A trip within a trip: that’s what it felt like the first time we set off to visit Arezzo.
We left the apartment we had rented in Florence for a month with only small backpacks in hand, as opposed to our normal habit of carting around several months worth of belongings at a time, on a mission to find some amazing things to do in Arezzo.
We boarded the train from Florence to Arezzo excited about the prospect of exploring a Tuscan city that we had never laid eyes on before, and Arezzo didn’t disappoint: it charmed us immediately with its adorable town square, lovely churches, beautiful main street, and gorgeous views of the Tuscan countryside.
We walked away completely enchanted with this underrated Tuscan city, which lies so close and yet so far from the hustle and bustle of more visited cities like Florence and Siena.
Curious about visiting Arezzo? Whether you’re planning to take a day trip to Arezzo from Florence or are shopping for an excellent city to base yourself in in Eastern Tuscany, here’s what to do in Arezzo, Italy!
Table of Contents
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The Best Things to Do in Arezzo, Italy
- Visit the Piazza Grande.
- Pay a visit to the Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici.
- Climb the clock tower at Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici for wonderful views of Arezzo.
- Admire the frescos at the Basilica of San Francesco.
- Wander through the archaeological museum.
- Check out the house of Giorgio Vasari.
- Go antiquing.
- Visit the Medici Fortress and its surrounding park.
- Meander along Corso Italia.
- Step inside the Arezzo Cathedral.
- Pay a visit to the Arezzo Christmas Market.
- Where to Stay When Visiting Arezzo
- Getting to Arezzo, Italy
- Read More About Visiting Tuscany (and Beyond)
The Best Things to Do in Arezzo, Italy
Visit the Piazza Grande.
Arezzo’s main square is the perfect place to start exploring things to do in Arezzo.
Centrally located, surrounded by beautiful buildings, and bustling with life, it makes the perfect first stop during your trip to Arezzo.
Like so many centrally located piazzas in Italian cities, Piazza Grande is also the first place to look for any events happening in town, from antique markets to the Christmas market (more on those in a bit).
Pay a visit to the Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici.
Arezzo is home to a wonderful collection of museums, but the Palazzo dell Fraternita dei Laici is arguably the best place to start!
Located right off of Piazza Grande, the palace was home to a local organization for centuries and has been a museum since 2010.
It is a wonderful place to start exploring the history of the city, from the Vasari Aqueduct to memorable art to…
Climb the clock tower at Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici for wonderful views of Arezzo.
Located right at the Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici, the Sail Clock Tower was designed by Giorgio Vasari, and its tower boasts what is arguably the best view in the city!
Sitting on the rooftop, you can see almost all of Arezzo and into the Tuscan hills beyond the city, and it’s a magnificent experience.
As far as Tuscan viewpoints go, this one is rather low to the ground, but the views over Piazza Grande are impeccable. It remains one of my favorite viewpoints in Tuscany!
Admire the frescos at the Basilica of San Francesco.
Home to some of the most formative frescoes of the Renaissance, stepping inside the Basilica of San Francesco is a can’t-miss stop when visiting Arezzo.
Best known for Piero della Francesca’s “Legend of the True Cross”, the basilica is home to works by many artists that worked over a period of centuries (and restorers who have worked for centuries after that).
While the frescoes date from the 14th to 16th centuries, the building itself began to be built before the end of the 13th.
Though the church is fairly plain on the outside, as was common in the Middle Ages, the interior is incredibly memorable!
Wander through the archaeological museum.
While Arezzo’s collection of artifacts inside the monastery-turned-museum was impressive, our favorite part of our time there was stepping foot into the remains of Arezzo’s Roman amphitheater that the museum is now set next to.
When we arrived, the amphitheater grounds were locked, so we assumed it was likely off-limits… but when we asked the woman at the front desk if we could see it, her response was simply, “Oh, sure! Just ask them to unlock the gate for you.”
Stepping onto the grassy lawn was a memorable experience, especially since we had it to ourselves!
Check out the house of Giorgio Vasari.
You may remember the name Vasari from the Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici mentioned earlier in this blog post: he was responsible for the design of the clock tower, among many more works which include the Last Judgment fresco in Florence’s Duomo, the loggia at the Uffizi Gallery and associated Vasari Corridor, and Michelangelo’s tomb in the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence… just to name a few!
A true Renaissance man through and through, Giorgio Vasari was born in (and spent much of his life living in) Arezzo, and he decorated his house as only an artist would: by covering the ceilings and many of the walls in elaborate paintings that he completed himself.
We loved this small museum for how unexpected it was–we didn’t expect anything nearly as impressive as what we found when we walked in the door–and for how much it has stuck in our memory as we have continued to explore Tuscany in-depth since visiting Arezzo.
