EASTERN TUSCANY - Florence and Tuscany - page 195

Cortona u

Cortona is one of the oldest cities in Tuscany. It was
founded by the Etruscans (see p42) , whose work can
still be seen in the foundations of the town's massive
stone walls. The city was a major seat of power during
the medieval period, able to hold its own against larger
towns like Siena and Arezzo; its decline followed
defeat by Naples in 1409, after which it was sold to
Florence and lost its autonomy. The main street, Via
Nazionale, is remarkably flat in comparison with the
rest of Cortona. The numerous ladder-like alleys
leading off it, for instance the Vicolo del Precipizio
(Precipice Alley), are far more typical.

1st- or 2nd-century AD, but it
is now known to be a brilliant
18th-century fake.

Medieval houses in Via Janelli

1348) and a Deposition by
Luca Signorelli (1441-1523).
There is also a Roman
sarcophagus, featuring
Lapiths and Centaurs, which
was much admired by
Donatello and Brunelleschi.

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Duomo
Piazza del Duomo. 7

The present Duomo was
designed by Giuliano da
Sangallo in the 16th century.
Remains of an earlier
Romanesque building were
incorporated into the west
façade. The entrance is
through an attractive doorway
(1550) by Cristofanello.

# daily.

P

Via Janelli
The medieval houses in this
short street are some of the
oldest to survive in Italy.
A striking feature is their
overhanging upper floors,
built out on massive timbers.

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Museo Diocesano
Piazza del Duomo 1. Tel [phone]
30.

Palazzo Comunale

P

Palazzo Comunale

Apr-Oct: 10am-7pm daily;
Nov-Mar: 10am-5pm Tue-Sun.
&

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San Francesco
Via Maffei. ¢ to the public.

Dating from the 13th century,
the building was enlarged at
the beginning of the 16th
century, to incorporate the
distinctive tower. Its ancient
steps are the ideal place to
linger in the early evening.

to the public.
The church was built in 1245
by Brother Elias, a native of
Cortona, who succeeded St
Francis as leader of the
Franciscan order. He and the
Painter Luca Signorelli
(1441-1523), also born
locally, are buried here.

¢

7
Housed in the 16th-century
church of Gesù, the museum
contains several masterpieces.
Chief among these are Fra
Angelico's Annunciation
(1428-30), a Crucifixion
by Pietro Lorenzetti (c.1280-

E

Museo dell'Accademia
Etrusca
Palazzo Casali, Piazza Signorelli 9.
Tel [phone]. Apr-Oct:

10am-7pm daily; Nov-Mar: 10am-
5pm Tue-Sun.

#

¢ 1 Jan, 25 Dec.

& partial.

This is one of the region's
most rewarding museums. It
contains a number of major
Etruscan artifacts, including
a unique bronze chandelier
(see p43) dating from the 4th
century BC. There are also a
number of Egyptian objects.
These include a wooden
model funerary boat dating
to the second millennium BC.
On the west wall of the
main hall is a beautiful fresco
of Polymnia, the muse of
song. It was once believed to
be Roman and date from the

7

The Annunciation (1428-30) by Fra Angelico in the Museo Diocesano