The charming, steep cobblestone streets and pietra serena buildings of Cortona have been witness to many peoples and changes in power and it has been an important hub for north-south and east-west travel and commerce, Cortona has changed names and hands many times over the millenia - from its mythical founding by Dardano at Virgil of Troy's behest (or as another legend affirms, the Umbrian Tarconte was the founder of Turreno around 2000 BC); through its reign as one of the twelve important Etruscan Lucumonies (along with Arezzo, Caere, Chiusi, Perugia, Rusellae, Tarquinia, Vetulonia, Volsinii, Volterra, and Vulci); as part of the Roman alliance from ca 400 BC; sacking by the Aretine Bishop in 1258; as the headquarters of the Aretine Bishop in the 1300s; sold to the Florentines by the King of Naples in 1411