Summer has arrived in Cortona but this year is like never before.
Obviously, summer 2020 is very, very different as the coronavirus pandemic has affected Italy and the whole globe. Except for the weekend when locals come to Cortona from the surroundings, the town is usually still quiet, slower. Much like the Cortona in winter or the one that used to exist many years ago before tourists discovered it.
There are so many reasons to visit Cortona (read about my top 5 here), now more than ever. And events are always one of them.
Events in Cortona for Summer 2020
Every year is hard to know which events are in town. Tourists often bump into piazza concerts or open-air markets without prior notice. There has always been a lack of communication (sigh!) and that’s one of the reasons why I have started my blog.
Now you can imagine that the situation is even more confusing this year and we don’t have an official calendar of events yet. And supposedly we won’t have much certain information until the Coronavirus situation gets more stable.
Anyways, Cortonesi people don’t lose their spirit and are working hard to organize something for this summer. I’m going to start a list of events on this post, starting from this weekend, and I will keep it updated as long as new things come up. I hope you can enjoy all or some of these events soon in my lovely Cortona!
List of Events in Cortona, Summer 2020
- July 4: #CortonaBreakTheSilence, live music offered in different bars of the town (Giù da Scara & Beo, Sottovoce, The Globe, and others). From 6 pm.
- July 4: Suggestioni Etrusche, at Archaeological Park (Maec Parco). Inauguration of the photo exhibition “Ich bin ein Etrusker” by Stefano Favaretto (6,30 pm) and first concert by Cor Orchestra (7 pm) directed by Pawel Gorajski. Admission 7€. Booking required here.
- July 5: local food & wine trade show in Cortona main squares. From 9 am to 8 pm.
- July 5: guided tour of Maec and Cortona center (2 hours, 11 am). For info & booking contact Omnia Guide.
- July 12: guided hiking tour in the mountains above Cortona (Portole-Teverina), half-day 15€. For info & booking contact Omnia Guide.
- Every Thursday from July 9th to August 27th: “Cortona Circuito”, live concerts in Piazza Signorelli (starting 9.45 pm), sponsored by the bars and shops of the square. The bands are personally selected by Riccardo Onori, an Italian guitar player member of Jovanotti band. More info about the program on the Facebook page of the event.
- From July 11 to September 27: Cortona On The Move Special Edition, The Covid-19 visual project. At Girifalco fortress and Palazzo Capanelli (open-air exhibitions in Via Nazionale and Parterre garden). Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from 10 am to 8 pm. From July 31 to August 23 open every day. For more info visit the COTM official website.
- Until July 15: Cracking Art exhibition in Palazzo Casali courtyard.
- July 16: “Not(t)e di Stelle”, concert of the Cor Orchestra in Piazza del Duomo. Director Paolo Belloli, program including music by Verdi, Rossini, Bizet. Starting at 9.30 pm, free admission but booking required (at Maec).
- July 18 and 25: theater plays at Archaeological Park (Maec Parco). In Italian, 7 € tickets. Booking & info here.
- July 19 and every Sunday until September 13: guided tour by Omnia Guide. The program is alternating between a guided hiking tour in the mountains above Cortona, a guided tour of Maec museum and the historical center of Cortona, a guided tour of the archaeological park including the Tanella di Pitagora. For costs, info and booking please contact Omnia Guide.
- July 21: “Not(t)e di Stelle”, concert of Triskeles Saxophone Quartet, Piazza del Duomo. Starting at 9.30 pm, free admission but booking required (at Maec).
- July 23: “Not(t)e di Stelle”, concert of ORT (Orchestra Regionale della Toscana), string orchestra directed by Daniele Giorgi. Piazza del Duomo, starting at 9.30 pm, free admission but booking required (at Maec).
- July 26: “Not(t)e di Stelle”, concert of Orchestra Fideles Et Amati, directed by Marco Frisina. Piazza del Duomo, starting at 9.30 pm. Free admission with booking required (at Maec).
- July 29: “Not(t)e di Stelle”, concert for Piano Duo, Sollini-Barbatano. Music by Beethoven, Schubert, Rachmaninoff. Piazza del Duomo, starting at 9.30 pm. Free admission with booking required (at Maec).
- August 9: “Not(t)e di Stelle”, concert of the Cor Orchestra in Piazza del Duomo. Program including Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky. Starting at 9.30 pm, free admission with booking required (at Maec).
- August 10: “Maec sotto le stelle” (MAEC under the stars), night trekking in Ossaia, with night photo workshop and guided star observation. In collaboration with Fotoclub Etruria and Gruppo Astrofili di Arezzo. From 9 pm, admission 7 €. Bookings here.
- August 14: “Montagna sotto le stelle” (mountain under the stars), Ginezzo mountain, from 7 pm to 10.30 pm. Wine tasting with snack bag, live music duo concert (Mirco Rubegni, trumpet, and Glauco Benedetti, tuba), and guided star observation by Gruppo Astrofili di Arezzo. Tickets: 20 €, booking required.
- August 15 to August 30: CortonAntiquaria, antiques market and exhibition (58° edition). New location: Sant’Agostino conference center, via Guelfa. Open every day in the afternoon from 3.30 pm to 8 pm, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 8 pm. Week mornings only Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 am to 1 pm. Admission 8 €. Official website.
- August 22: Mammut Jazz Fest, Don Karate+Otonn concert, at Fortezza del Girifalco. Free admission but booking is required. Info here.
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August 30: Mammut Jazz Fest, Floors concert, at Fortezza del Girifalco. Free admission but booking is required. Info here.
Events out of Cortona & surroundings
- July 4-5, August 1-2: Antiques Fair in Arezzo (new location: Fortress gardens)
- July 4: Castiglion Fiorentino, live music from the top of Cassero tower (9 pm).
- Guided tours of Montecchio Vesponi Castle: July 12 at 10.30 am, July 18 at 5.30 pm, August 1 at 11 am, 3 pm and 6 pm, August 9 at 10.30 am. Booking is required through the InCastro Association.
- Arezzo Music Fest: series of concerts in the Roman Amphitheater of Arezzo. Program and dates: July 23 Sycamore Age, July 24 Vinicio Capossela, August 1 Samuel Romano, August 25 Daniele Silvestri.
- From July 28 to September 4: Mammut Jazz Fest, jazz concerts in Valdichiana. Arezzo: July 28, Wetuba. Civitella in Valdichiana: August 8, Ellipses. Lucignano: August 13, Black Atlantic. Cortona: see above. Castiglione del Lago: September 4: Dj Gruff and Petrella. Info and program on Facebook.
- June 20, 2020 – January 10, 2021: exhibition “Affreschi Urbani, Piero incontra un artista chiamato Banksy” in Sansepolcro. An exhibit of over 20 silkscreen prints by Banksy in the Museo Civico, where you can also admire the famous Resurrection by Piero della Francesca. Ticket 10 €, 15 € for the Banksy exhibition and Museum. Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Museums hours (updated: July 9)
Maec: open every day 10-19
Archaeological Park (Maec Parco): open every day 10-19
Museo Diocesano: open Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. From 10.30 am to 6.30 pm.