The architecture and Etruscan history of Tuscany: Arezzo and Cortona

Thanks to this course by car, you can admire two of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany: Arezzo and Cortona.

Arezzo

We will park at the fortress to proceed on foot along the main (pedestrian) street of Arezzo.
Reached about halfway, you will visit the Basilica of San Francesco, with its imposing stone façade, which houses the splendid series of frescoes by Piero della Francesca: Legend of the True Cross.
Then continue towards the main square of Arezzo, Piazza Grande, located in the upper part of the city, near the end of the main course. Suggestive scenery of the Giostra del Saracino and antiques fair, opens in the heart of the medieval city.
Built around 1200 and has a much wider scope of input was dominated by the Palazzo del Comune (some visible traces on top of  Via Pelliceria) and the Palazzo del Popolo, whose remains are visible at the top of Via dei Pileati incorporated in the wall to support the embankment of Prato. During the sixteenth century the square was reduced to the current size with the completion of the porch of the famous architect Vasari. Just below the beautiful porch you can make a break for coffee in a beautiful bar and then continue to the Duomo.
Starting in 1278 the construction of the dome continued today in various stages, and ended only in 1511. Do not miss the cycle of the seven stained glass windows executed by Guillaume de Marcillat (1516-1517 and 1522-1524), documented the high altar in 1362, but previously executed, the wooden choir designed by Giorgio Vasari in 1554.  The formella sepulchral note in Guido Tarlati, built on a design by Giotto in 1330, and next to Mary Magdalene by Piero della Francesca, dating back to the sixties of the fifteenth century, are two treasures that you can not forget. Underlying is the chapel with frescos of the Ubertini Gregory and Donato di Arezzo (early fourteenth century), in which there are two magnificent organs.
Left the Cathedral you can visit the adjacent park, with a terrace, which is  overlooking the valley, and then falling back toward the center through one of the many alleyways that make up the historical fabric of the historic center.
For lovers of literature, however, you can visit, near the Duomo, the birthplace of the famous writer Francesco Petrarch, one of the father of the history of Italian literature.
For lovers of archaeology, however, you just have to stop at the Museo Nazionale Archeologico Statale, Via Margheritone 10th The museum collected Etruscan, Greek and Roman finds from private collections.
At this point we might be hungry. In the historical centre of Arezzo, there are restaurants to suit all tastes: from rustic Tuscan sandwich, with the pizza slice to complete more fine dining.
It is very fine to visit Arezzo on days when there is the Antique: the last Sunday of the month and the preceding Saturday.

Cortona
 

From Arezzo by car continue to Cortona, an ancient Tuscan city of Etruscan origins.
In addition to a pleasant walk in the historic centre, we can follow the traces of the Etruscan Cortona.
Within and around the city you can admire several Etruscan monuments: the Door Ghibellina or Door Bifora in  the  town is the only one of the monumental gate of the walls of Etruscan Cortona, Il Melone I Sodo, located on the left bank of the river Loreto is an artificial mound of archaic Etruscan funerary architecture. Inside is a tomb discovered dromos with five rooms and a central fund and the other at the sides of a corridor centrale.Il Melone II of Sodo is located on the right bank of the river Loreto: a mound of the Archaic period and is two tombs inside. The two tombs have returned a rich set of jewellery. For more detailed information about Etruscan Cortona and to visit the archaeological park you can contact the Museo dell' Accademia Etrusca e della città di Cortona,: tel. +39 0575 630415 or 637235, http://www.cortonamaec.org/
Our day will end in Cortona, where we will stop at a nice restaurant in the center, or return to La Casa che Sogna which to spend a relaxing evening. 
 

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