Choralia - Choral Music Festival
Three days of choral singing and sacred music in the heart of Cortona
About Choralia
Choralia, choral music in Cortona
Choralia is the festival dedicated to choral and sacred music held in Cortona, a stunning town of art in the province of Arezzo, Tuscany. Promoted by the Pro Loco Cortona Centro Storico APS in collaboration with the Fabrica Harmonica association, the festival brings together choirs, vocal ensembles, and orchestral groups from various regions of central Italy—particularly Lazio, Umbria, and Tuscany—every spring.
A journey through polyphony
The heart of Choralia is the great repertoire of sacred and secular polyphony: from medieval chants to lauds, and from Renaissance music to the masterpieces of the Baroque and Classical periods. Past editions have paid tribute to central figures in musical history, such as Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, and to spiritual themes linked to the Christian tradition, blending concerts, lectures, and workshops.
The venues: churches and palaces of Cortona
The strength of the festival also lies in the choice of its locations. Concerts are held in iconic city landmarks, such as the Church of San Domenico, the courtyard of Palazzo Casali (home to the Museum of the Etruscan Academy), the City Council Hall, and the Sanctuary of Santa Margherita, which overlooks Cortona from above. The acoustics of these historic spaces enhance the choral singing and offer the audience a unique experience.
More than just concerts
- Choral singing workshops and masterclasses open to singers and enthusiasts
- Musicological lectures and in-depth sessions
- Guided tours of Cortona's artistic heritage
- Choral reviews featuring choirs from across central Italy
Choralia represents a precious event for the cultural landscape of Cortona and the Valdichiana: an opportunity to discover the great Italian choral tradition while experiencing the historical and artistic beauty of one of Tuscany's most fascinating cities. Admission to all concerts is free.
Choralia — edition 2026
The third edition of Choralia was held in Cortona from April 24 to 26, 2026, under the title "In the Footsteps of Francis," dedicated to the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. The festival offered a journey through medieval music, lauds, and sacred polyphony, highlighting the bond between Cortona and the Franciscan tradition and showcasing the famous Laudario di Cortona 91, one of the oldest documents of sacred music in the vernacular.
Promoted by the Pro Loco Cortona Centro Storico APS with Fabrica Harmonica, the edition brought together choirs and ensembles from Lazio, Umbria, and Tuscany in the city's historic spaces. All events were free of charge.
Programme Choralia 2026
Friday, April 24
- 5:00 PM — Palazzo Casali Courtyard: "The Canticle of the Creatures," a journey through European medieval chants with the polyphonic choir Cantoria Nova Romana. Following this, a guided tour of the Cortona Library and the Etruscan Academy with a focus on the Laudario di Cortona 91 (curated by Patrizia Rocchini)
Saturday, April 25
- 11:30 AM — City Council Hall: workshop "Medieval Lauds and Primitive Polyphony" (curated by Annalisa Pellegrini)
- 4:30 PM — Church of San Domenico: choral review with choirs from Lazio, Umbria, and Tuscany
Sunday, April 26
- 10:00 AM — Sanctuary of Santa Margherita: Solemn Mass accompanied by the Civicantiqua Ensemble
Highlights Choralia 2026
Prices Choralia 2026
Practical information — Choralia
How to get there
Cortona is located in the province of Arezzo, Tuscany. By car, it can be reached via the A1 motorway (Valdichiana exit) and the Siena-Bettolle-Perugia expressway. By train, the reference station is Camucia-Cortona, on the Rome-Florence line, which is connected to the historic center by shuttle buses.
Admission
Admission to all festival concerts is free of charge. Choral singing workshops require an enrollment fee.
Tips
Concerts take place in the historic center, which is largely pedestrianized: it is recommended to use the parking lots at the foot of the hill and reach the churches and palaces hosting the events on foot.
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Where does it take place — Choralia
Chiesa di San Domenico, Palazzo Casali, Santuario di Santa Margherita