Things to do
LANDMARKS
Begin your journey in Piazza Grande, the city’s enchanting main square, framed by medieval towers and known for its unique trapezoidal shape. This is the beating heart of Arezzo, where twice a year, the square transforms for the Giostra del Saracino – a historic jousting festival that fills the streets with pageantry and colour. Step inside the Basilica of San Francesco to marvel at Piero della Francesca’s famous fresco, a Renaissance masterpiece of light and storytelling. Discover the Romanesque elegance of the Church of Santa Maria della Pieve, its façade lined with a forest of columns, or climb to the cypress studded Medici Fortress for sweeping views over the Tuscan landscape.
FOOD & DRINK
Tuscan flavours shine in Arezzo, where rustic simplicity meets culinary excellence. Local trattorias serve hearty ribollita – a thick vegetable soup – and pappardelle al cinghiale, broad pasta ribbons smothered in rich wild boar ragu. The region’s famed Chianina beef often finds its way to the grill, while sweet delights such as cantucci biscuits paired with Vin Santo wine close the meal in true Tuscan style. Markets brim with pecorino cheeses, cured meats and seasonal produce. To dine in Arezzo is to savour tradition, best enjoyed slowly, with a view of the rolling countryside or in the glow of a lantern-lit piazza.
HISTORY
Arezzo’s story stretches back to the Etruscans, who made it one of their most important settlements. Under Roman rule, it flourished as a centre of art and learning, famed for its fine pottery. Of course, the medieval and Renaissance eras left their indelible mark too, gifting the city with churches, palaces and artworks that still inspire awe today. History comes alive each month at the Fiera Antiquaria, Italy’s oldest and largest antique fair, when Piazza Grande fills with stalls offering everything from vintage books to centuries-old treasures. To walk through Arezzo is to move through layers of living history – each corner telling its own chapter of the city’s remarkable past.
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