Go antiquing.
Arezzo is famous for its antiquing, and whether you want to enjoy some window shopping or perhaps shop for one of the many unique souvenirs from Italy that you can find there, it’s worth setting aside some time to browse when visiting the city!
The best-known antiquing in Arezzo is the Arezzo Antiques Fair, which is held on the first Sunday of every month as well as the Saturday before it.
The fair takes over Piazza Grande, giving the city’s main square an even more lively atmosphere on those weekends!
Not in town for the first Sunday of the month? Don’t worry–you’ll find plenty of traditional antique shops in Arezzo too.
Visit the Medici Fortress and its surrounding park.
Dating to the 16th century, the Medici Fortress of Arezzo rests right where the city began, above the former Etruscan acropolis.
Its location on the edge of the city center and at the top of the Hill of San Donato gives it exceptional views in all directions, including of the city’s cemetery!
As a bonus, the park outside of the fortress makes a beautiful walk over as you approach from the historic center.
We were lucky to see the very beginning of the leaves changing for fall while we were there!
Meander along Corso Italia.
Every city needs its main street, and the charming Corso Italia is Arezzo’s.
Running from near the train station all the way to (and past) Piazza Grande, Corso Italia is both one of the most practical places to visit in Arezzo (you’d have a hard time avoiding it when exploring the best things to do in Arezzo) and one that is lovely in its own right.
Duck into a bar, browse the many shops, dine al fresco, or simply enjoy the ambiance–the choice is yours, with every step.
Step inside the Arezzo Cathedral.
No Italian city is complete without its cathedral, or Duomo, and Arezzo is no exception!
The striking Cathedral of Saints Peter and Donatus has been a work in progress for centuries, but construction broke in the 13th century and the Gothic architecture remains prominent.
Like the Basilica of San Francesco we mentioned earlier in this blog post, the Arezzo Cathedral is famous for its incredible frescoes, most famously St. Mary Magdalene painted by by none other than Pietro della Francesca in 1459.
Pay a visit to the Arezzo Christmas Market.
If you’re looking for wooden chalets, gluhwein, and Christmas cheer when visiting Tuscany during the holiday season, look no further than Arezzo.
Unlike many Christmas markets in Italy, Arezzo’s Tyrolean village brings vendors boasting traditional products from the region of Tyrol (today located both in northern Italy–it includes Bolzano–and in Austria) right to Piazza Grande, offering a traditional Christmas market atmosphere without traveling north.
Check dates here to plan your visit!
Where to Stay When Visiting Arezzo
Sadly the lovely, family-run bed and breakfast that we called home when visiting Arezzo has since closed–but there are still wonderful places to stay across town!
Cento Passi del Duomo B&B offers a cozy environment similar to the one that we enjoyed and boasts both excellent reviews and an ideal location just a 4-minute walk from Piazza Grande.
For show-stopping views of the city from the rooftop, the popular Hotel Continentale is another excellent choice.
Traveling with a car and looking for a countryside retreat instead of a city hotel?
If so, nearby La Cantina Relais offers a magnificent agriturismo experience in the heart of Tuscany, complete with an on-site restaurant featuring organic products created on the property, an original wine cellar, and even a pool!
Check rates & book your stay in Arezzo today!
Getting to Arezzo, Italy
As one of Tuscany’s larger cities (the population is roughly 100,000), Arezzo is well-connected by train both to other places in Tuscany and to Italy as a whole.
Travel between Florence and Arezzo via train takes about an hour and features plenty of Tuscan scenery to admire along the way!
Unless you’re planning to visit Arezzo as part of a greater Tuscany road trip, we’d recommend skipping the car and taking the train to Arezzo instead.
That being said, Arezzo is very close to the village of Cortona (made famous by Under the Tuscan Sun), which is a bit of a hassle to reach by train.
If you’d like to use Arezzo as a base to visit places like Cortona and Montepulciano, or even Assisi or Lake Trasimeno in nearby Umbria (Perugia, the capital of that region, is magnificent but easily accessible by train from Arezzo), you might consider renting a car.
If you do decide to rent a car, we recommend searching through Discover Cars, which will allow you to compare prices and inclusions of multiple companies at the same time and choose the best car for you from there.
Read More About Visiting Tuscany (and Beyond)
Did you find this blog post helpful in planning your trip to Arezzo?
If so, we’d love to help you keep planning your trip to Tuscany here on Our Escape Clause!
You can browse our 100+ Italy blog posts here, or check out these guides:
- How to Spend 2 Weeks in Italy (Itinerary for 14 Perfect Days!)
- 21 Practical Tips for Renting a Villa in Tuscany
- The Ultimate 2 Days in Florence Itinerary
- The Outsized Charm of Tiny Montefioralle, Italy
- Climbing the Dome vs. Bell Tower in Florence: Which View is Best?
