Cortona is a town of Etruscan origin that deserves a visit for its art, historical and landscape beauties. One cannot miss the chance to visit the MAEC Museum (Museum of the Etruscan Academy and the City of Cortona), where finds of Etruscan, Roman and Medieval times are displayed, among which the famous Etruscan Chandelier dating back to the V sec. B.C.; the Diocesan Museum with its marvelous works by painters like Fra Angelico, Pietro Lorenzetti and Luca Signorelli; the Church of Santa Margherita and Hermitage Le Celle, two places rich in spirituality and mysticism; and also the squares and the picturesque narrow streets with Renaissance palaces, local handicraft shops and breathtaking views over the Valdichiana valley.
Thanks to its central location, Cortona can be easily used as a starting point to visit the most important art towns in Tuscany and Umbris such as Siena, Florence, Arezzo and Perugia, as well as famous towns for their wine and food specialties like Montepulciano, Montalcino, Pienza and Norcia, mystic places like Assisi and Orvieto, or the beautiful landscapes of Lake Trasimeno and Val d’Orcia.
