800 Years of Santa Clara in Cortona

The year 2025 marks a historic milestone: eight centuries of the Poor Clare Sisters' presence in Cortona. It all began in 1225, when Sister Lucia, a companion of Clare of Assisi, received the land for the first settlement as a gift. Since then, the community has journeyed through history, becoming an inseparable part of the city.

A journey spanning eight centuries.

From the early medieval sites to the 16th-century move to the monastery designed by Giorgio Vasari, the Poor Clares have overcome suppressions and crises, remaining a spiritual and cultural pillar for the Cortonese region.

Centenary Events

• To celebrate this anniversary, the Monastery has organized a rich program of initiatives:
  Documentary Exhibition: A journey through parchments, papal privileges, and unpublished manuscripts. The exhibition is spread across three venues:
  
  1) MAEC (Museum of the Etruscan Academy)
  2) Church of San Francesco
  3) Monastery of Santa Chiara (Please check opening hours at each venue)

•  - Commemorative Volume: An illustrated catalog featuring essays by experts and images of the monastery’s historical and artistic heritage.
• - Conferences and Meetings: A series of public events to explore the Franciscan legacy alongside scholars and academics.

A regional synergy

This project is the result of a collaboration between the Monastery, the Municipality of Cortona ("Cortona Francescana" project), the Etruscan Academy, the Diocese, and prestigious academic institutions such as the Pontifical University Antonianum.