Arezzo – Art, Festivals and Trails
Arezzo between Urban History and Movement
Arezzo combines a historic old town with festival traditions, museums, parks, and routes for walks and bike rides. This makes it possible to shape a stay in different ways: the main attractions in the center are Piazza Grande, the Museo di Casa Vasari, and the Fortezza Medicea; outside the old town, parks and longer routes complement the city's cultural side. For getting there, it is also relevant that Arezzo can be reached by train from Florence and Rome.Squares, Festivals and Antiques
Piazza Grande is the central square of the historic old town. Its trapezoidal shape and pronounced slope define the space, whose Lizza hosts the Giostra del Saracino. Since its official revival in 1931, the event has been held regularly every year; there was an interruption during the Second World War. The Fiera Antiquaria di Arezzo adds to this calendar of events: it takes place on the first Sunday of every month and on the preceding Saturday. Items on offer include antiques, modernariato, vintage goods, and local handicrafts.Vasari, Fortress and Historic Spaces
The Museo di Casa Vasari is located in the house that Giorgio Vasari bought in Arezzo in 1541. The richly frescoed rooms feature an iconographic program with mythological, biblical, and allegorical references. The museum also includes an adjoining Italian-style roof garden, which was originally larger and included vegetable gardens. The Fortezza Medicea, a 16th-century military fortress, stands on San Donato Hill. Its star-shaped layout and five bastions define the appearance of the complex. Today, the fortress is used for walks, art exhibitions, and events. It therefore represents a combination of architectural history and contemporary use, without losing the site's historic character.Cycling and Walking Routes in and around Arezzo
The Sentiero della Bonifica Vittorio Fossombroni is a 62-kilometer, bidirectional cycling and walking route that connects Arezzo with Chiusi. It passes through landscapes featuring historic water-management structures and is suitable for walks as well as bike rides. It begins at the Chiusa dei Monaci on the western outskirts of Arezzo. This impressive structure for regulating water flow is already mentioned in documents from 1115. The Francis Way, Cammino delle Celle, also offers a longer connection on foot: it leads from the Santuario de La Verna to the Basilica di San Francesco in Arezzo, continues to the Eremo delle Celle near Cortona, and then on to Assisi. For shorter stays, several parks are within reach of the city: Parco Pertini is located just outside the historic old town and has equipped paths for physical activities. The historic Parco Il Prato lies in the upper part of Arezzo between the cathedral and the Fortezza Medicea. Parco Villa Severi is located just outside Arezzo amid the surrounding countryside and opposite a historic aristocratic villa. Parco Colle del Pionta combines a nature park with an archaeological site where Arezzo's old cathedral once stood.Getting There and Orientation
Arezzo is served by regional, Intercity, and high-speed trains from the direction of Florence and Rome. The station has a tactile path from the entrance to the platforms. The raised platforms on tracks 1 to 5 provide many regional trains with low-floor access, enabling direct and safe boarding. Many museums, churches, and cultural venues in Arezzo also have improved accessibility, reserved parking spaces, and special transport services for people with disabilities.Compare Accommodation in Arezzo
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