Things to do in Arezzo

Top Things to Do in Arezzo

Things to Do in Arezzo


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Top Attractions in Arezzo

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What travellers are saying

  • JuniorMazzagardi
    Rome, Italy343 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    From first week of December to first week of January the city looks really nice with Christmas theme and the market downtown isnnice with lots of food
    Written 29 December 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Chewable
    41 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great town to visit, check out Church and Fort. Has cool cemetery behind Fort. Shopping is nice, wide streets. Get some food and drinks in park by church. Lots of walking. Worth the visit. But not a whole day.
    Written 18 September 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Rose Harrington
    Virginia Beach, VA100 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Villa la Ripa is a magical place. As a Travel advisor, I urge everyone to visit this amazing villa. This visit is more than a wine tasting. It's a step back in time. If your interests include good wine, olive oil, and experiencing Italian hospitality with an amazing history please visit Villa La Ripa. I especially enjoyed hearing about the chapel that is located in the home. The story about the hidden frescoes on the walls is incredible.
    The owners live here and are welcoming you with warmth and joy. Join their newsletter to find out where
    you can taste their wines locally during their annual visit to the USA.
    Written 1 November 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Brun066
    Florence, Italy12,580 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    With regard to this church, the most striking feature is obviously the most unusual: the high rectangular façade entirely decorated with small columns that get thicker as you go up from the first to the fourth floor. Art historians explain to us that it's the architectural product (13th century) of a mixture of elements from the Pisan and Lombard Romanesque styles. In any case, it doesn't resemble any other Romanesque façade in Italy, and not only in Italy.
    The singularity of the facade is accentuated by the high bell tower (begun at the end of the 13th century), flanked and supported by a mighty wall starting from the ground, at the right end of the facade, and reaching the same height as the tower.
    After admiring these engaging features, the visitor will want to know more about the church. And here it comes to know that it stands on the site of several consecutive churches, starting from the late ancient age (4th century), and it was from the beginning equipped with a baptismal font (therefore "Pieve").
    On the other hand, other elements of the church that are typical of the Romanesque style date back to the 12th century, such as the raised presbytery, under which a crypt is arranged: an element not absent in Tuscany (think of the church of San Miniato in Florence), but more common in Northern Italy.
    Apart from the architecture, the church is also notable for other works of art. Valuable representations of the twelve months are engraved on the archivolt of the main portal, probably by a sculptor from Northern Italy. The presbytery houses a famous polyptych by Sienese Pietro Lorenzetti (1320s and following) with the Virgin, Child and saints. In the crypt is the precious silver reliquary of San Donato (1346). And I have reported only the works of absolute excellence.
    Overall, this is an absolutely must-see sight in the city.
    Written 18 May 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • triptraveller
    356 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    It is worth a visit to this house of the influential artist and art historian, Giorgio Vasari (born in Arezzo, 1511).

    The house contains frescoes and painings - and outside, Vasari's garden.

    An informative video is available for viewing.
    Written 2 July 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Mairwen1
    United Kingdom9,563 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is one of the oldest churches in Arezzo. The Dominican friars arrived in Arezzo over 800 years ago and, shortly after arriving, they began construction of the church, backed by two of Arezzo’s most important and powerful families, the Ubertini and the Tarlati.
    Like most tourists, we came to see the single most important work inside the church - Cimabue’s crucifix. The large cross was painted around 1260 (although the date varies) and is suspended above the high altar. The gold leaf paint is startlingly bright and even looking up from below, you can clearly see the agony Christ’s face as he is dying. It’s a pretty graphic picture of human suffering. On the left arm of the cross is a tiny figure of the Virgin Mary in a small rectangular panel. On the other side, is St John.
    The crucifix is the star attraction here but if you have some time, it is worth walking slowly around the church. Between the 14th and early 16th centuries, the walls were painted by the most famous painters in the city, including Spinello Aretino. Admittedly some of them are little more than fragments but others are more intact and they are rather beautiful in a faded and fragile way.
    Spinello’s frescoes depict the Lives of St Phillip, St James and St Catherine and date back to 1395-1400.
    NOTES:
    * Entry to the church is free and photos are allowed.
    * The church is closed from 10:30 to 12:30.
    Written 1 December 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • triptraveller
    356 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Plan ahead : Neded are tickets to see Piero Della Francesca's frescoes of the Legend of True Cross.

    A limited number of people are admitted for viewing at a given time - so you need a timed-ticket with a number. The viewing is worth getting the tickets !

