Cortona, Medieval hilltop commune in Tuscany, Italy
Cortona sits on a hillside overlooking the Valdichiana plain and is one of the higher-altitude towns in Tuscany. The old walls enclose a core of narrow lanes, steep stairs, and small squares that follow the slope of the land.
The settlement began in Etruscan times and later joined the Etruscan League before falling under Roman control. During the Middle Ages it became a free commune and changed hands several times between Florence and other Tuscan powers.
The Diocesan Museum displays two panel paintings by Fra Angelico, while the MAEC presents an extensive collection of Etruscan archaeological discoveries.
The train station is located in the valley and is connected by regular local buses that climb to the old town. The streets are steep and often paved with stone, so comfortable walking shoes are a good idea.
Beneath Piazza della Repubblica lie Etruscan cisterns that collected rainwater for centuries. The lanes are so steep that some stairways form the only connection between upper and lower neighborhoods.
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