Arezzo

A city full of treasures to discover

Badia di Pomaio rises only ten minutes away from Arezzo’s city centre, affording it easy access to everything the city has to offer. Arezzo is, without a doubt, one of Italy’s best-kept secrets. An undiscovered jewel, cradled by verdant hills and blooming valleys and within easy reach of Tuscany’s more well-known destinations. Not many tourists crowd its narrow medieval streets, even in summer. Those who do, though, get the opportunity to meet real Tuscan people and experience a taste of the everyday Tuscan life.

It’s easy to imagine how the city must have looked years, or even centuries, ago. History has left traces of its passage everywhere – on the worn stones of the buildings, on the ancient wooden doors that peek out from beneath tall awnings, on the age-old shops hiding inconspicuously amongst the more modern ones. As you stroll through the cobblestone alleys, you will feel as though you are a part of history. The scent of homemade food coming from the houses and the vivid colours of the flowers hanging from the windows will be your companions. And when you tire of walking around, let the voices and laughter of children and old men playing cards guide you to one of the many typical Italian cafes of the city and unwind the way Tuscan people do: with a fresh pastry and a good espresso.

Art and history

Arezzo’s rich history begins before Etruscan times, but it was the Romans that first gave it prestige. Traces of their passage are all over the city, but most of them were gathered within the National Archaeological Museum ‘Mecenate’ and its adjoining Roman Amphitheatre. Arezzo kept growing, expanding and evolving during the Middle Ages, through the Renaissance and straight to modern times.

Throughout the centuries, many artists left their mark in this city. In the Church of San Domenico, visitors can admire Cimabue’s Crucifix, a stunning example of sacred medieval art, while the Church of San Francesco houses ‘The Legend of the True Cross’, one of the most iconic creations of Piero della Francesca.

Another especially influential artist for Arezzo was Giorgio Vasari. His works are housed in three different museums within the city: Casa Vasari, the Museum of Medieval and Modern Art and the Museum Diocesano. He is also responsible for much of the artistic architecture of the city. One of his masterpieces is the famous and majestic Palazzo delle Logge, in Piazza Grande. Besides housing one of Vasari’s most famous works, Piazza Grande also represents the pulsating heart of Arezzo. It is, for sure, its most picturesque part: its characteristic trapezoidal shape and the numerous historical buildings that surround it astound visitors every day. Typical Tuscan restaurants and artisan shops peek out of the Palazzo delle Logge’s vast arcade and overlook the square.

Giostra del Saracino

Every year, from June to September, Piazza Grande fully embraces its Medieval origins in honour of the ‘Giostra del Saracino’, a pretend joust that pits the boroughs of Arezzo against each-other. Every first Sunday of the month, it hosts the Antique Fair, one of the biggest fairs of its kind in Europe. But don’t worry if you missed it: Arezzo has more than enough antiques shops open every day where you can find all kind of things.

If you prefer a more modern sort of shopping, then you can take a walk along the main shopping road, where you will find a number of interesting stores. Chief amongst them is the new Sugar shop, famous not just for its high-fashion products, but also for the ancient Roman mosaic on the floor. For a perfect ending to your visit of Arezzo, you can stop at one of the many typical restaurants in the city for lunch or dinner. Whether you are in the mood for pizza or something more gourmet, the city has always something to offer to you.