Cultura Italiana Arezzo
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why arezzo?

Arezzo is one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany. Its origins date back to Etruscan and Roman times, and several remnants and artefacts can be found in the old city, the centro storico, such as the Roman Amphitheater. Much of the centro storico retains its medieval flavour. Many parts of the last set of walls (13th c.) still stand, including part of the imposing Fortezza Medicea (16th c.).

ART AND ARCHITECTURE

Piazza Grande is one of the most unique piazzas in Italy and the center of many city activities. Museums and churches offer countless masterpieces including frescoes, paintings, sculpture, and stained glass. The church of St. Francesco has Piero della Francesca’s greatest masterpiece, the fresco cycle of La Leggenda della Vera Croce (The Legend of the True Cross), and the church of San Domenico holds a very famous crucifix from Cimabue. The duomo (cathedral) is considered by many one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Italy.


The Chimera is a hollow bronze Etruscan statue which dates back to 400 BC. It was discovered in Arezzo in 1533 and the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo I, immediately took the artefact to Florence, where it can be viewed today. It is one of the finest example of early Etruscan arts and crafts. In Arezzo, two replicas sit in fountains near the train station and another can be viewed at Porta San Lorentino. It is indissociable from its Aretine origins and is still, in fact, one of Arezzo’s symbols.

FESTIVALS AND MARKETS

La Giostra del Saracino
Arezzo’s grand medieval festival celebrates its past by holding La Giostra del Saracino (The Joust of the Saracen) in June and September. Two riders from each of the four city neighbourhoods gallop with a long lance toward a model of an Saracen, trying to hit its shield, gain points, and win the Lancia d’Oro (Golden Lance). During the week before the joust, an atmosphere of excitement pervades the city: there are special dinners with as many as a thousand attendees, parades and ceremonies of all sorts. After the joust, numerous victory celebrations are held to recognize the winning team.

Fiera Antiquaria
On the first Sunday of every month, Arezzo hosts Italy’s most important Fiera Antiquaria (Antique Fair). Over 100 dealers set up shop selling everything imaginable from furniture to chandeliers to lace to music to copper sinks for washing hair.

Music Festivals
Arezzo is the home of Guido Monaco, inventor of musical notation, and holds in his honour the annual classical International Polyphonic Choral Competition during the beginning of September. To celebrate contemporary arts, Arezzo holds Arezzo PLAY arts and music festival.

Saturday Market
Every Saturday morning the Aretini visit the mercato, held along a half-kilometer of Viale Giotto with booths lining both sides. You’ll find kitchen items, chimney sweeping tools, shoes, toys, clothing, intimate apparel, succulent roast porchetta, fresh pasta, flowers, fruit, and electronics. Smaller markets can also be found in various neighbourhoods on other days of the week.

Cuisine
The cuisine of the Aretine province is as varied as the scenery. Arezzo’s cuisine is based on the riches of the Val di Chiana to the south with its fruit orchards, grains, corn, and the prized chianina beef, which provides the world’s tastiest porterhouse steak, the bistecca fiorentina.

Life in Arezzo
Arezzo is neither too big nor too small, and maintains long established traditions, such as closing for the lunch hours and holding weekly markets and medieval festivals. You can find something exciting to do every week and weekend.

Since Arezzo is smaller than the “majors”, hotels and restaurants are less expensive. The city has nevertheless almost 100,000 inhabitants, and is therefore very animated. There are cinemas, bookstores, great shops, dozens of cafés, and, of course, the gelaterie, where you can savour the legendary Italian ice cream.


There is tourism in Arezzo, but it is less intrusive than in other towns. The local people are very friendly and welcoming.

Location
Arezzo is close to other great sites in Tuscany, which are easily accessible by car, train or bus: less than an hour from Florence, a little bit more than an hour from Siena, 30 minutes from Cortona, 60 minutes from Montepulciano and Montalcino, 20 minutes from Castiglion Fiorentino and Poppi, to name a few. Rome is only 70 minutes away with the fastest train. There are dozens of sites within easy reach to make your visit something to treasure.

“A sample from an unconventional guide book about Arezzo written by one of our students Scott Tiezzi Grabinger".
Central Tuscany: A Guide to Arezzo. Visit and Enjoy the Tuscan Hill Town of Arezzo.
Download .pdf!

Centro Servizi Turistici

"Una vetrina per Arezzo e le sue vallate"
www.arezzoturismo.it

Cultura Italiana Arezzo
                             

L'organizzazione della lezione, l'atmosfera a scuola, il programma extracurriculare, il corso di cucina con Lalla, il servizio di segreteria sono ottimo! Paola è sempre pronta per aiutare in ogni caso.
Per me la scuola era perfetta! Piccola e simpatica!
La prima settimana era Paola la nostra insegnante, le altre due Monica.
Le due sono ottimi insegnanti, ho imparato molto e le lezione non era mai noiosa! Complimenti! Vi auguro molto piacere per il futuro e molto successo!!!!

Susi Merz - 61 anni    (  Switzerland)