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Arezzo – about 91,000 population, 296 meters above sea level Capital of Province, art city and economical center of Tuscany. Arezzo had Etruscan origins, was a Roman settlement then became a thriving municipality during the Middle Ages. Now Arezzo is one of the wealthiest cities in Tuscany - it produces gold jewelry and clothing for shops all over the world. It is also the charming town seen in the award-winning movie “Life is Beautiful” with Roberto Benigni. The ancient streets of the city center also preserve their medieval features with many beautiful 5th century palazzi. Noteworthy is the gothic Duomo built around the 15th century with a hexagonal bell tower and a neo-gothic façade. The Cathedral has a three nave interior with beautiful stained-glass windows and houses a 13th century “Tarlati” Chapel with frescoes and gothic tombs. On the left nave is “St. Mary Magdalen”, a nice fresco by Piero della Francesca. - The gothic church of San Francesco, with an unfinished brick and stone façade overlooks the same name Piazza. Inside the church is one of Italy’s greatest works of art: The “Leggenda della Vera Croce” (Legend of the true cross), a magnificent fresco cycle by Piero della Francesca painted around 1450. It houses other frescoes and sculptures by Spinello Aretino and a 15th century rose window, all valuable artwork. - The Romanesque parish church of Santa Maria with its imposing bell tower and a three nave interior hosts (on the high altar) “Madonna and Child with saints, Annunciation, Assumption and Saints” a beautiful polyptyc by Pietro Lorenzetti (1320). The abside overlooks the characteristic “Piazza Grande”, the square where every year the “Giostra del Saracino”, (Jousting tournament) takes place and where the first weekend of each month is the most important Italian antique fair with 500 exhibitors. Among the beautiful palazzi, medieval towers and ancient houses of note is the valuable Gothic Renaissance “Palazzo della Confraternita dei Laici”, an important work by Vasari (1573). Among the churches a special mention is due to the Gothic “San Domenico”, with the Romanesque Portal in which interior, on the high altar, is a big crucifix by Cimabue and some 14th century frescoes. The Church of Santa Maria in Gradi preserves a splendid Madonna in terracotta by A. Della Robbia. It is recommended to walk along Corso Italia, the main street of the city, flanked by ancient towers and medieval palazzi among which emerges the Palazzo Pretorio, best known as the birth place of Francesco Petrarca The house of Giorgio Vasari, situated in via XX September, preserves frescoes by the same artist and is now the seat of a Vasarian museum. For those who want to enjoy a splendid panorama go and visit the Fortezza Medicea, ( Medici’s Family fortress), a nice work by Sangallo dating back to the 16th century. Arezzo houses 2 interesting museums: The “Museo d’arte medioevale e moderna" hosted inside a beautiful 14th century palazzo attributed to “Rossellino” which preserves sculptures and paintings by Spinello Aretino, Della Gatta, Luca Signorelli, A. della Robbia, Fiorentino, Vasari etc. The Archelogical Museum preserves many Etruscan, Roman and Prehistoric finds and a refined collection of vases. Opposite the museum are the ruins of the Roman Amphitheater.  back to
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