Piazza Grande gives Arezzo a distinctive centre: the square in the historic old town has a trapezoidal layout and a pronounced slope. The Giostra del Saracino takes place on the Lizza; alongside it, the Fiera Antiquaria, held monthly, shapes the visitor calendar. The two events offer different reasons to discover Arezzo: an annual event and a market with a changing selection.
Piazza Grande, the Giostra and the antiques market
Since its official revival in 1931, the Giostra del Saracino has taken place regularly every year on the Lizza in Piazza Grande. It was suspended during the Second World War. The Fiera Antiquaria di Arezzo is held on the first Sunday of every month and the preceding Saturday. It features antiques, modernariato, vintage goods and local handicrafts; individual vendors’ offerings may vary. If you are travelling specifically for one of these events, check the dates again before making plans. This will help you time your visit to coincide with the actual event days.
Vasari’s House and the fortress on San Donato
The Museo di Casa Vasari is housed in the property Giorgio Vasari bought in Arezzo in 1541. Its richly frescoed rooms feature an iconographic programme with mythological, biblical and allegorical references. The museum also includes an adjoining Italian-style rooftop garden. It was originally larger and included vegetable gardens. The interiors and garden thus offer different perspectives on the house: the frescoes bring together different visual worlds, while the garden’s former size tells the story of its original layout.
The Fortezza Medicea on San Donato Hill offers another way to explore the city’s history. The military fortress dates from the 16th century; its star-shaped layout includes five bastions. Today, it is used for walks, art exhibitions and events. If you are visiting for an event, check the current programme in advance, as it may change. The fortress’s geometric design and the painted rooms in Vasari’s house offer contrasting impressions: here, the clean lines of a military structure; there, a richly layered iconographic programme.
Parks, the city’s earlier history and routes
The parks, too, each have a different focus. The historic Parco Il Prato lies in the upper part of Arezzo, between the cathedral and the Fortezza Medicea. Parco Pertini is just outside the historic old town and has equipped paths for physical activities. Parco Colle del Pionta combines a nature park with an archaeological site; the old cathedral of Arezzo once stood there. Parco Villa Severi lies just outside the city, surrounded by nature and opposite a historic aristocratic villa. Depending on whether you are interested in historic parkland, paths for activities or a place with an archaeological past, you will find different points of interest here.
For walks and cycling trips, the 62-kilometre, bidirectional Sentiero della Bonifica “Vittorio Fossombroni” runs from Arezzo to Chiusi. The route passes through landscapes featuring historic water-management structures. It starts at the Chiusa dei Monaci on the western outskirts of Arezzo: an impressive structure for regulating water flow, mentioned in documents as early as 1115. The route thus links a clearly defined trail with a structure whose history can be traced back to the Middle Ages.
The Cammino delle Celle, or Way of St Francis, follows a different route. This walking trail leads from the Santuario de La Verna to the Basilica di San Francesco in Arezzo, then on to the Eremo delle Celle near Cortona and onwards to Assisi. While the Sentiero della Bonifica is described as a walking and cycling trail between Arezzo and Chiusi, the focus of the Way of St Francis is on its named stops, travelled on foot. The two routes thus offer different ways to find your bearings: a trail with a stated distance and a route through several places.
Getting there and practical information
Arezzo can be reached by train from Florence and Rome, with regional, Intercity and high-speed services available. As timetables may change, check connections before your trip. Many museums, churches and cultural venues in Arezzo offer easier access, reserved parking spaces and special transport services for people with disabilities. Confirm any arrangements you need for your visit in advance. At Arezzo station, a tactile path leads from the entrance to the platforms. Raised platforms on tracks 1 to 5 allow many regional trains with low-floor access to be boarded directly and safely; check current station services as needed.
Discover more destinations: Cortona, Foiano Della Chiana, Bibbiena, Caprese Michelangelo, Castel San Niccolò, Chiusi Della Verna, Laterina, Loro Ciuffenna, Lucignano, Pian Di Sco, Pieve Santo Stefano, Poppi, Pratovecchio, Sansepolcro, Sestino, Stia, Castel Focognano, Anghiari, Arezzo, Bucine, Castiglion Fiorentino, Civitella In Val Di Chiana, Monte San Savino, Monterchi, Pergine Valdarno, Subbiano, Castelfranco Di Sopra, Cavriglia, Montebenichi, Montevarchi, San Giovanni Valdarno, Terranuova Bracciolini, Talla, Ortignano Raggiolo, Marciano Della Chiana, Castiglion Fibocchi, Chitignano, Capolona, Montemignaio, Badia Tedalda, Montagnano, Santa Firmina, Toppole, Pierle, Pratieghi, Le Ville, Fasciano, Santa Barbara, Strada, Rigo, Falciano, Sant'Andrea di Sorbello, Centoia I, Corezzo, Duddova, Padonchia, Campoluci, Giovi-Ponte Alla Chiassa, Sodo, Manzi, Palazzuolo, Papiano, Pieve Vecchia, Lonnano, Agazzi, San Clemente In Valle, Gricignano, Penna, Pulicciano, Oliveto, Ronzano, Pieve al Toppo, Falcigiano, Cetica, Tregozzano, Pratantico, Fratta-Santa Caterina, Colcellalto.
For the broader travel overview: Tuscany.
