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Piazza Grande, Arezzo. Arezzo. Author and Copyright Marco Ramerini

Arezzo: an important city of art

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The city of Arezzo, located at the confluence of four river valleys, was an important Etruscan and Roman town. The Archaeological Museum, located in a former Olivetan monastery, built on part of the Roman Amphitheatre houses many relics of that period.

Guido Tarlati, bishop of Arezzo, in the first half of XIV century, transformed the city in a important art and cultural center. In 1304 Francesco Petrarca was born in Arezzo. At the end of XIV century Arezzo passed under the rule of Florence and that of the Medici Family until the half of XVIII century.

A CITY RICH IN ARTISTIC MASTERPIECES

The city offers several masterpieces of art: from the Romanesque Pieve of Santa Maria, to the Gothic Cathedral, the medieval churches of San Domenico and San Francesco (in the first Cimabue left its juvenile work, the Crucifixion, in the second Piero della Francesca painted his masterpiece, the Leggenda della Vera Croce (the Legend of the True Cross), an extraordinary masterpiece of this genius of the Renaissance).

Piazza Grande, Arezzo. Autore e Copyright Marco Ramerini

Piazza Grande, Arezzo. Author and Copyright Marco Ramerini

The medieval palaces like the Town Palace and the Palazzo Pretorio, Palazzo della Fraternita and then the Renaissance Loggias designed from Georgio Vasari, the House-Museum of Vasari and the Medicean Fortress, all these building leave to retrace centuries of history and culture.

The most beautiful square, Piazza Grande with its house-towers, is the set of the Fair of the Antiquariato (Antique trade), the most ancient and the most famous in Italy, it takes place the first Sunday of the month and the saturday that precedes it. In the same square it’s held the Giostra of the Saracino, a chivalry tournament that takes place in June and in September.

Other museums of the city keep valuable works of art: the State Museum of Medieval and Modern Art, the House Museum of Ivan Bruschi, the Diocesan Museum and the Civic Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. The jeweller’s and the antique trade are between the main economic activities of the city.

Arezzo Tuscan provincial capital, is a major art city rich in history. It is located in a vast plain, formed by the Arno River, in the eastern part of the region.

Duomo, Arezzo. Autore e Copyright Marco Ramerini

Cathedral, Arezzo. Author and Copyright Marco Ramerini

HOW TO GET TO AREZZO

By Car: The city can be reached by car from Florence or Rome via the Autostrada del Sole (A1) exit at Arezzo, from the exit are approximately 10 km to reach the center of the city.

Road distances: Cortona 29 km; Florence 74 km; Siena 89 km; Perugia 92 km; Roma 218 km.

Bus: The urban and suburban public transport services in the territory of Arezzo are managed by the company “Etruria Mobilità”. Arezzo is connected by bus to all the localities of the province and to Florence, Siena and Rome.

Train: The railway station of Arezzo is situated along the railway line Florence-Rome. The station is served by daily connections with Intercity train to Florence, Rome and the rest of Italy.

The TFT (Trasporto Ferroviario Toscano) LFI group, operates the rail lines to Arezzo-Sinalunga and Arezzo-Stia.

Air: The nearest airport is in Florence-Peretola Amerigo Vespucci, which is located 91 km away. The airport of Pisa Galileo Galilei is 156 km away.

Arezzo

Arezzo

USEFUL INFORMATION

Weekly Market: Saturday Weekly market in the area Giotto every Saturday from 8.00 to 13.30.

Tourist Information Offices – Piazza della Repubblica, 28 Phone 0575 26850

Hours: Monday to Friday: 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 19:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: 10:00 to 19:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY

  • AA. VV. “Toscana” Guide Rosse Touring Club Italiano, 2007
  • Della Ratta Marco; Mazzeschi Pierangelo “Storia e la croce. La leggenda della vera croce di Piero della Francesca ad Arezzo” Società Editrice Fiorentina, 2011
  • Fornasari Liletta “Le opere di Giorgio Vasari in Arezzo” Skira, 2011
  • Paturzo Franco; Brunacci Gianni “Il Duomo di Arezzo. Settecento anni di storia, fede e arte” Letizia, 2011
  • Marini Francesca “Arezzo” Skira, 2009

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