Sodo di Cortona: Etruscan Tombs and Cultural Routes

Sodo di Cortona lies at the foot of Cortona. The archaeological site of the MAEC, with two monumental Etruscan tombs from the Archaic period, is located in the Sodo di Cortona district. For your trip planning, this place places a clear focus on Etruscan history.

Etruscan Monuments in Sodo

The Tumulo I del Sodo dates from the early 6th century BC and consists of a hemispherical artificial mound enclosing a tomb made of large blocks of yellowish tuff. It is one of Cortona’s oldest Etruscan funerary monuments. Access to the burial chamber was via a long dromos that led, behind a square vestibule, to five burial chambers.

The Tumulo II del Sodo preserves in situ a monumental Etruscan altar decorated with sculptures and ornamental motifs, dating from the early 6th century BC. During funerary ceremonies, its ten-step staircase was used for laying out the deceased and presenting offerings to gods and ancestors. Tomb 2 was exceptionally well preserved and contained intact grave goods: women’s gold jewelry, a writing stylus, and bronze remains of a folding chair. The monuments bear witness to the spirituality, art, and social organization of the Etruscans of Cortona.

Cultural Routes Between Fields and Riverbanks

The MAEC’s cultural routes are designed as slow-tourism trails for walking or cycling. The Sentiero dei Principi Etruschi and the Sentiero dei Tre Tumuli Etruschi are connected with Sodo. As a result, the choice of activities focuses not only on sightseeing but also on moving peacefully through the landscape.

A section of the Sentiero dei Principi Etruschi begins in Sodo and runs along the bank of the Rio di Loreto. The route’s two tracks meet in Molinaccio; via the Torrente Mucchia and the Canale Maestro della Chiana, it is connected to the Sentiero della Bonifica.

The Sentiero dei Tre Tumuli Etruschi runs through fields between the burial mound of Camucia and the tumuli of Sodo. Along the route, the agricultural landscape connects historical and archaeological evidence. The Sentiero dei Mulini runs through olive groves and woodland, climbing to the Eremo delle Celle ai Cappuccini, and connects Sodo with Sant’Egidio. The trail takes its name from seventeen mills that stood along the Rio di Loreto until a few years ago and were used for grinding seeds and olives.

In Tuscany, the Via Romea Germanica is divided into seven stages.

Choose a Suitable Accommodation Location

When choosing a hotel for a stay in Sodo di Cortona, you can weigh the defining themes against each other: Etruscan monuments for cultural and historical interest, or cultural routes for walking and cycling. The routes pass through fields, along the Rio di Loreto, and through olive groves and woodland; this allows you to assess the accommodation’s location according to your preferred daily rhythm.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

Pulicciano, Pratovecchio, Talla, Laterina, Tregozzano, Bucine, Agazzi and Duddova

For the higher-level travel overview: Arezzo.