{"id":1633,"date":"2024-03-07T16:42:32","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T15:42:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/latoscane.net\/arezzo\/"},"modified":"2025-09-10T21:58:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T19:58:20","slug":"arezzo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.latoscane.net\/en\/arezzo\/","title":{"rendered":"Arezzo in Tuscany"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Arezzo<\/strong> is a beautiful discovery of Tuscany, less visited than other cities in the region despite a particular and unexpected charm. It is located in the east, close to Umbria and in the center of four valleys Valtiberina, Casentino, Valdarno and Valdichiana.
The historical center is built on the heights and slopes, while at its feet lies the active and modern lower city. Arezzo has everything that Tuscany can offer, between its artistic masterpieces, its gastronomy and its hospitality which is not overcrowded.
Two figures in particular marked the artistic history of the city: Piero Della Francesca<\/strong> in the 15th century, and Giorgio Vasari<\/strong> in the 16th century. The first was the fresco of the Legend of the True Cross<\/em> in the Basilica of San Francesco, the second of the loggia of Piazza Grande, and the Cathedral of San Donato hosts several of their works.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Nave of Arezzo’s cathedral<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Arezzo’s cathedral<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Piazza Grande in Arezzo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n

Historical overview<\/h2>\n

Arezzo has been known for centuries for its goldsmiths. This was true in the Etruscan era, when it was one of their main city-states, renowned for its production of art objects, such as the famous Chimera of Arezzo<\/a><\/em> to be admired at the Archaeological Museum of Florence.
After an important Roman period, in the eleventh century Arezzo became one of the main regional powers as an independent municipality. During the fourteenth century, in its confrontation with Florence it lost its power, to finally be annexed in 1384 to the Duchy of Tuscany dominated by the Florentines. Beyond Piero della Francesca and Giorgio Vasari who marked the art of the city, Petrarch was a scholar, poet and humanist of the fourteenth century Italian native of Arezzo.
Bruised during the Second World War, Arezzo was partly rebuilt since, and its medieval centre looks beautiful today.<\/p>\n

Heritage<\/h2>\n

The considered most prestigious work in Arezzo dates back to the Renaissance. This is the Legend of the Holy Cross<\/em> painted between 1452 and 1466 in the apse of the St. Francis basilica<\/a> by Piero della Francesca<\/strong>, artist from Sansepolcro, a village in the province of Arezzo.
The rest of the city is not meager, with the green park with the Medici fortress<\/a>, the grandiose Piazza Grande<\/a> and beautiful churches, including the San Donato Cathedral<\/a> with stained glass windows, the fresco of Mary Magdalene by Pietro della Francesca; the San Domenico basilica<\/a> with the 13th century crucifix by Cimubae; the Church of Santa Maria della Pieve<\/a> with the polyptych by Lorenzetti, etc.<\/p>\n

Read also the page <\/i> What to do and see in Arezzo<\/span><\/a>\n

Events in Arezzo<\/h2>\n

Antique Fair<\/h3>\n

Every first Saturday and Sunday of the month, in Piazza Grande, together with Piazza San Francesco, hosts a large antique market with dealers from all over Italy, bringing together more than 500 exhibitors. It is one of the oldest antique fairs in Italy.<\/p>\n

Saracen Joust<\/h3>\n

The Saracen Joust<\/strong> (Giostra del Saracino <\/em>in Italian) takes place twice a year on Piazza Grande: the penultimate Saturday of June (San Donato Joust) and the first Sunday of September (September Joust)
This is the main folk event of Arezzo. The square becomes a true medieval setting, all in period costumes, with historical procession, music and competition of period.
The highlight of the show is the knights from the four quarters of Arezzo who are fighting each other by striking the shield in the left hand of buratto<\/em> – the springy model used as buckwheat -, while avoiding the sack of bread in the right hand.<\/p>\n

Gastronomy<\/h2>\n

As in the whole of Tuscany, we appreciate the gastronomy of Arezzo where there are many restaurants, cooking hearty dishes and often originating from a poor tradition, with pasta, charcuterie, meat, cheeses, vegetables and good wines; including liver p\u00e2t\u00e9, acquacotta<\/em> (egg bread, cheese and mushrooms), pappardelle<\/em> with hare or poultry, gnocchi<\/em> ricotta-spinach, Chianina<\/em> beef, Grifi<\/em> (veal muzzle) but also meatballs, tripes et ossobuco; or the Arezzo Gatt\u00f2<\/em> (gingerbread and chocolate).<\/p>\n

Where is Arezzo, map<\/h2>\n
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Links and sources<\/h2>\n