Signorelli / Public domain

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Diocesan Museum

The Diocesan Museum in Cortona is an art museum in Cortona, Tuscany, Italy.

Igor Škrjanc / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Spirito Santo, Cortona

The Church of the Holy Spirit or Chiesa dello Spirito Santo is a 17th-century, Roman Catholic church built just outside the medieval walls…

Ro Ser / CC-BY-SA

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San Cristoforo, Cortona

San Cristoforo is a small, Roman Catholic church located at the intersection of Via San Niccolò and Via dell’Orto della Cera, in central…

Sailko / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Santa Maria Nuova, Cortona

The church of Santa Maria Nuova is a Roman Catholic place of worship, located just outside the walls of the town of Cortona, in Tuscany,…

Tripomatic User / CC-BY-SA

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San Francesco, Cortona

San Francesco is a 13th-century, Roman Catholic church located on via Berrettini in Cortona, region of Tuscany, Italy.

Other Lists

Sacred Sites of Cortona Historic Christian Cemeteries Castles and Manor Houses Scenic Peaks and Passes