Arezzo
Edited by:
Massimo Martini
Access
Arezzo is easily accessible by various means of transport, thanks to its strategic location and good network of connections.
The nearest airports are Florence Peretola (about 90 km), Pisa Galileo Galilei (about 150 km) and Rome Fiumicino (about 230 km). These airports offer national and international flights, making Arezzo accessible even for those coming from afar. Once landed, you can continue to Arezzo by train, bus or hire car.
For those travelling by train, Arezzo is served by the main Rome-Florence railway line, with numerous daily connections. The Arezzo railway station, located in the city centre, is an important transit hub for high-speed and regional trains, allowing easy travel to other Tuscan and Italian cities.
By car, Arezzo is well connected to the motorway network: the A1 motorway (Autostrada del Sole), which crosses Italy from north to south, provides quick access to the city. The recommended exit for those coming from this motorway is Arezzo, from which one can easily reach the centre and the main towns in the province. The provincial road network is made up of state and regional roads that connect the various municipalities and villages, facilitating the exploration of the surrounding territory, including hills, valleys and historical centres.
Introduction
Arezzo, located in the heart of Tuscany, is a city of ancient origins that stands in a privileged position on a hill, offering a panoramic view over the Arno valley and the surrounding gentle hills. This strategic position has favoured its development since Etruscan times, and the town still preserves traces of that past, visible in the Archaeological Museum and the urban fabric. Arezzo's history is rich and fascinating: it prospered under Roman rule and, in the Middle Ages, became a powerful city-state that participated in numerous conflicts with neighbouring Florence and Siena. Later, the city became part of the Florentine dominion, leading to the harmonious fusion of architectural styles that characterise it today.
Description
The economy of Arezzo is based on a balance between tradition and modernity. Internationally renowned gold working is a driving sector with numerous companies specialising in jewellery making. Alongside this sector, tourism has grown considerably thanks to the artistic and architectural beauty of the city, attracting visitors fascinated by its cultural treasures and local traditions. Agricultural production, with wine and olive oil as symbolic products, further enriches the economy, reflecting the Tuscan identity of the city.
Arezzo has an artistic heritage of great value, with works by famous artists such as Piero della Francesca, whose fresco cycle on the 'Legend of the True Cross' in the Basilica of San Francesco is considered a Renaissance masterpiece. The Cathedral of San Donato, with its stained glass windows and Guido Tarlati's cenotaph, and the Piazza Grande, with its Renaissance palaces and characteristic inclination, are iconic places that fascinate anyone who visits them. The Piazza Grande also hosts the Giostra del Saracino twice a year, a medieval historical re-enactment that involves the entire city, providing a unique atmosphere steeped in tradition.
Amongst other curiosities, Arezzo is also famous for being the birthplace of illustrious figures such as the poet Francesco Petrarca and the mathematician Guido d'Arezzo, inventor of modern musical notation. Moreover, the city was chosen as the location for several scenes in Roberto Benigni's Oscar-winning film *La vita è bella*, thanks to its scenery that seems to have stood still in time. Strolling through its streets and visiting its museums and monuments, Arezzo offers an experience that combines culture, history and beauty, immersed in an atmosphere that invites you to discover and experience every corner of the city.
Information
Area: 384.70 sq. km
Altitude: 296 m
Maximum elevation: 1,083
Number of inhabitants: 96,523 (as of 31.07.24)
Name in dialect:
Inhabitants' name: Arezzo
Patron Saint: Saint Donato (7 August)
Internet site: www.comune.arezzo.it - www.discoverarezzo.com
Webcam: www.arezzometeo.com/webcam-arezzo-citta/
Bordering municipalities: Anghiari, Capolona, Castiglion Fibocchi, Castiglion Fiorentino, Città di Castello, Civitella in Val di Chiana, Cortona, Laterina, Marciano della Chiana, Monte San Savino, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Monterchi, Subbiano