All the EVENTS to Cortona:
www.comunedicortona.it/turismo/visitare/index.php

(photo Cortona)
 

(photo "foreshortenings Cortona")

(photo "Teatre L. Signorelli")

(photo "The annunciation"  Luca Signorelli)

(photo "The Library")

   (photo "Fortitude the Girifalco")

(photo of charch "Santa Maria delle Grazie
del Calcinaio")

(in the convent photo Franciscan "Celle")

(photo cherch "Santa Maria Nova")

(scorci di Cortona)
  

Cortona is located in a beautiful position on a hill at 650 meters, surrounded by olive trees and vines and faces one of the most harmonious landscape of Italy.

The origins of this town are full of legends and mistery. 
Virgilio says that Daradano, after had founded the town,
left for the orient and built Troia. 
Many other greek authors, like Teopompo,
Aristotele and Licofrone say that Ulisse died in Cortona. 

(photo "Il Leone" symbol Cortona)

Sure is that, at the Etruscan time,
Cortona was one of the twelve Lucumonìe.
The Greek called it "Croton", Tito Livio "Cortona" and
Virgilio, in his poem Eneide, called it "Corytus". 

(Picture Cortona)

The evidence of his appurtenance at the Etruscan Civilitation
is well showed by the impressiveness of its wall and
by the large quantity of exhibits and archeological treasures
that are kept in the museum of the
Etruscan Academy. 

(Picture Cortona)
      

The recently discovery of the monumental tomb named
"Melone II del Sodo", which dates back to the VI cen. b.C., confirms the extremely importance of this town
in the Etruscan History.

  
( town monument Cortona)

Cortona became a roman colony at Lucio Cornelio Silla time. 
During the second Punic War, the 24th June 217 b.C.,
nearby the Trasimeno Lake,
which is very closed to Cortona, Annibale
with his strong army faced the roman army, commanded
by Flaminio consul , and the battle which led
to is remembered as one of the most
bloody of our history.

(photo "Etruscan chandelier" and "Etruscan signs")

During the barbarian invations Cortona
was devastated by the Goti, (450 a.C.); by then,
the further news we get about the town are related at the XIII cen., when Cortona was became a free city with its owen
currency and which was often in competition
with the town of Arezzo. 

(photo "Etruscan finds" in the Etruscan museum of Cortona)

 At the time of the fightings between the Guelfi and Ghibellini, Cortona chose to be Ghibellian and was visited
and privilised by Frederic the Second
of Sweden and Henry the Seventh of Luxemburg.

(photo cherch "Santa Margherita")

The Casali Family ruled the town of Cortona
since 1325 to 1409 and obtained this privilege
grace to its political merits.

(photo "Tanella of Pythagoras")

Since 1529 Cortona became part of the Granducato of Tuscany and, before with the Medici Family and then, since 1737,
with the Lorena Family, followed its sourt.
At last Cortona became part of the new Reign
of Italy in the 1860.
The illustrious men, the palace and the churces
of Cortona are evidence of its
Middle Ages and Renaissance tradition.

(nella foto "Cortona old")