Cortona in a Weekend

Day 1: vguided tour of Cortona as described in the Cortona in a day itinerary.

Day 2: guided tour of the MAEC Museum (Museo dell’Accademia Etrusca e della Città di Cortona) located in the historic Palazzo Casali and established in 1727 on the initiative of a group of intellectuals from Cortona who were in contact with the most advanced sectors of Italian and European culture at the time. Some of the most important masterpieces of the Etruscan civilization such as the grave goods coming from the burial mounds of the Archaeological Park of Cortona and the famous Tabula Cortonensis and remarkable Etruscan bronze lamp are on display at the MAEC Museum.

After the visit at the MAEC Museum, we will get to the village of Sodo to see important Etruscan archaeological sites that are part of the Archaeological Park of Cortona. Here you can admire the impressive burial mounds called Melone I and Melone II, which date back to the 6th century B.C.

In the afternoon, the guided tour of Cortona in a weekend will continue with a visit to the beautiful Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie al Calcinaio, a fine example of Renaissance architecture that was built in the second half of the 15th century and designed by famous architect Francesco di Giorgio Martini.

The last stop on our guided tour will be the marvelous Church of San Michele Arcangelo a Metelliano, one of the oldest churches in the Cortona area, whose origins go back to Lombard times.

Duration:

Two full days (Day 1: 6 hours maximum / Day 2: 6 hours maximum).

Difficulty:

Easy (a means of transport is needed to get around in the town surroundings).

What you are going to see:

the Sanctuary of Santa Margherita, the Hermitage of Le Celle, Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza Signorelli, the Church of San Francesco, the Cathedral, the Diocesan Museum, the MAEC Museum, the Archaeological Park of Cortona, the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie al Calcinaio and the Church of San Michele Arcangelo a Metelliano.