With its origins dating back to the Paleolithic era, Etruscan Arretium was founded around the 9th-century BC, and quickly became one of the most important cities in Tuscany, playing an important role over the centuries due to its strategic position along the Via Cassia. Arezzo's most powerful period came during the Middle Ages, before the town was taken over by Florence, and even though much of the centre was destroyed during World War II, Arezzo is today a vibrant wealthy city with many exquisite monuments, churches and museums remaining, allowing visitors a unique opportunity to step back into the city's rich and colourful history.
The city's greatest artistic treasure however, is Piero della Francesca's fresco cycle The Legend of the True Cross, located in the Basilica of San Francesco. Started in 1452, this early Renaissance masterpiece tells the story of the 'True Cross', considered to be Piero della Francesca’s greatest masterpiece and narrates a medieval story about the cross on which Jesus was crucified. The work on a fresco cycle in the Cappella Maggiore had just begun in 1452 by the Florentine painter Bicci di Lorenzo, until his untimely death, leaving the chapel unfinished. Piero della Francesca then took over the project, and began covering the walls of the Gothic chapel with the most advanced frescoes of the 15th century.
When it's time for lunch, one of the more picturesque places to eat in Arezzo, is under the beautiful sun bathed Loggia designed by Giorgio Vasari. One of the prettier restaurants nestled under the vaulted colonnade is Trattoria Logge Vasari, which serves traditional Tuscan and Arezzo cuisine and homemade pasta that's made outside on the Loggia by Signora Gina Mugnai. Run by the Fazzuoli family since 1984, Logge Vasari is perfect on a beautiful sunny day and where we sat overlooking Piazza Grande, sipping Prosecco, and enjoyed a wonderful long leisurely lunch and Gina's handmade Tortelli stuffed with Buffalo Mozzarella.
The beautiful barrel-vaulted arched Loggia designed by Giorgio Vasari
Trattoria Logge Vasari, which serves traditional Tuscan and Arezzo cuisine
Fresh pasta is made every day outside Logge Vasari by Signora Gina Mugnai
Each time we arrive for lunch at this lovely restaurant, Gina is always busy making pasta that is one of the highlights of the menu
Gina's handmade Tortelli stuffed with Buffalo Mozzarella
Embroidered menu cover
A glass of bubbley and crisp homemade grissini
Focaccia and Tuscan bread
Butter with pink peppercorns
An amuse bouche of Zucchini Soup
Trilogia di Arancini
Selection of tomato, basil and saffron arancini with fresh pea purée
Antonio Camillo Fermentino from the Maremma region of Tuscany
A bright, lively and pure-fruited Vermentino with notes of Mediterranean herbs, sage and rosemary
Tagliata di Manzo con rosmarino, pepe rosa e patate croccanti
Spinaci
Tortello di pomodoro e basilico su bufala affumicata liquida con asparago
Gina's perfect little pillows of deliciousness
A plate of homemade sweets arrive with our caffe macchiato
Santa Maria della Pieve is the main Romanesque church of Arezzo's central square, Piazza Grande, dates back to 1140 and was built on top of an earlier temple dating back to 1000 BC
A late Medieval church, the Basilica di San Francesco safeguards the legendary fresco cycle 'Legend of the True Cross' by Piero della Francesca which was completed in 1466
An early Italian Renaissance masterpiece, The Legend of the True Cross narrates a Medieval story about the cross on which Jesus was crucified
The frescoes occupy three levels on the side walls and the eastern wall surrounding a large window of the Cappella Maggiore, and depicts eleven episodes of the legend
Fresco detail - Burial of the Wood
When designing the layout of the frescos, Piero della Francesca painted scenes located in the open air at the top, court scenes in the middle and battle scenes at the bottom
The Dream of Constantine describes the moment in history when the aspiring emperor had a vision of the cross, which then became the victorious battle flag of later Christian sovereigns
Detail of the Battle between Heraclius and Chosroes
The vaulted ceiling painted by Florentine painter Bicci di Lorenzo in 1447
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