Cortona: Things to Do, Stay and Travel Tips

Best Things to Do in Cortona

Walk Along Via Nazionale

Via Nazionale connects Piazza Garibaldi with the heart of the historic centre. Locals also call it Rugapiana, referring to its unusually level route through an otherwise steep town.

The street is lined with cafés, small shops and historic buildings. It is the easiest introduction for first-time visitors and one of the most manageable areas for travellers with limited mobility.

Start at Piazza Garibaldi for views across the valley. Then follow Via Nazionale towards Piazza della Repubblica.

Explore Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza Signorelli

Piazza della Repubblica is dominated by the medieval Palazzo Comunale and its broad staircase. The square remains a natural meeting point and leads directly into Cortona’s compact network of lanes.

Nearby Piazza Signorelli feels more cultural and theatrical. It contains Palazzo Casali, home to the MAEC, as well as the 19th-century Teatro Signorelli.

These neighbouring squares form the practical centre of a visit. Cafés and restaurants make them convenient for a break before entering the museums or climbing higher.

Visit the MAEC

The Museo dell’Accademia Etrusca e della Città di Cortona, usually shortened to MAEC, is the best place to understand the town’s history.

Its collection includes the Etruscan bronze chandelier and the Tabula Cortonensis, one of the longest known inscriptions in the Etruscan language. Other displays cover Roman Cortona, medieval art and the work of Cortona-born artist Gino Severini.

Allow enough time to see the archaeological floors rather than treating the museum as a quick indoor stop. Opening days and hours change seasonally, especially in winter.

See Fra Angelico in the Diocesan Museum

The Museo Diocesano stands beside Cortona Cathedral on Piazza del Duomo. Its collection is smaller than the MAEC but exceptionally important for travellers interested in Tuscan painting.

Highlights include Fra Angelico’s Annunciation and Cortona Triptych, together with works by Pietro Lorenzetti and Luca Signorelli. The museum also explains the strong connection between Signorelli and his birthplace.

Across the square, visit the Concattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta. Inside are mosaics by Gino Severini, while the edge of the square opens towards the surrounding landscape.

Climb to the Basilica di Santa Margherita

The Basilica di Santa Margherita stands above the historic centre near the top of the hill. Its present appearance largely reflects 19th-century rebuilding, although earlier elements remain.

The basilica is dedicated to Saint Margaret of Cortona, whose remains are kept inside. The climb passes through a quieter residential part of the town and is best attempted in comfortable footwear.

Visitors who cannot manage the ascent may be able to approach the basilica by road and use parking near the upper area. Check current access before relying on this option.

Continue to Girifalco Fortress

The Fortezza del Girifalco stands above the basilica at the highest point of the town. The present Medici fortress dates from the 16th century and occupies a much older defensive site.

Its ramparts and elevated position provide broad views across Tuscany and towards Umbria. The fortress also hosts exhibitions and cultural events.

Opening periods vary considerably through the year. Check the current timetable before making the climb, particularly outside spring and summer.

Find the Etruscan Walls and Porta Bifora

Around two kilometres of ancient walls reveal the scale of Etruscan Cortona. Large stone blocks remain visible beneath later medieval additions.

Porta Bifora is one of the clearest surviving Etruscan gateways. It lies away from the busiest central route, making it a useful stop for visitors interested in archaeology rather than only the main squares.

The MAEC’s distributed archaeological park connects the walls and gates with tombs and other sites around the municipality.

Visit the Sodo Archaeological Area

At the foot of the hill, the archaeological area of Sodo contains two monumental Etruscan burial mounds. Known locally as meloni because of their shape, they date from the late seventh and sixth centuries BC.

Sodo gives context to objects displayed inside the MAEC. A combined ticket may be available for the museum and archaeological area.

This site is easiest to include with a car or taxi. Opening periods are more limited in winter, so check access before travelling there.

Make a Quiet Detour to Eremo Le Celle

Eremo Le Celle is a Franciscan hermitage in a narrow wooded valley outside the historic centre. The complex developed around a site associated with Saint Francis of Assisi.

Stone buildings, a small bridge and the surrounding woodland create a very different atmosphere from the central squares. It remains an active religious place, so visitors should dress respectfully and keep noise low.

A car or taxi is the easiest option. Strong walkers can reach the area on foot, but the route adds a substantial countryside walk to an already hilly day.