Basilica of St. Margaret

Following the Way of the Cross, which starts in the center of Cortona, you reach a hill on the edge of the historic center.

Here, against a panoramic backdrop, stands the Basilica of Santa Margherita. Inside, the richly painted ceilings and the mummy of Santa Margherita are particularly noteworthy. The saint, patroness of Cortona, is displayed in a glass case above the high altar.

The small church of St. Basil was originally located on the hill. When it was damaged during a siege in the 13th century, Margaret herself oversaw the church’s restoration and retired here to pray during the final years of her life. After her death in 1297, a new, larger church was built and dedicated to her; it is here that the saint found her final resting place.

From a medieval church to a Baroque basilica

The building underwent constant expansion and renovation, particularly between the 18th and 19th centuries, during which two naves were added and the façade and interior were renovated. Today, the basilica features a combination of Gothic and Romanesque elements with the vibrant colors of the Baroque period. The original 14th-century appearance is still recognizable in the rose window on the exterior façade, the bell tower, and some of the cross vaults. The remains of the medieval frescoes, which were once part of a mural cycle featuring 21 watercolor scenes, can now be admired at the Diocesan Museum of Cortona.

View of the transept

Before the relics of Saint Margaret were placed above the altar, they were kept in the left transept for a long time. The 14th-century carved tomb and the wooden crucifix—before which the patron saint is said to have withdrawn to pray—can still be seen there.