Arezzzo

Castiglion Fiorentino

Cortona

A bright hill town in eastern tuscany, Arezzo boasts a very ancient origin. After being one of the major etruscan lucumonies it bacame a strategically important Roman city. Important monuments bear witness to flourishing economic activities, foremost the Amphitheater with its important remains. Well known were its foundries and artistic red vase factories (called coralline vase) whose technique spread throughout the Roman world.

Arezzo lies on a hill at the edge of a plain formed by the Arno river alluvions; on the top of the hill stand out the Cathedral, the City Palace and the Medici Fortress; the main roads descend in a fan shape down to the city gates. The highest part of the city preserves a distinct medioeval aspect, with some praiseworthy examples of later times architecture.

Monuments: - the Cattedrale built on the top of the hill in a solemn Tuscan gothic style, preserves in its interior noticeable works of art, among which Piero della Francesca's Matgdalen and Guglielmo de Marcillat's decorated windows.

- Santa Maria della Pieve (XII centuries) is the largest and most beautiful romanesque church in the Arezzo region and certainly the most characteristic that sprang up in the city during the period of its indipendance; its tower of " a hundred holes" (so called from its many double mullioned windows) is one of the emblemes of Arezzo

- Piazza Vasari (o "Piazza Grande") where on the third Sunday of June and the first Sunday of September is held the "Giostra del Saracino"(Joust of the Saracen) . Here there is also an antique fair on the first Sunday of every month. Considered a true anthology of architectural styles, from the Romanesque to the Gothic, the Renaissance and the Baroque,

Piazza Grande is one the most original, organic and picturesque squares in Italy. Next to the houses and towers from the middle Ages and following centuries, this square also contains the precious Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici (14th centuries) along with the bright and imposing Loggiato del Vasari (16th century)

In the Basilica of San Francesco one can admire Piero della Francesca's extraordinary frescoes telling the "Leggenda della Vera Croce"(Legends of the True Cross) (15th centuries)

We wish to mention the church of San Domenico with a magnificient crucifix by Cimabue

Agriturismo Villa Rosa Via Umbro Casentinese, 161 - 52043 Castiglion Fiorentino - Arezzo tel. +39 348 4742791 Fax +39 0575 656877 info@agriturismovillarosa.it