Cultura Italiana Arezzo
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AROUND AND ABOUT AREZZO

AREZZO - ART AND ARCHITECTURE

Arezzo has an extensive selection of works of art including frescoes, paintings, sculptures, stained glass windows and of course many magnificent medieval buildings.

Piazza Grande, with its striking architecture, is one of the most unique piazzas in Italy and at the centre of many of Arezzo’s events and activities.
You can take a wander around the centro storico to see other stunning medieval buildings and within our museums and numerous churches, you will come across many beautiful works of art.
The Church of San Francesco is home to Piero della Francesca’s greatest masterpiece, the fresco cycle known as La Leggenda della Vera Croce (The Legend of the True Cross), while the Church of San Domenico holds the famous crucifix from Cimabue. The imposing Duomo or Cathedral is considered by many to be one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Italy.

The Chimera is a hollow, bronze Etruscan statue dating back to 400 BC. Discovered in Arezzo in 1533, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo I, immediately transported the artefact to Florence where it can still be viewed today. One of the finest examples of early Etruscan arts and crafts, the chimera remains one of the foremost symbols of Arezzo and there are two replicas situated in fountains near the city’s train station, while a third can be found at Porta San Lorentino.

‘La Vita è Bella’, Roberto Benigni’s three time Oscar-winning film was filmed mainly in his home town of Arezzo. By strolling through the centrol storico’s picturesque streets and squares, you will retrace the characters’ steps and re-live the action, emotion and excitement of one of the most famous and best-loved Italian films in recent years.

AREZZO - FESTIVALS AND MARKETS

La Giostra del Saracino
Arezzo celebrates its medieval heritage by holding La Giostra del Saracino (The Joust of the Saracens) in June and September every year. A truly spectacular sight and the highlight of the city’s events calendar, the joust is held in the Piazza Grande and involves two riders from each of Arezzo’s four neighbourhoods galloping with a long lance towards a model of a Saracen. The aim is to hit its shield to gain points, and ultimately, to win the Lancia d’Oro (Golden Lance). During the week before the joust, there is an atmosphere of great excitement throughout the city: special dinners are held with as many as a thousand attendees while grand medieval parades take place in the centro storico. Afterwards, numerous lively victory celebrations are held to recognise the winning team.
Visit the website: Giostra del Saracino

Fiera Antiquaria
On the first Sunday of every month, Arezzo hosts Italy’s most important Fiera Antiquaria (Antiques Fair). Over 100 dealers set up shop selling a huge, eclectic array of antique and vintage objects from furniture and chandeliers to lace, sheets of music and copper sinks for washing hair!
Visit the website: Fiera-Antiquaria-Arezzo


Music Festivals
Arezzo is the hometown of Guido Monaco, the medieval inventor of musical notation, and in commemoration, the annual classical International Polyphonic Choral Competition is held every September.

Weekly Saturday Market
Every Saturday morning, the Aretini visit the biggest mercato which runs for a good 500m along both sides of Viale Giotto. You’ll find a whole host of tempting items on sale from kitchenware, electronics, chimney sweeping equipment, shoes, toys, clothing and lingerie, many local ingredients and foods including succulent roast porchetta, fresh pasta, fruit and vegetables, plants and flowers etc. Other smaller markets take place elsewhere in the city during the week.

Useful links for more information on what to see and do in and around Arezzo:

Visitarezzo il Portale del Turismo ad Arezzo
Eventi Turismo
City of Arezzo
Arezzo Turismo
Eventi in Toscana

NEAR AREZZO- TRASIMENO LAKE

About an hour’s drive from Arezzo and right in the ‘green heart’ of neighbouring Umbria, you will find Lago Trasimeno. This enormous lake is a nature lover’s paradise and lined with pretty anciet villages such as Castiglioni del Lago and Passignano, beaches and great spots for walking. You can also take a boat trip out to the lake’s three islands.

Visit the website: LAGO TRASIMENO


PROVINCE OF AREZZO: ANGHIARI

Renowned as one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Italy, Anghiari sits on a hillside overlooking the Valtiberina region in central Tuscany. With crooked streets, charming stone houses and squares, numerous alleys and ancient stairways, this delightful village is perfect for a day’s exploring.

