Society & Culture
The top of the hill of Cortona is dominated by the Fortress of Girifalco, built in 1556 by grand-duke of Tuscany Cosimo de' Medici on the ruins of ancient Etruscan and Roman fortifications. The fortress is trapezoidal in shape with four large bastions. Today it periodically houses art exhibitions. Right below the fortress you can admire the magnificent Basilica of Santa Margherita. The church was built in the thirteenth century on the ruins of a little church dedicated to San Basilio. The saint spent here the last years of her life. The interior is Baroque and preserves works of the Sienese School as well as relics donated by some knights of Malta from Cortona. The embalmed body of Santa Margherita is displayed behind the main altar. The patron saint of Cortona is celebrated twice a year, in February and in May. The basilica is connected with the city center through the Way of the Cross (also called viale Santa Margherita). The fourteen stations made of stone with mosaics representing "The passion of Christ" have been created by painter Gino Severini in 1947. The citizens of Cortona have decided to pay such an important work to thank God for surviving to air raids during world war II.