Fortezza del Girifalco

The Girifalco Fortress crowns the hill above Cortona. Rebuilt in the sixteenth century with four bastions and a central keep, it preserves a long defensive history while overlooking the town and the Valdichiana.

Why it matters

A fortress stood on the summit by 1258, and the site had earlier Etruscan and Roman use. After Cortona came under Florentine control in 1411, the Medici strengthened the hilltop position. Cosimo I commissioned a new fortress in 1556, designed by Gabrio Serbelloni with the Cortonese architect Francesco Laparelli.

What to notice

The trapezoidal enclosure has four large bastions, with thick walls, earth embankments and openings for artillery. The keep provides a view over Cortona's rooftops and across the Valdichiana. Some enlarged windows reflect later periods, when the fortress's military role had diminished.

Context and history

The fortress was integrated with the city walls during Florentine restructuring from 1527, forming a central courtyard within the enclosure. Completed in the sixteenth century, it never saw a major battle. As military use faded, the complex fell into disrepair before restoration and reuse as a venue for exhibitions and cultural events.