PROVINCIA DI AREZZO DELLA TOSCANA
Arezzo — For many, their first view of Arezzo was in Roberto Benigni's movie, Life in Beautiful. The city has a great feel without being over-run with tourists. As you walk along the via Garibaldi, which takes you on a long curve, you are actually following the foundation of the walls that were built in the 1200's to protect the city.
The old Estruscan area is basically that around the Duomo, the Passeggio del Prato and the Medici fortress.
Walk up alkong the corso Italia to reach the historic heart of the city. As you walk along the street you will see that the majority of the town has not been taken over by new development. There is a great feel here.
Most of the buildings of Arezzo are of Renaissance style and date back to when Arezzo was actually under Florence.
From the gardens of the Passegio del Prato, they extend back to the Fortezza and they provide a great view of the city from the ramparts. If you walk along the via dei Pileati and the via di Borgunto - they retain their old character.
The via di Borgunto leads to the piazza Grande and also the Palazzo delle Logge.
A much visited site is Piero della Francesca's fresco cycle of the Legend of the True Cross. This is painted in 1434-64 in the chioce of the Church of S. Francesco and is considered one of the marked achievements in the art of painting. There is another fresco by della Francesca in the Duomo, the Mary Magdalene. The tomb in the Duomo is that of Guido Tarlati, the 14th Century bishop and lord of Arezzo. While in the Duomo make sure to see the series of stained-glass windows by the 16h century French master Guillaume de Marsillat.
Caprese Michelangelo — located at 45 km from Arezzo, this is the birthplace of Michelangelo. The Casa del Podestà is the host where Michelangelo was born. It is quite modest and has been restored. In it is a museum with photographs of his works. The castello, is from the 14t6h century and it contains casts of Michelangelo's sculptures as well as works by modern artists.
Castiglion Fiorentino — located about 17 km from Arezzo, the remains on the old castle dominate this town. In the Logge del Vasari and the Palazzo Comunale is the Pinacoteco Civica (open from 8 to 2 on weekdays and generally needs an application to view. This holds the work by Bartolomeo della Gatta of St. Francis Receiving the Stigmata. The old roman gate and the church of Modonna della Consolazione are other buildings of note.
Civitella in Val di Chiana — one of the best-preserved of the network of Lombard fortresses of the 6th and the 7th century in central Italy, strategically placed to control the whole territory. The characteristic elliptical shape of the military settlements can still be seen in the layout of the town walls.
Cortona — The Romans built the road between Latium and the Arno Valley at the base of the hill on which Cortona sits. But in the middle ages most of the area around Cortona became a marsh and nothing much happened. Luckily Cortana missed being on the main road network that followed.
The church of the Modonna del Calcinaio is said to be a perfect example of Renaisance space and design. But continue up another 3 km to get to the old town - further up the hill. If you make it to the Fortezza Medicea you are at the highest point in the town and from there one gets incredible views of the valley.
The streets of the city have plenty of old houses and a rich feel of architecture. The via Maffei has 16th Century mansions. The via Janelli has homes from the 14th Century. The via Guelfa and the via Ghibellina are the main streets of the old town.
The Duomo facues the former church of the Gesu, which now holds the impressive Museo Diocesano - open from 9-1 and 3-5.
Foiano della Chiana — There is a range of old interesting buildings in this small town that is located 28 km from Arezzo. The remains of the castle, the tower and the 18th century Logge del grano. There is some terra cotta of note in the collegiate church.
Lucignano — a small town, not much of note here, except it was the little village by the villa that we rented on our first joint visit to Tusanny - so it just has to be mentioned.
Monte San Savino — The Ubertini, lords of Arezzo, rules this town for some time. However, in 1325, after making the bad decision of siding with Guelphs of Florence, the bishop of Arezzo, Guido Tarlati, had the castle walls knocked down. Akways side with the winner.
Then in 1337 it was passed over to Perugia and then to Siena and finally to Florence in 1384. In 1550 because of connections to Pope Julius III things changed. The town was passed around and in 1991 - yes 1991 Monte San Savino was granted the title of city.
Monte San Savino is surrounded by sloping walls with four gates: the main one, Porta Fiorentina, Porta Romana, Porta San Giovanni and the so called porticciolo.
Montemignaio — S.Maria Assunta is the Roman parish church founded in the XI century. The ruins of castle rising some 873m in height built by the Guidi in the XII century dominate the village.
Monterchi — In the centre of the city, via dei Medici or via della Misericordia are two streets that have charming beautiful buildings, like Palazzo Massi with its castellated decoration from the XVI century. Piero della Francesca, a noted Italian artist, has his work Madonna del Parto here. Originally in the cemetery chapel it has been restored and is found in the former school building.
Montevarchi — noted for the Church of S. Lorenzo and the museum that is attached to the churh. The museum has an example of glazed terra-cotta work of Candrea della Robbina and his school and a momumental tempietto that is decorated with firezes of cherubs.
Ortignano Raggiolo — surrounded by chestnut-trees, the "Ecological Museum of the Chestnut" has information about chestnut picking and manufacturing. The village still has a Medieval aspect in its remains of fortifications and the narrow stone roads.
Poppi — located about 38 km from Arezzo, the Castello dei Guidi is impressive. It never fell into ruin as it was always used as a seat of local government, even today. In 1289 onthe plain of Campaidino, close to the walls of the castle, was the battle between Firenze and Arezzo. Firenze won.
Go past the moasted wall and into the castle courtyard for an external staircase and soaring walls deccoated with coats of arms. The library impressed us, no pictures in the library, but when we were in the castle you could take pictures of the other areas.
San Giovanni Valdarno — if you visit the old quarter of the town, there are narrow alleys which lead to an arcaded piazza that has a medieval character. Underneath the portico of the S. Maria delle Grazie basiclica ia a glazed, polychrome terra-cotta by Giovannie della Robbia. 2 km from the town is the Francisan Monastery of Montecarlo.
Sansepolcro — the towers indicate that this was a proposerous town in the Middle Ages. The main road of the town, XX Settembre, runs fromthe porta Florentina and the porta Romana and is has Gothic and Renaissance buildings along the via.