Fortezza del Girifalco


Lap up the stupendous view over the Val di Chiana to Lago Trasimeno in Umbria from the remains of this Medici fortress, atop the highest point in town – count on a good 15 minutes for the steep hike up. Check the website for its fabulous season of events including exhibitions, concerts and workshops.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Basilica di Santa Margherita

0.08 MILES

For an effective cardiovascular workout, hike up to this largely 19th-century church through Cortona's warren of steep cobbled lanes. Inside, the remains…

2. Chiesa di San Domenico

0.32 MILES

At the eastern end of Via Nazionale is this 15th-century church, home to a 1515 painting of the Madonna and Saints by local luminary Luca Signorelli.

3. Chiesa di San Francesco

0.37 MILES

Built in the 13th century, this was the second church dedicated to St Francis after the basilica in Assisi and is a popular stop for pilgrims following…

5. Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta

0.48 MILES

The views of the Val di Chiana from the terrace in front of Cortona's 15th-century duomo (cathedral) are spectacular, but the church itself is…

6. Museo Diocesano di Arte Sacra

0.5 MILES

Highlights of this small museum in the decommissioned 16th-century Chiesa del Gesù include a number of works by Pietro Lorenzetti, a Madonna and Child (c…

7. Eremo Francescano Le Celle

1.24 MILES

This Franciscan hermitage hides in dense woodland 3km north of Cortona. Its buildings sit next to a picturesque stream with an 18th-century stone bridge,…

8. Pinacoteca Comunale

5.69 MILES

The lower part of Castiglion Fiorentino's fortress is home to a small collection of art including a Madonna and Child from the school of Taddeo Gaddi and…