Arezzo looks like such a cute little town! Love that view over the town square especially, and those buildings are so pretty.
It really is adorable! We loved our time there.
The buildings, the streets, the charming shops, and of course the quaintness of it all… Arezzo really looks picture perfect and like you said the perfect place for a weekend. Being so close to Florence and easily accessible by train I think it would make for a wonderful day trip too. Thanks for all the information. Glad to see you got to stay at a B7B because nothing beats the fun of staying with locals.
It definitely is picture perfect! That’s a great way to describe it.
Such beautiful impressions from this lovely place. I have not been to Arezzo yet, even though seen many other places in Italy, but this truly is a jewel that needs to be visited. The Medicea fortress sounds amazing, I think that would be one of the highlights for me personally that I would like to discover there. Good thing is that here from Switzerland it is actually super close, so thanks to your post I have already a great weekend travel destination for next spring 🙂
Ooooh, happy to help! Got to love the convenience of being based in Europe. 🙂
What a stunning city – the view from the tower, the architecture of the buildings, the quaint streets and shops – a photographer’s dream! I hadn’t really heard about Arezzo, and now it’s on my bucket list. Thanks!
It definitely was amazing to photograph–hope you get a chance to see it soon!
Arezzo looks like a such a picturesque Tuscan town! I love the look of your b&b too; definitely somewhere cosy and welcoming to stay here. I miss summer now looking at your photos!
I miss summer too! Always, lol. And yes, the B & B was super cozy!
I’ve never heard of Arezzo but it looks so charming. There’s nothing more fun than wandering around beautiful little historic towns. I’ll have to put Arezzo on my bucketlist!
Yes, it is definitely charming! The perfect place to wander for sure.
Hi Kate
What fantastic photos – love love love them! Just popped over from TBS to say hello and signed up – Love your voice.
Look forward to reading the rest and happy travels to you (more posts for us)!
Cheers
Renuka
Aw, thanks so much Renuka! Glad to have you around! 🙂
Always wanted to go to Italy, so high on my bucket list! Climbing tall buildings is something I love to do in cities, so going up the clock tower sounds like a great idea to me! The view is quite stunning. What a wonderful city!
We can definitely recommend Italy–one of our favorite countries in the world, and for good reason! Plenty of towers to climb there, too. 🙂
Arezzo looks like a rustic charming little town of Italy. I loved the rustic houses, lovely shops. Going to Arezzo from Florence tips are great. I loved the cozy look of your Bed and Breakfast stay.
Thanks, Yukti! We definitely loved our time there.
This article was just what I needed. I am planning a trip to Italy soon, and a stay in Florence was on cards. But now am surely going to check out Arezzo as well. The place looks like an amazing getaway, with so much of culture and history in it.
So glad we caught you at the right time, Arnav! We LOVE Florence, but exploring Tuscany’s smaller towns is a must as well–they are amazing!
I haven’t yet been to Arrezo bit looks like a great place to visit. Your photos are so so beautiful. I loved the architecture and quaint streets. They are best and a bonus for the lens when one travels in Europe. I love to visit antique markets, though not for shipping but window shopping as I don’t collect stuff. Next time I am back in Italy, would put this on my list. Thanks for sharing
Italy’s streets are definitely a feast for photographers eyes–always so much going on! I’m obsessed with their storefronts in particular, I must have photos of dozens of them stashed away!
We went there during Giostra del Saracino (the first Sunday in September) and we had a time of our lives. Definitely a must see.
That sounds wonderful! It’s such a beautiful little city–we’d love to go back.
My husband and I are planning a trip to Italy for 6 weeks and will be taking our little dog. What do you do with your dog while visiting the museums? Are there doggy day cares?
Would greatly appreciate a response so it can help with our trip planning.
Thank you and love your blog as I have learned so much!
Hi Belinda!
I’m not sure about doggy day cares–I know we’ve passed some in different cities in Europe, but we’ve never used them and I’m not sure if they cater to tourists.
When we go to museums, etc, Ranger tends to stay in the hotel/apartment where we’re staying (however, we visited Arezzo before we had Ranger, so note that I’m not sure if the hotel we stayed in there is dog-friendly).
Italy is exceptionally dog-friendly, though, we’ve never had any trouble at all finding dog-friendly places to stay.
You’ll also find that well-behaved dogs are welcome on virtually all restaurant terraces and many times inside as well, inside coffee bars, and inside many shops. It’s a fantastic place to travel with fur-friends!
I am anxious to get back to Arezzo in September, as I have done in the past, many times, especially since my family lives in Arezzo – a lovely and relaxing town and a close proximity to Florence and Rome by train!
It’s a wonderful place to keep going back to!