The CortonAntiquaria National Antiques Fair returns to take place, as per established tradition, from August 23 to September 7, 2025 in the historic center of Cortona, hosted inside theformer convent of Sant’Agostino, a building of historical and architectural significance. The event represents one of the longest-running events in Italy dedicated to antiques, now in its sixty-third edition, and is a landmark event for collectors, experts and lovers of art objects and antiques.
This year’s edition features some notable new features. Prominent among them is the exceptional presence, displayed on the sidelines of the market exhibition, of the predella of theAnnunciation altarpiece, a 1527 work by Francesco Signorelli preserved in the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie al Calcinaio. The panel, depicting the Stories of the Virgin, returns to Cortona for the first time after more than a century and a half since its 19th-century dispersal. The predella, purchased in the 19th century by Florentine antiquarian Stefano Bardini and subsequently dispersed on the international market, is now preserved in a private collection and has been made available to the public for the occasion, giving the event an added value of exceptional historical and artistic interest.
CortonAntiquaria confirms its vocation to represent high quality national antiques, with a very strict selection that limits the number of exhibitors to about twenty. The limitation stems from the size of the exhibition space in the former convent of Sant’Agostino, which, however, contributes to the uniqueness of the event on the Italian scene, guaranteeing a cozy and privileged environment for the enjoyment of the works and objects on display.
The cultural theme of this edition looks with particular attention to the medieval period, in parallel with the exhibition Singing the Middle Ages. Lauda in Cortona between devotion and civic identity hosted by MAEC (Museo dell’Accademia Etrusca e della Città di Cortona) and spread throughout the urban fabric. The exhibition brings together for the first time the four Cortonese laudaries, manuscripts dating back to the 13th-15th centuries, including the Laudario di Cortona, a unique codex of great importance for the history of Italian music and literature, preserved in the Library of the Municipality and the Etruscan Academy. The reference to medieval culture also permeates the selection of some of the objects offered by the exhibitors, which reflect the historical and artistic roots of the city, helping to create a common thread that integrates the event with the current exhibition and the cultural identity of Cortona, a town of Etruscan origin and with a peculiar medieval appearance.
The event, promoted by the Municipality of Cortona and Cortona Sviluppo with the artistic direction entrusted to Furio Velona and the collaboration of Furio Velona Antichità, represents an encounter between history, art and fine craftsmanship. The event allows visitors to immerse themselves in a refined exhibition itinerary, where pieces of high historical and artistic value dialogue with artifacts of rare interest and with more accessible objects, but characterized by uniqueness and refinement. CortonAntiquaria, founded in 1963, has built its reputation on the quality of the exhibitors’ proposals and the ability to transform the historic location into an evocative exhibition space, capable of integrating the beauty of the Cortonese village with the variety and value of the art objects presented. The fair thus concludes the Tuscan summer season dedicated to antiques of excellence, attracting specialized visitors, interested tourists and enthusiasts who find in the event the opportunity to get to know works spanning different eras and styles.
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| CortonAntiquaria 2025 returns: Italy's oldest antiques fair from Aug. 23 to Sept. 7 |
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