Tour of Arezzo

What is the trip about

Giorgio Vasari and Piero Della Francesca have always been the historical testimonials of Arezzo. Their artistic and architectural legacies are, still today, the most important attraction of the city. Everything refers to them: the loggia of Piazza Grande, the frescoes of the Basilica of San Francesco, the Cathedral of San Donato, the Casa Museo di Vasari. But there is not only this: Arezzo offers much more.

Basilica di San Francesco: The small church in stones and bricks is famous because it houses “The Legend of the True Cross” by Piero Della Francesca, rightly considered one of the absolute masterpieces of Italian art. The cycle of frescoes is inspired by the Legenda Aurea written by the Ligurian bishop Jacopone Da Varagine and very popular in the Middle Ages. The “Legend” tells the story of the piece of wood with which the Cross of Jesus was built: raised from the branch that God placed in the mouth of Adam dead, the tree was to be used to build the Temple of King Solomon but “rebelled” shortening and lengthening if necessary. Thrown into a river was used as a walkway until the Queen of Sheba prophesied its use. Solomon then had him buried until the Israelites found him to make the Cross of Jesus. The frescoes unfold in a non-chronological way but are aligned by symmetry: at the top there are the outdoor scenes, in the central part court scenes on an architectural background, and, below, the battles. Inside the Basilica of San Francesco you can also admire a fresco by Luca Signorelli and the great central Crucifix of the Master of San Francesco.

Piazza Grande or Piazza Vasari of Arezzo is one of the most harmonious architectural complexes in Italy, and therefore in the world. Built on a steep slope, on its unusual trapezium shape overlook churches, historic buildings, loggias and old shops. On the left is the Parish Church of Santa Maria and the Laici Fraternita Palace with the still functioning astronomical clock. On this side there is also the splendid public fountain. On the high side of the square stands the outline of the Palazzo delle Logge built on a project by Vasari. On the right, Palazzo Lappoli with its wooden gallery and Palazzo Casatorre dei Cofani with its characteristic tower. Curiosity: this is the square of “La vita è bella” by Benigni, when you see him repeatedly on a bike. Piazza Grande is home to the monthly Fiera dell’Antiquariato and the Giostra del Saracino.

If the Church of San Francesco is the most loved by tourists, due to the presence of the frescoes by Piero Della Francesca, the Cathedral of San Donato is the church of Arezzo which has followed the vicissitudes over the centuries. Built on the site of the ancient city Acropolis, it was built starting from 1278 and finished only in 1500. The facade was rebuilt in the early 1900s while the original interior is divided into three large naves. The stained glass windows by Guillame de Marcillat and the Maddalena by Piero della Francesca stand out in 1465. The adjacent Diocesan Museum houses several works including some by Vasari and Luca Signorelli. The marble panel with the “Baptism of Christ” decorating the Baptismal Font is attributed to Donatello.

The great Crucifix of Cimabue, recently restored, is the great attraction of the Basilica of San Domenico. The large cross, more than 3 meters high, is the first work attributed to Cimabue and was painted between 1268 and 1271 approximately. The Romanesque-Gothic exterior has an unfinished façade with a bell gable. The interior has a single nave with mostly deteriorated frescoes while the Gothic altar of the Dragondelli Chapel is still visible.

Overlooking Piazza Grande, the apse of the Pieve di Santa Maria contributes to the overall setting of the main place of Arezzo. The main facade of the church is hidden in Via Seteria, to the left of the square. It has five blind arches in the base and three orders of loggias that stand on 68 columns. The mighty bell tower on the right is called the “100 holes” for the particular processing of mullioned windows on five floors. The interior has three naves with a trussed ceiling. The most important work of the Pieve is the Pietro Lorenzetti Polyptych depicting a Madonna with Child, the Annunciation, Assumption and 12 saints. The apse, which overlooks Piazza Grande, is Romanesque with blind arches and two overlapping loggias.