Cortona

 Cortona was one of the twelve towns of the Etruscan Federation. Imposing sections of its ancient walls are still visible almost unchanged below the later medieval walls.

Apart from a number of Renaissance palaces, the town is medieval in character, which gives a very suggestive atmosphere to its steep and narrow streets.
From its height of 600 m above sea level, Cortona offers a superb panoramic view over the Chiana valley below.

The Town Hall already existed in 1241, and over the centuries has been added to and adapted, most notably in the XVI century when the bell tower, the main entrance staircase, and the wing facing via Roma and via Ghibellina were built.
The oldest section is the Council Chamber, which can clearly be seen at the side between Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza Signorelli. On a recently restored column close to the stairs leading to the Council Chamber stands the “Marzocco” from 1508, a lion with its right forepaw resting on a lily, the symbol, as in other Tuscan towns, of the rule of the Florentine Signoria.

Palazzo Casali is one of the town’s most noble and imposing buildings. The side that faces Piazza Signorelli was designed in Renaissance style by Filippo Berrettini in the early 1600s, whereas the rear wing dates from the XIV century. The two parts of the building are harmoniously linked by an elegant and austere inner courtyard.

The palace was originally the residence of the Casali family, the signori of Cortona. From 1411 on it became in turn the seat of the commissioners of the Florentine Republic, the representatives of the Medici princedom, and the governing Lorena family.

The town walls and the tombs found in the area are evidence of Cortona’s Etruscan past. The town seems to have entered an alliance with Rome at the end of the IV century BC, and at the time of the social war received Roman citizenship.
In 450 AD it was conquered by the Goths. Later, in the course of the XII century, the commune grew and prospered. The craftsmen’s guilds gained great importance, which determined the dominance of the “democratic middle classes” over the feudal system. In 1258 Arezzo sacked the town, forcing most of the population into exile. They returned in 1261.
The town became Ghibelline, receiving the title of diocese in 1325. In October of that same year the signoria was granted to Ranieri Casali, a position the family held until 1409.
The town then passed to Ladislaw King of Naples, nicknamed “ King grain-destroyer” due to the devastation his troops caused in the surrounding countryside. In 1411 the town was sold to Florence for 70 thousand scudos.
After resisting a siege by imperial toops of Clement VII and Charles V led by Philip of Orange, the town became part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.