Arezzo and its province are not only one of the most beautiful areas of Tuscany and Italy, for their landscape and their historic centers, but they are versatile and ideal places to satisfy every kind of request: from art to nature, from food to shopping. So, here five things to do in Arezzo and its province, five reasons to treat yourself to a stay in this welcoming and wonderful land.
For collectors: visit the Antiques Fair
Born in the now distant 1968, the Arezzo Antiques Fair is the oldest in the national territory and still today the largest and most beautiful among those that take place outdoors, thanks to the exceptional location. Every first Sunday of the month and the previous Saturday, it takes place in the marvelous “Piazza Grande” and in the adjacent streets, boasting the participation of hundreds of exhibitors of all kinds of collecting.
More information on: www.fieraantiquaria.org
For nature lovers: an excursion to the Casentinesi Forests
If you are looking for a “wild” holiday, with its network of walking and cycling trails, the Casentinesi Forest National Park, located less than 50 km from the city of Arezzo, will leave you speechless. There is no place here for horns or smog. The only thing that matters, lost in a wonderful intertwining of trees, is life.
More information on: www.parcoforestecasentinesi.it
For art lovers: admire the frescoes by Piero della Francesca
Among the countless works of art that accompany Arezzo and Tuscany, an honorable mention goes to the frescoes of the “Bacci Chapel” in the Basilica of San Francesco, the work of Piero della Francesca. Paintings between 1452 and 1466 illustrate the Legend of the True Cross according to the lesson of Jacopo da Varagine.
For visits: www.pierodellafrancesca-ticketoffice.it
For gourmets: explore the International Flavors Market
Every year in Arezzo the International Market – The markets of the world is staged, with 300 stands distributed among the streets of the city: an extraordinary gastronomic expo that ideally represents a world tour through its flavors. It generally takes place over three days in the first half of October.
For more information: www.facebook.com/mercato.internaz.arezzo
For shopping lovers: a stop at the Valdichiana Outlet
Located in Foiano della Chiana, in the province of Arezzo, the Valdichiana Outlet Village boasts 130 stores of major fashion and prestigious brands, offering discounts from 30% to 70% all year round. Services such as the beauty center, the playground, a library and the many dining options make the experience particularly enjoyable.
More information on: www.valdichianavillage.it
In addition…
In June and September Arezzo hosts an equestrian tournament, the “Giostra del Saracino”, which has its origins in the Middle Ages and which in modern times has been held since 1931. The four districts in which the city is divided are contending for the title: during the ten days before the event, they organize a series of events and social activities. The approaching events culminate with the “propitiatory dinner” on the eve of the Joust: a dinner that includes more than a thousand diners for each district, set up in the streets of the center.
Would you like to know more? www.giostradelsaracinoarezzo.it
And if you are still not convinced …
Arezzo is an ideal base for visiting important tourist sites that arise within a short distance. Among them we remember Cortona, Lake Trasimeno, San Sepolcro and Assisi.