Arezzo: Art, History and Routes Through Tuscany

Arezzo combines an impressive artistic heritage with a square where urban tradition and architecture meet directly. In addition, the Cammini di Francesco is an almost 300-kilometre-long route through Tuscany that includes Arezzo. Anyone wishing to combine culture and activity on a trip will therefore find a range of options here: historic collections, distinctive buildings, a traditional jousting tournament and a route that can be travelled on foot, by bicycle or on horseback.

Piazza Grande and the tradition of the Giostra

A central cultural focal point is Piazza Grande. The square has a trapezoidal shape and a pronounced slope, which makes its architectural impact particularly striking. Palazzo delle Logge, designed by Giorgio Vasari between 1573 and 1595, is also located on this square. Piazza Grande is also the setting for the Giostra del Saracino, a jousting tournament held twice a year. The modern Giostra was reintroduced in 1931; the riders of Arezzo’s four districts compete against one another. This gives you access to a lively urban tradition that can be understood not only through individual buildings, but also through the interplay of the square, history and competition.

Vasari, medieval art and a special view over Arezzo

The Museo di Casa Vasari is located in a four-storey house that Giorgio Vasari acquired in 1541. The Archivio vasariano is preserved there, including Vasari’s correspondence and documents such as the Ricordanze and the Zibaldone. A visit therefore combines the building itself with written records from the artist’s circle. The Museo nazionale d'arte medievale e moderna offers a different chronological range. It is housed in the historic Palazzo Bruni Ciocchi and comprises 20 rooms. The chronological tour spans from the early Middle Ages to the 19th century. If you would like to compare several periods, the focus here is on the chronological development of art rather than only on a single artist or building. An Annunciation located in a basilica in Arezzo and attributed to Luca Signorelli is also one of the city’s documented art-historical points of reference. The Fortezza Medicea is also considered an exceptional vantage point. In Arezzo, interiors with collections and documents therefore stand alongside a place that directs the gaze across the cityscape.

Between cultural activities and a longer route

The Cammini di Francesco expands the options with an active perspective. The route includes Arezzo and is almost 300 kilometres long. Since it can be travelled on foot, by bicycle or on horseback, the focus is not just on a single visit, but on choosing a suitable means of transport for the entire route. For a trip with different interests, Arezzo can therefore be viewed as both a cultural starting point and part of a longer Tuscan route experience, without equating the two experiences. If you would like to explore additional destinations alongside the cultural highlights, you can find them here: [Palazzo Del Pero](Palazzo Del Pero), [Rigutino](Rigutino), [Olmo](Olmo), [Antria](Antria), [Quarata](Quarata), [Ruscello](Ruscello), [Terrarossa](Terrarossa), [Indicatore](Indicatore), [Poggiola](Poggiola), [San Firenze-Fonte Di Sala](San Firenze-Fonte Di Sala), [Ranco Di Frassineto](Ranco Di Frassineto), [Molinelli](Molinelli), [Ponte Buriano-cincelli](Ponte Buriano-cincelli) and [Chiassa](Chiassa).

For the overarching travel overview: Arezzo.