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The Churches
Outside of the city walls
close to the city there are sites to note for there historic and
artistic value, they are:
 (VII
century) CHIESA DI SAN MICHELE ARCANGELO A METELLIANO
The church of Saint Michael the Archangel at Metelliano is found
at the entrance to the valley dell'Esse about 5 kilometres from
Cortona.
Constructed around the seventh century by the Longobards after they
conquered the area, it was dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel.
It is noted that the Longobards had a particular devotion to the
Archangel Michael. Around the year 1000 the church was redone in
pre-Romanic-Byzantine style by Maginardo, an architect from Arezzo
who left the two church beautiful side apse from the seventh century
intact. The alternating pilaster work divides the church with three
naves with large pilasters and delicate Byzantine columnettes which
make the building aity and seems to anticipate the Gothic style.
The three apses are decorated on the exterior with small blind arches.
The facade is purely Byzantine style and austere in its simplicity.
The church with its harmonious architecture along with the great
spiritual atmosphere makes it one of the most beautiful of the Aretine
valleys. it was proclaimed a national monument in 1907.
 (VII
century) CHIESA DELL'ABBAZIA DI FARNETA
The church of the Abbey of Farneta is found in the Valdichiana along
the border of the provinces of Cortona-Foiano, about 10 kilometres
from Cortona.
The Abbey of the Benedictine monks was raised around the eighth
and ninth centuries through the great generosity of the Counts of
Ronzano. It reached the height of its splendor between the ninth
and the fourteenth centuries.
The monks remained in possession of it until 1780 when it was suppressed
by the Grand Duke Leopoldo, it was then passed to the secular clergy
and their holdings were given to the Capitolo of the cathedral of
Cortona.
Of noteable interest is the apse structure and the crypt which was
recently rediscovered and restored. The crypt is sustained by columns
and capitals from the Roman era of various sculpture and design.
One of these columns is made of red granite from Egypt.
There is a small museum connected to the church with a fossils and
archeological relics curated by the Abbot Don Sante Felici the parish
priest and custodian of the church who has written an informative
historic and artistic guide about the church.
 (XV
century) CHIESA DI SANTA MARIA DELLE GRAZIE AL CALCINAIO
The Church of Saint Mary of the Grace at the Limepit was constructed
between the years of 1485 and 1513. It is the architectural work
of Francesco di Giorgio Martini who designed it after contacted
by his friend Luca Signorelli. it is in the Renaissance style of
a Latin cross with an elegant dome which leads one's gaze upwards
towards the olive trees on the hillside above. It was the church
of the guild of the shoe makers who had their vats of lime used
for tanning leather on this site, protected by an image of the Madonna
painted by Bernardo Covatti. which is now found on the main altar
of the church. on the right side altar of the transept there is
a Madonna and Saints by Bronzino (1535-1607) which was moved here
from the ancient church of San Vincenzo as was the one on the left.
The central rosette stained glass window was made by Marcillat (1470-1529)
and depicts the Madonna with pope Leo x, Emperor Maximillian I and
the Bishop of Cortona, Cardinal Francesco Soderini at her feet.
(XVI century) CHIESA DI SANTA MARIA NUOVA
Toward the end of the 1500's, following the designs modified by
Cristofanello, some say which were originally done by Vasari, the
New Church of Saint Mary was constructed. a beautiful Greek-cross
format church with three identical facades. The dome which was influenced
by Baroque style was completed in 1600. At the interior there are
four pilasters which support the mass of the construction giving
it a strong upward motion. The high altar is by the cortonese artist
B. Radi. The altar to the right at the entrance holds a canvas painting
by Alessandro Allori which depicts the birth of the Virgin Mary
(XVI century). The Rosette window on the facade is by Urbano Urbani
(XVI century), and depicts The Adoration of the Magi.
In the chorus are elegant pews from the 1500's.
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