Arezzo overview

Clambering up a Tuscan hillside, Arezzo pales in comparison to its neighbours in terms of aesthetic beauty but its historical and cultural significance rivals anywhere in the region. Gaining fame in Roman times, this important Etruscan town is renowned for its ceramics, artistic masterpieces and antiques, with the likes of Piero della Francesca and stained-glass master Guillaume de Marcillat originating from Arezzo. Obliterated by Allied bombers during WWII, the historic centre still contains remnants of an earlier Renaissance. Birthplace of the poet Petrarch, Arezzo was later absorbed by Florence and contributed much to the region’s artistic reputation. The glorious Piazza Grande still survives relatively intact, where every month on the first weekend a gigantic antique fair is held. Art lovers will be wooed by the exhibits, if not the price tags. Film buffs will recognise the town as the setting of the Oscar-winning La vita e bella (Life Is Beautiful).