Arezzo

Arezzo, an art city just half an hour from La Cisterna

Arezzo is a fascinating art city, just a 30-minute drive from Citerna, perfect for a day trip that blends history, culture and Tuscan traditions. Set between the Valtiberina and the Casentino, it’s known for its medieval historic center, Renaissance masterpieces and lively events like the Giostra del Saracino. If you’re exploring the Umbrian–Tuscan Valtiberina villages, Arezzo is a must: wander through its sloping squares, admire one-of-a-kind frescoes and soak up an atmosphere that mixes old and new. From Citerna it’s an easy drive along local provincial roads, ideal for a half day or a weekend.

The heart of it is Piazza Grande, the city’s most iconic sloping square, framed by the Logge designed by Giorgio Vasari. It’s also the stage for the Giostra del Saracino, Arezzo’s most important historical reenactment: it takes place twice a year, in late June and early September, when the square turns into an arena.

Then there’s the main stop: inside the Basilica of San Francesco you’ll find Piero della Francesca’s Legend of the True Cross, one of the most celebrated Renaissance fresco cycles. At certain times and for some visit options, booking may be required and entry is regulated.

If you have time, add two nearby stops: the Pieve di Santa Maria, with its bell tower nicknamed “the hundred holes,” and Arezzo Cathedral up on the hill. And if you like art with a story behind it, visit Casa Vasari, the house museum of the author of Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors and Architects.

What to see in Arezzo

Here are Arezzo’s main sights, selected for an efficient itinerary starting from Citerna. We’ve included practical tips, approximate opening hours and why each place is worth a stop, to help you plan your trip.

• Piazza Grande
  The beating heart of Arezzo: a unique sloping medieval square surrounded by historic buildings. Don’t miss the Logge del Vasari, a Renaissance arcade perfect for photos and a break. It’s the setting for the Giostra del Saracino and it hosts the Antiques Fair (first Sunday of the month and the Saturday before). A great place to start your visit: open 24/7, free.

• Basilica of San Francesco
  A Gothic gem featuring Piero della Francesca’s frescoes in the Bacci Chapel (The Legend of the True Cross), among the masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance. Book online to avoid queues (ticket around €8). Open from 9:00 to 18:00, it’s a must for art lovers. Close to Piazza Grande, it pairs perfectly with a walk through the historic center.

• Cathedral of Saints Peter and Donatus (Arezzo Cathedral)
  On the city’s highest hill, this 13th-century Gothic cathedral houses stained-glass windows by Guillaume de Marcillat and Piero della Francesca’s Magdalene. Free access to the terrace for panoramic views over the Valtiberina. Open 7:00–12:30 and 15:00–18:30, perfect if you’re after a spiritual stop and breathtaking views.

• Church of Santa Maria della Pieve
  A 12th-century Romanesque church with the “hundred holes” bell tower, an architectural icon with 40 mullioned windows. Inside you’ll find frescoes and a polyptych by Pietro Lorenzetti. Free entry, open 8:00–12:00 and 15:00–18:00. A perfect example of Tuscan medieval art, just steps from the main square.
• Medici Fortress and Parco del Prato
  Built by the Medici in the 16th century, it offers panoramic views over the city and the Valtiberina. Today it’s a green park ideal for a picnic or a walk. Free entry, open from dawn to dusk. Add it if you have time for a touch of nature.

• Casa Vasari
  Giorgio Vasari’s house museum, decorated with frescoes and Renaissance furnishings. It tells the story of the Aretine artist and architect’s life. Ticket around €4, open 8:30–19:30 (closed Tuesdays). A great stop if you love the Renaissance and artists’ biographies.

• Roman Amphitheatre
  Dating to the 2nd century AD, one of the best-preserved Roman remains, with an attached archaeological museum. Combined ticket around €6. Highlights Arezzo’s ancient roots.
• National Archaeological Museum “Gaio Cilnio Mecenate”
  With Etruscan and Roman finds, including a copy of the Chimera. Ticket around €6, ideal for diving deeper into the area’s pre-Roman history.

Events in Arezzo

Arezzo stays lively all year with events celebrating tradition and culture. Here are the main ones for 2026 (updated in January 2026; check official websites for confirmation):

• Giostra del Saracino: a medieval reenactment with costumed knights. Editions on 10 January, 6 September and other dates throughout the year (see discoverarezzo.com). A spectacle in Piazza Grande with parades and tournaments.

• Antiques Fair: every first Sunday of the month and the Saturday before. One of Italy’s oldest antiques markets, perfect for finding a unique souvenir.

• Arezzo City of Christmas and New Year: Arezzo is one of Tuscany’s most loved Christmas destinations thanks to Arezzo Città del Natale, a traditional event that every year, from mid-November to Epiphany (usually from 15 November to 6 January), turns the historic center into a Christmas village. The beating heart is Piazza Grande, with the large Tyrolean Village (one of the biggest in Italy): decorated wooden chalets offering Tyrolean crafts and specialties (edelweiss products, strudel, pretzels, hot chocolate, aromatic beers), food huts and wine-and-food stands. Other traditional markets are set up in squares like San Jacopo and Risorgimento, with wooden stalls for handmade gifts, decorations and local treats.
• After Arezzo, keep exploring the Valtiberina villages via Citerna we’ll be waiting for you for lunch!