Cortona and the surrounding territory offer visitors a unique combination of environmental and natural resources from the Tuscan landscape and archaeological monuments spanning from Etruscan to Roman times. A number of remains from the ancient Etruscan town are still preserved within the its enceinte including the mighty defensive walls, the double-arched gate of Porta Bifora as well as a series of underground artefacts (the vaulted arch in the Palazzo Cerulli Diligenti, the barrel vault in the Via Guelfa, the Etruscan wall-portion in the Palazzo Casali); remains from Roman times are also preserved and include the remains of a Roman acqueduct consisting of cocciopesto piping right by the Porta Montanina gate as well as a the “Bagni di Bacco” cistern next to the church of S. Antonio. The country-side is dotted with so-called “Meloni”, Etruscan burial-mounds from archaic times; one of these is located in Camucia; further two tumuli are located in the village of Sodo. Particularly striking is the Tumulo II of Sodo with its imposing terrace-steps decorated with sculptural groups and orientalizing architectural elements. At the foot of the hill olive groves of rare beauty are the backdrop to the so-called Tanella di Pitagora, an Etruscan monument already known to travellers as early as in the 1500s, the Tanella Angori and the Mezzavia burial site. Higher up the hills in the area known as the Cortona mountains a close-knit network of stone-paved Roman roads was recently brought to light. The hillside overlooking lake Trasimeno is the site of the discovery of the remarkable remains of the villa of Ossaia from the late Republican-Imperial period. All sites are duly described within the MAEC, marked by appropriate road signs and detailed signs on site and may be easily reached by car or on trekking paths.
For general information and visits to monuments included in the Park:

Museo dell'Accademia Etrusca e della città di Cortona
Piazza Signorelli 9, Cortona (AR)
tel. 0575 630415-637235- 612565
info@cortonamaec.org

The Melone I of Sodo is located on the left bank of the Rio di Loreto.
The Tumulus consists in an artificial mound and is an example of archaic Etruscan funerary architecture. The burial site was investigated and unearthed during an excavation campaign carried out in 1909. The tomb consists of a long uncovered dromos (entry-corridor) leading to a five-chamber area consisting in turn of one central chamber and four chambers opening onto the central corridor. The tomb features a pseudo overhanging vault. Recent excavations (2003) brought to light part of the original socle. 
OPEN: Tuesday, Friday and Sunday
from  9,30 to 12,30 - (April-October)
Ticket fee € 2,00


ADDRESS: Loc. Il Sodo
Phone: 0575 630415 - 637235
Web: www.cortonamaec.org

The Melone II of Sodo is located on the right bank of the Rio di Loreto.
This burial site too may be dated back to the archaic period and consists of two separate inner tombs: the Tomb I featuring a pseudo-vault roofing was unearthed in 1928/9; the Tomb II was discovered in 1991 and contained a real wealth of golden grave goods.
In 1990 excavations brought to light on the east side of the of the mound perimeter a monumental altar-platform accessed by means of a stairway whose side-walls are decorated with reliefs and sculptural groups

OPEN ALL DAYS ( EXC Monday )
from 8,30 to 13,30 -
FREE ENTRANCE

ADDRESS: Loc. Il Sodo
Phone: 0575/612565 
Web: www.cortonamaec.org 

The Tanella di Pitagora is located on the slope dropping from Cortona to the Valdichiana. The tomb was first mentioned when it was visited by G. Vasati in 1566.
The tomb is a small Tumulus from the Hellenistic period (2nd century B.C.) comprising a circular base supporting a drum consisting of closely set stone blocks. The interior features a short dromos as well as a small rectangular chamber topped with a barrel vault.

ADDRESS: Via Maestà del Sasso
Phone: 0575 630415 - 637535 
Web: www.cortonamaec.org 

The Tanella Angori, located only a short distance from the Tanella di Pitagora, was unearthed in 1951 and may be dated back to the Hellenistic period (2nd century B.C.).
Unfortunately only the lower part of the socle (a cylindrical drum on a circular base) and a few blocks form the crowning structure were preserved. The interior in the form of a Greek cross still exhibits a stone-paved floor.



Web: www.cortonamaec.org 

This route includes visits to the celebrated romanesque Abbey of Farneta and its ancient Antiquarium as well as to the new Paleontological Museum “Don Sante Felici” located on the second floor of the former Elementary School and the paleontological itinerary, fitted with information signs, running through the area where Pleistocene fauna fossils were found.



Web: www.cortonamaec.org 

The Tumulus of Camucia was unearthed in 1840 by A. François.
The mound is very large in circumference (about 600 feet) and consists internally of a first chamber tomb (Tomb A or François Tomb) and a second tomb (Tomb B) discovered in 1964 by the Archaeological Superintendency of Tuscany.

ADDRESS: Loc. Camucia - Via dell'Ipogeo/Via dell'Etruria
Phone: 0575 612565
Web: www.cortonamaec.org