Mura etrusche di Cortona

Cortona's Etruscan walls preserve large ancient blocks incorporated into medieval gates and later fortifications.

Why it matters

The circuit reflects successive periods of the town's history. Etruscan masonry, medieval gates and Medici-era defences follow an ancient alignment that continued to shape Cortona's form.

What to notice

Large squared blocks without mortar survive at Porta Montanina and near Porta San Vincenzo and Porta Santa Maria. Porta Bifora preserves paired archways and is generally dated to the second century BC. Bronze statuettes of Culsans and Selvans found nearby have prompted interpretation of the gate as a sacred threshold, though the precise function remains uncertain.

Context and history

The Etruscan circuit is usually dated broadly to the fifth or fourth century BC. Medieval Cortona reused parts of the ancient line, and Medici engineers later connected it with the fortress on the summit. The ancient city, known as Curtun, is also attested by a bronze votive inscription. The walls remain a record of Etruscan, medieval and Renaissance defensive architecture.