Arezzo

Arezzo is a town in the Tuscan province, situated on a hillside that is 296 meters above the sea level, between Casentino, Valdichiana and Valdarno.
Archaeological remains are evidence of its existence since VI century. The town remained important during Roman times. Its ceramics in red coral with decorations in relief were famous and copied all over the Empire during the first Imperial period. Arezzo then was as famous as it is now for its goldsmiths.

Rich and intense was its life in the Middle Age; the rich Aretino society of the 13th century was divided between the bickering Guelfs and the Ghibelines. The Guelfs were supported by the Florentines who defeated the Ghibelines at Campaldino in 1289, helped by none other than the Florentine poet Dante Alighieri. The surroundings are rich with traces of this poet. In 1384 Arezzo was almost sold to Florence and from that time its history was as a Florentine republic first, then Signoria and Granducato di Toscana later. The Medici Family have left their trace in the ’500 fortresses in the north of the town.

In the centre if you walk along the ‘Corso’ (main street of the old town) or the Medieval streets that go to the San Donato Church, you get the feeling of being part of Piero Della Francesca’s fresco "The legend of the real cross". This church with its magnificent interior was built in the second half of 1200 on request of the Franciscan friars. The Pieve di Santa Maria (XII-XIII cent.) that contains a polyptic by Pietro Lorenzetti is a very important church of the Romanic period. In the San Domenico Church there is another exceptional piece, the Crucifix of Cimabue. In this town Francesco Petrarca was born, and a few centuries later, Giorgio Vasari Michelangelo was born in nearby Caprese in 1475.

An important and interesting place to visit is the Archaeological Museum which preserves Greek and Etruscan vases, the ruins of Roman floorings, coins and statues.

The museum is housed in the ex-monastery of San Bernardo, built on the ruins of the Roman Amphitheatre (II cent. BC). Other items of interest are in the Etruscan section with the notable vase of Euphronios, the jewels from the tombs of Poggio del Sole, the Roman section has a collection of “vasi corallini”, the famous Aretine shiny red glaze vases.

Museo Archeologico Nazionale "Gaio Cilnio Mecenate"
Adress via Margaritone, 10
Phone: +39 0575 20882
Opening times:
Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 14:00
Sunday from 9:00 to 13:00

GIOSTRA DEL SARACINO
The most important and typical event is the chivalric tournament called “Giostra del Saracino” that takes place on the last Sunday of August and on the first Sunday of September, in Grande Square. With a lance, knights attack the wooden figure of the "buratto" that, in turn, can attack the knight and the horse with a weapon he holds in its right hand.

FIERA ANTIQUARIA
It is important to remember the antique market (the most important in Italy), held on the first Saturday of every month.

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
Arezzo is also the charming town seen in the award-winning movie “Life is Beautiful” with Roberto Benigni. Take a guided tour through the places where "Life is Beautiful" was filmed and have a drink at the bar where some scenes were shot.

PARKING
Via Spallanzani 570 places
Viale Pietro Nenni (Ospedale) 380 places
Viale Gramsci 300 places