The City of Carmel has announced a new Sister City relationship with the City of Cortona, Arezzo, Italy. Former Mayor Jim Brainard (pictured on the right) met with Cortona Mayor Luciano Meoni in Italy last week to sign the official agreement designed to promote international goodwill, understanding, student educational exchanges and expanded business relationships between the two cities and their respective nations.

“It is important, especially during these times, for communities across the globe to continue to talk, get to know each other and learn from each other about history and culture,” said former Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard. “Carmel is a very new community and Cortona is very old, but both of our cities strive to embrace and learn from each other the time-tested ways to build and maintain a great city.”

This is Carmel’s fourth international Sister City. Earlier this year, the City entered into a similar relationship with the city of Jelgava, Latvia. Previously, Carmel established relationships with Kawachinagano, Osaka, Japan and Xiangyang, Hubei, China.

Cortona is a beautiful, historic city in the Tuscany area of Italy that enjoys landscapes of low mountains and lakes. It is known in the area as a city that appreciates the art of fine food and fine wines, in addition to beautiful art. Cortona is enclosed by stone walls dating back to Etruscan and Roman times and sits on a hill 1,968 feet above sea level. This dominant position over the valley offers a spectacular view from all over the town of the surrounding valley and Lake Trasimeno. The area is known for its wineries as well.

The agreement was signed on May 23 in Cortona.