On the top floor of an ancient building in Cortona lies an extraordinary place: the Library and Museum of the Etruscan Academy, now part of the MAEC. Founded in 1727 by a small group of young intellectuals in their early twenties, the Academy aimed to improve the cultural and economic conditions of the city by making books, manuscripts, and historical objects available to the public. An incredible detail connects this local reality to the rest of Europe: the world-famous British Museum in London opened its doors only in 1752 at the behest of King George II, a full 25 years after the Cortonese institution. The Etruscan Academy can therefore boast the merit of having been, in a certain sense, the precursor to one of the most important and well-known museums in the world. Watch the video to discover the history of the Lucumones, the "Cortonese Nights," and the international treasures housed inside this Tuscan gem.