Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (Chirch of Calcinaio)

The name of this church is derived from the existence of a lime pit which was used by the tannery that belonged to the Shoemakers guild on the spot where the church now stands. The Guild decided to erect a church dedicated to the Virgin, whose image is preserved on the high altar. The building is the masterpiece of Francesco di Giorgio Martini and its construction dates back to the years 1485-1513.

It is the most beautiful Renaissance monument in Cortona. The construction of the building, in latin cross form, lasted for 28 years. It is about 46 m. long, 1 1.3 m. wide at the nave and 35 m. at the transept. It is 23 m. high in the nave and over 53 m. high in the cupola. The latter was finished in 1514 and, together with the rest of the church, underwent various restorations in the 1700's and 1800's when the lead covering was taken off. In 1949 the beautiful cupola was again covered in lead and some of the mouldings on the right-hand side were re-done.

The stained-glass window in the façade is by the Frenchman, Guglielmo de Marcillat (1470-1529). The fresco in the external lunette dates back to the 16th century and is by an unknown artist. The two bells are from 1861. In one of the chapels on the right there is a painting of the Annunciation by the Cortonese, Tommaso Bernabei. The two altars in the cross come from the ancient Church of S. Vincenzo and were put there in 1788. On the one on the right there is a Madonna and Saints by the Florentine, Alessandro Allori, called Bronzino (1535-1607). The stained-glass windows of St. Sebastian and St. Paul are attributed to the school of Marcillat. The portal and the high altar are works of the Cortonese Benardino Covatti. Walking down the left-hand side of the church towards the entrance one can see a Madonna by Jacone Fiorentino and an Immaculate Coneeption by the School of Signorelli in the chapels.