The Girifalco Fortress occupies the highest point of Cortona. To reach it, you climb beyond the historic centre and the Basilica of Santa Margherita, until the massive walls emerge on the ridge and the valley opens out in every direction.
From the medieval stronghold to the Medici fortress
A fortification already stood on the hill in the Middle Ages; in the sixteenth century Cosimo I de' Medici entrusted Gabrio Serbelloni and Francesco Laparelli with transforming it into a modern defensive structure. Bastions, gun ports and thick walls chronicle the evolution of military architecture, although the fortress was never involved in major battles.
From garrison to cultural venue
Over time the Girifalco has served as a prison, a refuge and a military base. Today it hosts exhibitions, events and visitors. Walking along the bastions allows you to take in Cortona, the Valdichiana and Lake Trasimeno all at once. It is one of those places where the view is not merely a backdrop to history: it explains why history happened here.