Santa Margherita, Minor basilica in Cortona, Italy.
Santa Margherita is a minor basilica in Cortona with three doorways and a medieval rose window carved into its facade. The building sits at the edge of the town center, positioned near the Girifalco Fortress above.
After Margaret of Cortona died in 1297, architect Giovanni Pisano oversaw construction of a new church adjacent to the original San Basilio. This basilica was built to honor the saint and became a destination for pilgrims over the following centuries.
Inside you see four plaster statues representing San Francesco, San Ludovico, Santa Elisabetta, and Santa Chiara, made by Giovanni and Amalia Dupré. These works shape how visitors experience the space and connect with the saints honored here.
The building sits on a hillside and requires walking uphill to reach, especially from the western approach. Wear comfortable shoes since the paths are steep and winding through the old town.
The church stands where an older pilgrimage hospital once stood, where Saint Margaret herself lived and prayed. This connection explains why it holds such deep spiritual weight for visitors who come today.
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