Car Hire Arezzo

Mini guide to Arezzo

Founded by the Etruscans in the 4th century BC and sitting at the heart of beautiful and scenic Tuscany, Arezzo is one of Italy’s gems.

No visitor should miss the 13th century Piazza Grande, which contains the Palace of the Fraternity of the Lay Brothers with its distinctive bell tower, a 15th century public fountain, and the Pieve de S. Maria with its bell tower of ‘one hundred holes’, as well as the reliquary of St. Donato dating from 1346. Outside the square another impressive sight is the 2nd century Roman amphitheatre with its adjacent archeological museum. Also worth a visit is the Museum of Medieval and Modern Art with its huge collection.

An interesting walking tour follows the Corso Italia, Arezzo’s main street since medieval times. It is rich in exclusive boutiques, elegant palaces, Gothic buildings and ancient towers. Walking on from here and crossing the Passaggio del Prato, an old ornate public garden, you come to the imposing stairway of St. Peter’s Cathedral, which contains artworks by Tuscan masters, and famous stained glass windows.

25kms (15.5 miles) from Arezzo on the SS73 is Monterchi, home of Piero della Francesca's Madonna del Parto, a rare fresco depicting the Virgin Mary nine months pregnant with Jesus. It's one of the earliest depictions of a pregnant Madonna, a subject exceedingly rare in Italian art.

Arezzo is famous for its gold shops and is also renowned for its antique furniture dealers. Food lovers can indulge in rustic dishes like filled pasta and various venison washed down with Arezzo chianti. For a treat visit the Caff dei Costanti and sample the exquisite ‘gatto’ sweet.

To drive to Arezzo, take the SS73 road from Siena and the Highway A1 from Florence and Rome. Regular train services run from Florence (40 mins) and Rome (2 hours). The nearest airport, served regularly by airlines across Italy and Europe, is Florence.