CORTONA | Must-see Places

Porta Bifora: and the legend behind it

Porta Bifora

Cortona is a city surrounded by Etruscan walls. In the Middle Age to access to the city there were five doors, that are still visible nowadays and used to access to the city: Porta Sant’Agostino, Porta Santa Maria, Porta Colonia, Porta Montanina, Porta Bifora and Porta Berarda. The one of which we talk here today is: Porta Bifora. Porta Bifora has an interesting story behind it. Once it was called the "cursed door." But why? Here's the story. On February 2nd, 1258, during the 13th century, the Ghibellines from Arezzo, along with exiled Guelphs from Cortona, entered the city secretly, planning to take control. A man from Cortona helped them by letting them in through Porta Bifora. Once inside, they burned and looted the city. Because of this, when the city's walls were later repaired, the door was closed. People believed it was cursed because of the betrayal by the inhabitant from Cortona, who let the Ghibellines enter inside the town. Nowadays it is open, and it is one of the easiest accesses to the town. 

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