(photo from: www.cortonainternational.com)
Il Palazzone
Il Palazzone in Cortona is a remarkable Renaissance villa with a rich history and architectural significance. Built between 1521 and 1527, it was designed by Giovan Battista Caporali, a disciple of Perugino, and commissioned by Cardinal Silvio Passerini, a prominent figure closely associated with the Medici family.
The villa showcases Renaissance architectural elements, including an imposing tower, crenellated walls, and beautifully landscaped Italian-style gardens. Inside, notable features include the Salone del Papacello, adorned with frescoes depicting Roman histories, and a chapel with frescoes of the Baptism of Christ by Luca Signorelli.
How to get there
Il Palazzone is located outside the massive ancient town walls of Cortona, and can be reached also by a pleasant walk away from the center of Cortona (about 1,5 Km: you walk from Piazzale Garibaldi on Via Gino Severini and along the way you will find several tourist signs for reaching Il Palazzone).
By plane: The closest airport is Florence, but for intercontinental flights is Rome. Another option is Pisa. From there, continue by train.
By Train: There are two railway stations, Terontola-Cortona (10 km to center) and Camucia-Cortona (5 km to center), on the track from Florence to Rome (one hour from Florence, and two hours from Rome, Siena, or Pisa). Both stations are connected to Cortona by bus (or taxi).
By Bus: It is possible to take the Autolinee Toscane (AT) Bus SU4 from Camucia/Terontola railway stations to Cortona (link) or the Tiemme SPA Bus SU5 from the Camucia/Terontola railway stations to Cortona (link).
By car: Autostrada del Sole (Highway A1, red on the map below): "Valdichiana" Exit. Upon exiting the highway, take the Siena-Perugia State Road (green on the map below) and continue towards Perugia. There are 3 possible turn-offs for Cortona: Cortona via Manzano, Cortona via Laurentana and Cortona via Strada Statale 71 (State Road 71). In this latter case, at Camucia there is a deviation for Cortona and Città di Castello.
Due to the special venue, the number of participants in limited and the conference is by invitation only. If you need further information please write to elisa.francini@unifi.it