Visit the website: ANGHIARI

PROVINCE OF AREZZO: CAMALDOLI

Located deep in the heart of the forest known as Parco delle Foreste Casentinesi, the famed Camaldoli monastery is part of a medieval complex that also comprises a church and ancient pharmacy. A second building, the Hermitage of San Romualdo, founder of Camaldoli, can be found a short distance away in an equally beautiful spot. Now home to a community of Benedictine monks and with a restaurant nearby, a stop at Camaldoli makes a wonderful day out.

Visit the website: CAMALDOLI

PROVINCE OF AREZZO: CASTIGLION FIORENTINO

This beautifully preserved borgo with its medieval walls and towers, and situated between Cortona and Arezzo is well worth exploring. From the Cassero tower, you can admire the magnificent panorama of Valdichiana.

Visit the website: CASTIGLION FIORENTINO


PROVINCE OF AREZZO: CORTONA

No trip to Tuscany would be complete without a visit to the beautiful walled town of Cortona. Located about 30km from Arezzo, Cortona has an interesting Etruscan and medieval history and is home to many artists and artisans. Perched on a hillside, this cultural gem boasts incredible views across the Valdichana region and the hills of Tuscany. Within the picturesque centro storico, you will find imposing medieval and Renaissance palaces, churches and museums sitting alongside a host of shops, galleries, artisans workshops, bars and restaurants.

Visit the website: CORTONA

PROVINCE OF AREZZO: LUCIGNANO

This enchanting village, situated about 30km from Arezzo in Valdichiana, is still much as it was in the Middle Ages. A fine and unique example of the beauty of medieval town planning, Lucignano’s main streets were originally built in a concentric design, spiralling to the centre, and remain almost intact today.

Visit the website: LUCIGNANO

PROVINCE OF AREZZO: POPPI

Picturesque Poppi is located in a lovely part of the Casentino region and is home to a magnificent castle dating from the 12th century which towers over this ancient settlement. More wonderful photo opportunities abound!

Visit the website: POPPI


PROVINCE OF AREZZO: SANSEPOLCRO AND MONTERCHI

The attractive Renaissance town of Sansepolcro is most famous as the birthplace of celebrated artist, Piero della Francesca, in the early 15th century. The old town centre has retained its artistic heritage with nearly all the impressive buildings here dating back to the period between the Middle Ages and 16th century. A lovely place to stroll around while soaking up the atmosphere, you can also view Sansepolcro’s most precious works of art in the Museo Civico including some of della Francesca’s most celebrated works, and fine examples of striking Della Robbia ceramics.

Visit the website: SANSEPOLCRO

Not far from Sansepolcro is the small town of Monterchi where Piero della Francesca fans can see his incredible masterpeice, the fresco of La Madonna del Parto, at the local museum. The streets of Monterchi’s picturesque centro storico take you up to the pretty main piazza from where you can admire views across the attractive countryside, adorned with small churches, ancient castles and medieval rural villages.

Visit the website: MONTERCHI

PROVINCE OF AREZZO: SANTUARIO DE LA VERNA

Perched on a rock in the Tuscan Apennine mountains, amidst a large forest of fir and beech trees, the famous La Verna Sanctuary is a extremely spiritual place of great beauty and tranquility. It was here that St Francis of Assisi, Patron Saint (?) of Italy, received the stigmata and spent the last years of his life. Now, pilgrims and visitors come from all over the world to soak up the Sanctuary’s unique atmosphere, walk in the surrounding countryside and take in the breathtaking views.

Visit the website: SANTUARIO DE LA VERNA

                             

Cultura Italiana Arezzo è una buona scuola. È piccola e come una famiglia ! I corsi sono seri e pedagogici. Ho imparato molto sulla storia e la vita italiana. I professori sono molto competenti e cortesi. Paola Testi è sempre disponibile per rispondere alle domande.

Catherine - 69 anni    (  Francia)