Events Cortona

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Society & Culture


During the summer Cortona offers a lot of events not to be missed since they meet the tastes and needs of tourists and citizens. In June the five quarters of the town defy each other in the Archidado Joust, a crossbow tournament that awards a golden arrow to the winner. This historical commemoration of the wedding between the Lord of Cortona, Francesco Casali, and a noblewoman from Siena, Antonia Salimbeni, was officially instituted in 1397. The joust is anticipated by religious ceremonies, old costumed parades, performances of flag flyers and medieval evenings to relive the old medieval splendors. Between July and August, since 2003, Cortona hosts the famous Tuscan Sun Festival, a classical music and art festival that is very renowned all over the world. International artists perform on the stage of Teatro Signorelli and in the enchanting Piazza Signorelli. Concerts are combined with conferences, exhibitions, cooking classes, movie projections, fitness courses and much more. The Steak Festival is a must to celebrate the Mid-August bank holiday since it is the most important gastronomical event, which takes place in the public gardens of Cortona. On a 14-squared-meter grill succulent T-bone steaks of Chianina race are cooked underdone. In respect with tradition they must go with the excellent local wine. The following week you cannot miss the Porcini mushrooms festival, where you can taste delicious recipes with the mushrooms collected in the mountains around Cortona. Summer ends in September with Cortonantiquaria, the National Antiques exhibition and market, an event for antiques and restoration lovers and for those who want to discover this world. Dozens of exhibitors coming from the whole Italy show accurately selected and certified antiques. Since 2001 important people who have promoted the development of Cortona are awarded the Cortonantiquaria prize, which gives the town even more prestige at the national level.