The weather is still sunny and warm, but comfortable.
Our last day in Cortona included the Etruscan museum with Romano-Etruscan pottery, mosaics, and sculpture. We learned the Etruscans may have practiced human sacrifice and the Romans bred and fattened dormice in enormous pottery containers. Then off to see Fra Angelico's painting of "The Annunciation," at the Diocesan Museum.
During our walk around the city walls we stumbled upon San Niccolo Church. What a jewel of a church with a white and gold coffered ceiling and an altar piece that swings out to show a painting on the back by Signorelli, a famous local Renaissance painter. The small plaza is lined with cypress trees. And we ended the day at the Church of San Francesco and more relics. The fascinating thong about these is that they have been tested recently, and the fabric of the saint' s tunic, as well as the fabric of the pillow given to him by a nobleman, do date from the 13th century. There was also a piece of the cross Christ was crucified on, but no notes about testing.
Our last supper in Cortona was eaten at what became our favorite restaurant and we sat next to a beautiful Bernese mountain dog who lay quietly at his owner's feet. I saw his owner take out some sliced ham, and for a brief moment I thought the couple had brought their own antipasti! But the ham and the water they ordered were for the sweet dog!
Tomorrow we leave for Padua, but change trains in Florence. So we have decided to leave our packs and visit the Duomo. We were fortunate to be in Florence a few years ago and are looking forward to going back.
Photos
Top:
Obviously not the Bernese, but another sweet dog we met who waited everyday outside his owner's small shop. The dog got tons of attention.
Middle
In the Diocesan museum was a small chapel with replicas of the type of chairs the Franciscans sat in. Quite ingenius - they fold up.
Bottom
A former palazzo or palace, now the Etruscan Museum.
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