Arezzo artistic itineraries
- A journey from the station to Piazza Grande
- Route B City outskirts
A journey from the station to Piazza Grande
Arriving at the station in Arezzo the first stage of our journey will be the archaeological area. To take this away Aretino at the end of which we find the archaeological museum el'anfiteatro Roman.
Archaeological Museum
In Italy it can happen to bump into this museum as the historical and artistic value is linked not only to content but also heritage the building itself. The museum has established in the convent of San Bernardo Montolivetani, built from the fourteenth century on the structures of the Roman amphitheater; of which are visible on the lower deck, the dell'ambulacro times. On the ground floor is exposed, with topographical criteria, the material coming from the city and its territory, while the upper floor, with provision of an antique dealer, find the location of collections various sources.
Roman Amphitheater
Built between the ages I and II a. C. using blocks of sandstone, brick and marble, has the usual elliptical shape, with two sets of stairs, could well accommodate about eight thousand spectators. Repeatedly looted over the centuries has been deprived of the most precious materials used to erect buildings of worship, and partially buried. Are still visible to the audience and part of ambulatories.
At this point Margaritone way along via Roma and then you arrive in Piazza Guido Monaco, from there you take away Monaco leads us to Piazza San Francesco, the artistic heart of the city for the presence of the church which houses a magnificent cycle of paintings by Piero della Francesca.
Chiesa di San Francesco
Dating back to the second half of the thirteenth century, the basilica is the result of a facade renovation fourteenth century, led in Tuscan Gothic style and clearly inspired by principles of aesthetic simplicity of derivation Franciscan. This building so severe nell'esterno and bare brick and stone houses nell'abside one of the greatest treasures of the fifteenth century painting, namely the frescoes of the Legend of the True Cross by Piero della Francesca. Of note is the large crucifix painted by a contemporary of Cimabue. On the floor extends below the lower church, restored in recent decades and used as a showroom.
Adjacent to the square is Piazza San Francesco del Popolo. The almost triangular shape of this space defines the downstream slopes of the ancient center of the city. Made a half century, was destined for a long time in the cereal market: traditional lodges grain remains on the building North side. The square cut clear from via Garibaldi, the ancient Via Sacra that belt in the Middle Ages the city in a semicircle; percorriamola until you reach via san Lorentino where overlooking the Museum of Medieval and Modern Art.
Museum of medieval and modern art
Located in a Renaissance palace Brown, the museum, next to the important collection of paintings of the twentieth century and many terracottas by Andrea della Robbia, as well as unique collections of gems and corals. It is especially majolica to be particularly relevant, is one of the most significant nationally.
Dirigiamoci hours to Via XX Settembre where is located the house where he lived the artist who was Giorgio Vasari.
Casa Vasari
Excellent painter and architect, but also a great writer, Giorgio Vasari bought this house in 1540 which took care of the repairs and painted the rooms of the piano nobile. The house is on two floors and is adorned with a small garden. Visit these rooms where the artist lived with his wife is a decidedly striking, made even more interesting for the many works there. In addition, the museum hosts temporary exhibitions sometimes, as in this period. Of note the presence in Annexe archive of letters written by Michelangelo, Pope Pius V and the Grand Duke Cosimo I de 'Medici.
From Via XX Settembre is reached via Domenico along which opens to our view the square dominated by the church of San Domenico. This is certainly one of the most picturesque views offered by the city.
Chiesa di San Domenico
Founded in 1275 and completed in early fourteenth century, The basilica was in time and subject to tampering restoration. The characteristic facade opens a portal and the Romanesque pronaos is a remake of the century. At the bell gable are two bells hung fourteenth century. Once your eyes are caught by the grandeur of the magnificent painted by Cimabue Crucifix above the altar. On both sides the walls bear traces of frescoes from the fourteenth century and Four hundred artists from Arezzo and Siena.
Crossing the square you fall along way to make Sassoverde via Ricasoli, at the Pillar via climb toward the square on which stands the building of the cathedral.
Duomo
Custodian of a valuable artistic heritage, the cathedral, dedicated to San Pietro Maggiore, was built between the end of the thirteenth century and the beginning of the sixteenth century. The facade is the result of a Reconstruction in twentieth century neo-Gothic style. Within the mottled light filtering through the stained glass windows by Guglielmo de Marcillat illuminates the many works stored therein, including stop and admire deserves the Maddalena by Piero della Francesca.
Diocesan museum of the cathedral of Arezzo
Located immediately behind the cathedral, the museum preserves many works of art of the Diocese of Arezzo, among which paintings by famous local artists such as Luca Signorelli, Giorgio Vasari (author of the Galleria degli Uffizi), but of great interest are the sculptures, objects of gold sacred codes and liturgical vestments.
Crossed the square, walk down Via dei Pileati until you reach the church of Santa Maria della Pieve.
Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pieve
Dating back to the twelfth-thirteenth century, this church is a magnificent example of Romanesque architecture. The majestic facade presents Pisan-Lucchese influences, broken down by five blind arches and enlivened by the top three superimposed loggias, that the differences in spacing, height and diameter of the columns give dynamism and lightness. The development of horizontal facade markedly contrasts with the vertical of the tower, called "the hundred holes" for the many windows that lightens the framework. Inside, above the altar, one can admire the polyptych depicting the Madonna with Child between Saints by Pietro Lorenzetti: one of the finest examples of Siena in Arezzo earth.
Opposite the church is a unique museum, created by the act of an antique that Arezzo has given the city its diverse, large collection.
Casa Museo Ivan Bruschi
In the fourteenth-century Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, in the house museum Ivan Bruschi is exposed collection dell'antiquario or Arezzo, who died in 1996. Visiting these rises mean a trip through time in places near and far. The objects on display are in fact the most diverse in terms of timing, place of origin and type. The collection in fact includes furniture, paintings, sculptures, books, glassware, pottery, silverware, jewelry, tools and coins from work ranging from prehistory to the present day. This vast collection (with about ten thousand pieces) made a worthy frame the rooms of this building, one of the most important public buildings and representative of the city during the Middle Ages, as testified by the many coats of arms displayed on the facade.
Along the church comes out in Piazza Grande. Suggestive scenery of the Giostra del Saracino, this ancient square Keystone opens in the heart of the medieval city, extending over an area heavily skewed. The various amendments made over the centuries makes it an anthology of architectural styles ranging from Romanesque to Baroque. Following the speeches the sixteenth century took place smaller than Thirteenth-century when it was dominated by the upstream Palazzo del Comune (of which there are few traces on top of street Pellicer) and the Palazzo del Popolo, whose ruins are located at the top of Via dei Pileati incorporated in the wall to support the embankment of Prato . Besides the houses, with medieval towers, Renaissance palaces in the square facing the imposing Logge Vasari el'elegante building of the Fraternity of Lay, surmounted by bell gable, built in the mid-sixteenth century, which houses one of the oldest clocks still in use, setting out the hours, days and moon phases.Route B City outskirts
Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
Just outside the city walls there was the presence of this charming sanctuary fifteenth, reachable through the long straight avenue Mecenate. From the entrance portal is accessed in a vast and charming courtyard, placed on the lawn and along the arcade. The church, located on the base, was built in the first half of the Quattrocento ruins of Fons tecta, considered the site of a pagan cult of water. The building is late Gothic in style, preceded by a portico of Benedetto da Maiano which is an absolute masterpiece of lightness and grace, seven arches resting on slender columns. Notably, within the altar in marble and glazed earthenware, made unusual by Andrea della Robbia.