Day 01
Discover Arezzo's Art, Churches, and Historic Center
- The guided tour of Arezzo will take you to discover a splendid town rich in art and poetry, called the Cinderella of Tuscany, which houses timeless works and was home to Italian poets such as Francesco Petrarca and painters and art historians such as Giorgio Vasari.
- The guided tour starts from the Cathedral dedicated to St. Peter and St. Donato, whose construction was completed in the 16th century, with its bell tower detached from the building after being rebuilt three times.
- The colorful stained-glass windows by Guillaume de Marcillat, the Magdalene by Piero della Francesca, and the Holy Trinity by Andrea della Robbia make this religious building a treasure chest of inestimable value, further embellished by the Donatello marble panel decorating the baptismal font.
- From the Cathedral, we move to the Basilica of San Francesco, whose main attraction is the beautiful Crucifix, over three meters high and painted by Cimabue, Giotto's master - a work that conveys emotion and humanity to visitors.
- Walking through the alleys of the historic center, we can admire the noble palaces, some with turrets that offer enchanting views, up to the elegant Logge del Vasari overlooking Piazza Grande, the living room of the people of Arezzo, with bars, restaurants, and various shops selling local crafts and food and wine products.
- This square was made famous by Roberto Benigni and, together with other panoramic views of Arezzo, became the setting for the award-winning film Life is Beautiful, winner of three Academy Awards.
- From the square, you can also admire the large apse of Santa Maria della Pieve with its arches and loggias, which houses the Polyptych by Pietro Lorenzetti and has on its right a large bell tower known as the "100 holes" because of the particular workmanship of the combined mullioned windows on five floors.
- Among the streets of the historic center, you can discover several historic places in Arezzo, from the Fortress built by the Medici family in the mid-16th century in a pentagonal shape with five defensive towers, whose park inside is open to the public, to the Casa Museo of Vasari, from the Palazzo dei Priori, seat of the Municipality, to the house of the Italian poet Petrarca.
- The guided tour ends with the Basilica of San Francesco, one of the oldest buildings in the city, which houses an authentic wonder of world art: its walls are decorated with splendid frescoes by Piero della Francesca, including the cycle of the Legend of the True Cross, considered one of the great masterpieces of Italian Renaissance art.