    The frescoes are a Masterpiecce ! Recommended is asking for the detailed flier with description of the sequence of the frescoes - at the office *before* entering the Bacci Chapel (with the frescoes).
    Written 2 July 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Brun066
    Florence, Italy12,580 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Gaius Cilnius Maecenas (68 BC - 8 BC) is known to be one of the most influential advisers to the emperor Augustus, famous for his constant patronage of intellectuals; so much so that his name has come to indicate any patronizer of letters and the fine arts. He also comes from one of the most influential families of Arezzo; so it was natural to attribute his name to the archaeological museum of the city, even if the finds contained therein have no connection with him.
    This museum has for many years featured a major flaw: it was completely closed on Sundays and public holidays. Recently, finally, this condition was changed, so that I was able to visit him.
    Arezzo was one of the cities of the Etruscan "Dodecapolis" of central Italy, which saw its maximum splendor in the decades before and after 500 BC. However, the archaeological heritage of the area dominated by the city is certainly not all collected in this museum; just think that the famous bronze statue of the "Chimera", just discovered (16th century) was transported to Florence (where it is now visible in the National Archaeological Museum) by order of the Grand Duke Cosimo I, who also intended to celebrate his dynasty.
    Still the museum preserves important finds from the area. Among them are some notable "Attic" vases from the 6th and 5th centuries BC, especially the one showing the "Amazonomachy" painted by Euphronios. Then the collection of so-called "terra sigillata" (sealed earth9 works, the typical ceramic production from Arezzo, the most important of the entire Roman Empire between the 1st century BC and the 1st century BC. and the 1st century AD; and the collection of "bucchero", i.e. typical Etruscan black pottery, from the 6th century BC.
    Some of the visitors who preceded me complained about the scarcity of explanatory captions. However, this limitation now seems to me resolved.
    Overall, the museum is worth a visit of more than an hour, maybe two.
    Written 28 December 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • triptraveller
    356 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Ivan Bruchi House has 10,000 items covering a span of times and types of items.

    Ivan Bruschi founded the Arexxo Antiques Market - and his interests and collection are wide ranging -- and will appeal to eveyone (of all ages).

    Plus: the exhbits are not roped off -- so that it is possible to get close-up views.

    Worth a visit !
    Written 2 July 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • JJJ1999
    West Creek, NJ4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    What a wonderful experience dining outside in the middle of the Arezzo Centre while enjoying the best food you could ever imagine. Everything is so fresh and the staff was very helpful with suggestions. The food, the staff, the wine, the atmosphere….. simply the best!! 🇺🇸🇮🇹❤️
    Written 3 November 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Borzov
    Rijeka, Croatia5,256 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The interesting exhibition shows the evolution of the communication devices and systems over the years. There are examples of microphones, headphones, gramophones, telegraphs and many other devices that were used as the means of communication. The exhibition also deals with the development of the newspapers and television with some very interesting examples on display. It was a very interesting visit, especially because this is mine line of work...
    Written 18 October 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Mairwen1
    United Kingdom9,563 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is one of several historic palazzos and buildings on Piazza Grande. It is located at the high end of the sloping piazza, next to the Logge Vasari and is easily recognisable by its distinctive bell tower and clock.
    Construction started way back in 1375 but continued into the 16th century when Giorgio Vasari added the bell tower.
    It’s worth knowing a little about the clock. It’s a real rarity. Whilst its beautifully decorative, we didn’t appreciate just how unique it is. Not only is it one of the oldest in Italy, it’s one of the rarest in Europe. It operates using a system of 3 different stone counterweights on heavy ropes which requires it to be wound every day.
    The ingenious mechanism also allows for an astronomical clock, which tracks the movement of the sun and the phases of the moon. The inner circle of 29 Arabic numerals show the days of the lunar month and in the middle of the clock-face, you can see a model of the earth at the centre of the universe with the sun and moon circling around it. When the clock was built, it was still believed that this was how the universe operated. The ideas of the ancient Greek astronomer, Ptolemy, were still very much in vogue.
    We were told that, according to legend, the clock was so very special that nobody wanted other cities to have anything like it. To make sure of this, when the clock-maker, Maestro Felice de Fossata finished the clock in 1552, he was deliberately blinded so that he would never build another one. This seems an exceptionally cruel and unusual measure. A trade union would have been handy.
    The other thing to notice on the outside is the lunette above the main door. It holds a surprisingly bright fresco of Christ, painted around 1395 by Spinello Aretino. Above it, is a 15th century sculpted relief of the Madonna della Misericordia by Bernardo Rossellino. It is flanked by St. Donald and Pope Gregory X.
    Inside, there is a museum run by the Fraternita dei Laici. A charitable lay organisation first established by the Domincans in 1262, they are still very active today in their promotion of history and culture.
    Written 30 November 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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