Exploring Arezzo means taking a leap back in time, immersing yourself in a place that has managed to keep its thousand-year-old soul intact. From its ancient origins as an important Etruscan lucumonia to the Medici dominion, the Tuscan city was the birthplace of extraordinary personalities such as Giorgio Vasari and Francesco Petrarca, linking its name to immortal masters such as Piero della Francesca and Cimabue. Walking through its streets offers a continuous visual wonder, where the architecture blends with the surrounding hills.
Piazza Grande: the beating heart of architecture and antiques
Our itinerary starts from the beating heart of the city, the scenic Piazza Grande, which immediately catches the eye with its trapezoidal shape and characteristic slope. Surrounded by medieval towers and the majestic Palazzo delle Logge designed by Giorgio Vasari, the square is also home to the Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici, equipped with one of the rare working astronomical clocks in Europe.
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If you are lucky enough to visit it during the first weekend of the month, the square changes face to welcome the historic Antiques Fair. Born in 1968, it is the oldest event in the sector in Italy and brings together over five hundred exhibitors including collectors and dealers. Walking among the stalls allows you to find vintage objects, porcelain, vintage jewelery and antique furnishings in an atmosphere of times gone by.
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Church of Santa Maria della Pieve
Not far away, we are enchanted by the famous Romanesque façade of Santa Maria della Pieve, enchanting with its overlapping loggias and the bell tower known as “of the hundred holes” which shows the apse directly overlooking Piazza Grande. Inside there is a fourteenth-century polyptych signed by Pietro Lorenzetti and a precious baptismal font by Giovanni d’Agostino.
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The Cathedral and the Church of San Domenico
Going up to the highest point of the city on the San Pietro hill, you find yourself in front of the solemn grandeur of the Cathedral of Arezzo. Built in Gothic style starting from 1278, the cathedral houses precious art treasures: the fresco of the Madeleine painted by Piero della Francesca, the stained glass windows by the French master Guillaume de Marcillat and the fourteenth-century Ark of San Donato, where the remains of the patron saint rest.
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In the heart of the institutions: the charm of Palazzo dei Priori
Walking along Piazza della Libertà, we came across the majestic Palazzo dei Priori, the current seat of the Municipality of Arezzo. Built starting in 1333, this imposing stone building is one of the most eminent examples of 14th-century civil architecture in the city. Its façade is dominated by the high square tower with a quadrangular plan, from the top of which you can enjoy a privileged view of the entire historic centre, and is enriched by numerous stone and terracotta coats of arms belonging to the mayors and captains of the people who have succeeded one another over the centuries.
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Once you cross the threshold of the internal courtyard, characterized by an elegant loggia, you enter the frescoed rooms of the main floor, where you can admire valuable works of art including frescoes created by Giorgio Vasari, paintings by Salvi Castellucci and the splendid canvas depicting San Donato by Pietro Lorenzetti.
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A masterpiece of faith and art: the Basilica of San Francesco
But the magic of Arezzo is not over. The Basilica of San Francesco, a rigorous thirteenth-century Gothic brick building, is a paradise for art lovers. In fact, it houses one of the absolute pinnacles of the Italian Renaissance. Inside, the entitled cycle of frescoes shines The Legend of the True Crossa masterpiece begun by Bicci di Lorenzo and completed by Piero della Francesca in 1466. On the main altar there also stands an imposing wooden crucifix attributed to Duccio di Boninsegna.
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In the footsteps of the poet: the House of Petrarca
Finally, we can only say goodbye to Arezzo with a visit to the Casa del Petrarca. Located in the heart of the historic center in via dell’Orto, it is the place where Francesco Petrarca, one of the fathers of literature and the Italian language, was born on 20 July 1304. The fourteenth-century residence, rebuilt and restored several times over the centuries due to war damage, presents itself as a sober and fascinating structure.
Today it houses the headquarters of the Petrarca Academy of Letters, Arts and Sciences, a cultural institution which houses a large collection of ancient volumes, Renaissance manuscripts, prints and works of art of significant historical value. Walking through its rooms it is possible to admire period furnishings, the characteristic thirteenth-century well known as the “Tofano well” also mentioned in Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio, and a marble bust depicting the famous lyric poet.
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The magic of Arezzo, the city of Christmas
In the winter period, from mid-November to the beginning of January, the city is completely transformed by welcoming the famous Arezzo City of Christmas event. The historic center comes to life thanks to the impressive artistic illuminations and light projections that dress the monuments of Piazza Grande in colour. The renowned Tyrolean Village is set up in this square with its typical wooden houses full of crafts and Nordic gastronomy, while the nearby Prato park hosts the Ferris wheel, Christmas markets and themed attractions. This metamorphosis transforms the historic medieval architecture into a fairy-tale village capable of enchanting visitors of all ages.
