Arezzo between Piazza Grande and historic routes

Piazza Grande is the central square of Arezzo’s historic old town. Its trapezoidal layout and pronounced slope give the square a distinctive appearance. The Giostra del Saracino also takes place on the Lizza in Piazza Grande: since its official revival in 1931, the event has been held regularly every year, with a break during the Second World War. If the Giostra is part of your travel plans, check the specific event dates before your trip.

Market dates and art at Casa Vasari

A regular fixture for a stroll around Arezzo is the Fiera Antiquaria. It takes place on the first Sunday of each month and the preceding Saturday. The market includes antiques, modernariato, vintage goods, and local crafts; individual vendors’ offerings may vary. If you are planning your visit around the market, it is a good idea to check the dates for your travel period.

The Museo di Casa Vasari is housed in the home Giorgio Vasari bought in Arezzo in 1541. Its richly frescoed rooms feature imagery drawn from mythology, the Bible, and allegory. The house also has an adjoining Italian-style rooftop garden. Originally, the garden was larger and included vegetable gardens. The house, frescoes, and garden offer different impressions of a single historic site: the interiors, with their layered imagery, and the garden as part of the complex.

The fortress and parks in the cityscape

The Fortezza Medicea offers another perspective on the city’s history. This 16th-century military fortress stands on San Donato Hill. Its star-shaped layout and five bastions identify it as a fortification. Today, it is a place for walks, art exhibitions, and events. As the program may change, check current dates if an exhibition or event is a deciding factor in your trip.

The parks also offer contrasting features. The historic Parco Il Prato lies in the upper part of Arezzo, between the cathedral and the Fortezza Medicea. Just outside the historic old town is Parco Pertini, with paths equipped for physical activities. Parco Colle del Pionta combines a nature park with an archaeological site; Arezzo’s old cathedral once stood there. Parco Villa Severi is just outside the city, surrounded by nature and opposite a historic grand villa. These places differ in their described purpose and location: from a historic park between two buildings to a nature park with an archaeological connection.

Getting around on foot and by bike

The Sentiero della Bonifica “Vittorio Fossombroni” is a 62-kilometer cycling and walking path that can be used in both directions and connects Arezzo with Chiusi. It is suitable for walks and bike rides through landscapes where historic water-management structures can be seen. Its starting point is the Chiusa dei Monaci on the western outskirts of Arezzo. The structure regulates water flow and is already mentioned in documents from 1115. The route’s length and its designation as a cycling and walking path give you a clear sense of scale, distinguishing it from a short stay in the city.

A longer-distance hiking route is the Franciscan Way, Cammino delle Celle. On foot, it runs from the Santuario de La Verna to the Basilica di San Francesco in Arezzo, then to the Eremo delle Celle near Cortona, and on to Assisi. Arezzo is therefore one destination along a route whose stages extend beyond the city. The Cammino and the Sentiero della Bonifica differ both in their routes and in their stated uses: one leads on foot through several named stops, while the other is a bidirectional cycling and walking path between Arezzo and Chiusi.

Getting here and finding your way around

Arezzo is reachable by train from Florence and Rome; services include regional, Intercity, and high-speed trains. Timetables may change, so check connections for your travel date. At the station, a tactile path leads from the entrance to the platforms. The raised platforms on tracks 1 to 5 allow many regional trains with low-floor access to be boarded directly and safely; station services may also change.

Many museums, churches, and cultural venues in Arezzo have accessible entrances, reserved parking spaces, and special transport services for people with disabilities. If these services are important to your plans, confirm before traveling which options are available for your specific destination.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Lucignano, Pian Di Sco, Pieve Santo Stefano, Chiusi Della Verna, Laterina, Loro Ciuffenna, Tregozzano, Pratantico, Fratta-Santa Caterina, Colcellalto, Ronzano, Pieve al Toppo, Falcigiano, Cetica, Talla, Ortignano Raggiolo, Marciano Della Chiana, Castiglion Fibocchi, Chitignano, Capolona, Montemignaio, Badia Tedalda, Montagnano, Castiglion Fiorentino, Civitella In Val Di Chiana, Monte San Savino, Monterchi, Pergine Valdarno, Subbiano, Castelfranco Di Sopra, Cavriglia, Montebenichi, Montevarchi, Oliveto, Cortona, Foiano Della Chiana, Bibbiena, Caprese Michelangelo, Castel San Niccolò, Papiano, Pieve Vecchia, Lonnano, Agazzi, San Clemente In Valle, Gricignano, Penna, Pulicciano, Poppi, San Giovanni Valdarno, Anghiari, Arezzo, Bucine, Terranuova Bracciolini, 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, Pratovecchio, Sansepolcro, Sestino, Stia and Castel Focognano.

For the broader travel overview: Tuscany.