Wedding Locations in Cortona, Tuscany - Special Days Wedding Planner

Locations

Our locations are a selection of medieval hilltop towns in Tuscany Italy adorned with incredible art treasures and surrounded by spectacular natural landscapes. Our philosophy is to avoid big chaotic towns in order to soak up the magic atmosphere of local villages and charming small towns.
The natural setting of your wedding will be the gorgeous Tuscan countryside, where you can enjoy the peace and the tranquillity of this much sought after region.

Cortona

Cortona is a remarkable city in Tuscany. Located on a hill, not far from Lake Trasimeno, it overlooks the Val di Chiana and represents a very important artistic and cultural centre. Cortona maintains its Medieval town walls and its deeply-marked Renaissance atmosphere with beautiful buildings (mansions), steep paved streets and fine-looking squares lined with arcades.

HISTORY

The history of Cortona is intertwined with legends dating to the classical times. These legends were later re-worked, especially during the Renaissance period. One of the most famous reads that after the Great Flood, Noah entered the Valdichiana. He really liked it; since it was so fertile, he lived there for thirty years. His son Crano, coming to a hilltop liked the high position of the place and the fine surrounding countryside and decided to build the city of Cortona on it. Legends apart, documents show that Cortona was originally Umbrian, then it became an Etruscan city (it also belonged to the Etruscan Towns League) and eventually it was a Roman colony whose name was Corito. Cortona was sacked and destroyed during the Barbarian invasions. During the Middle Ages, it was a Ghibelline town (it belonged to the imperial party). Cortona was sold to the Medici in 1411. It came under the authority of the House of Lorraine in the 18th C.

MAIN FEATURES

The prevailing character of Cortona's architecture is medieval with steep narrow streets situated on a hilltop. Its embracing view of the whole Valdichiana and of Lake Trasimeno makes it a unique site. Cortona is perfect to be explored on foot; it makes you experience some unforgettable instants of history and culture among its narrow lanes, beautiful buildings and squares. Also the surrounding area will show you some interesting spots: Etruscan tombs, churches (such as Santa Maria del Calcinaio and Abbazia di Farneta) and a monastery with the tiny cell St. Francis used to stay in . This area has been made very famous by the American book – then made into a movie – "Under the Tuscan Sun". When you visit Cortona or its surroundings, you will also have the opportunity to taste the authentic Tuscan cuisine in one of the typical restaurants or trattoria of the area. During the 14th C. Cortona began to attract artists especially from the Sienese School; it was also the birthplace of painters and architects such as Luca Signorelli, Domenico Bernabei (Boccasor), Pietro da Cortona and, more recently, Severini (one of the representatives of Futurism – the great Italian avant-garde movement).

MAIN SIGHTS

Palazzo Comunale or Town Hall Building has an evident medieval character even if it was completed in the 16th C. Palazzo Pretorio also dates from the 13th C. and shows the coats of arms of the town governors (podestà). The Museum of the Etruscan Academy has important Etruscan items together with a collection of Etruscan and Roman ceramics and of Italian ivories. It also includes works donated by Severini to the town (all located in the Severini Room).The Diocesan Museum has valuable collections by Fra Angelico, by Signorelli and by painters from the Sienese School. The Cathedral, San Niccolò, Santuario di Santa Margherita, San Domenico and Santa Maria Nuova are all churches worth a visit, thanks to their position, their architecture and to the collections of paintings or frescoes housed inside, which date to different periods - from the early Renaissance to the Baroque times. Piazza Garibaldi offers a nice view of Lake Trasimeno and of the Valdichiana, while Via Nazionale is a nice shopping street with picturesque narrow streets, alleys and steps.