Arezzois a city inTuscany,Italythat was an important Etruscan town. It was known to the Romans as Arretium. Arezzo was made in the 11th cent. a free commune, siding with the Ghibellines. Arezzo is also famous for Guido d'Arezzo, the Medieval abbot who originated solfeggio (the mnemonic music system known to many from the song in The Sound of Music that starts "Doe, a deer").Nowadays, it is an agricultural trade center and has machine, clothing, gold, and jewelry industries and is also a tourist center.

[edit]Get in

[edit]By plane

Arezzo can be reached by flying to Italian major international airports inRomeandMilan, or to the two airports inTuscany:

• Pisa International Airport Galileo Galilei(IATA:PSA)[1], located 1.5km (1 mile) south ofPisacity centre.

• Florence Airport Amerigo Vespucci(IATA:FLR)[2], Located four kilometers from the center ofFlorence.

[edit]By train

Arezzo's train station which is located at the edge of the historic old town, offers frequent connections to cities likeFlorenceandRome.

[edit]Get around

Arezzo's historic old town is small enough to explore on foot. If you have a rental car, you can park in one of the municipal lots for under ten Euros for the entire day, then walk up into the historic centre. WARNING: Arezzo is atop a steep incline, and you will feel as though you are walking uphill pretty much everywhere. Wear comfortable shoes.

ATAM[3]runs the city bus service (there is also a "Centro Storico" line that covers the historic old town).

The taxi service is efficient and not too expensive.

[edit][add listing]See

• Piazza Grande, the most beautiful square in Arezzo, is surrounded by marvelous old buildings and hosts the Giostra del Saracino twice a year.

[edit]Churches

• Arezzo Cathedral (Duomo), Piazza del Duomo. Daily 7AM-12:30PM and 3-6:30PM.

• Church of San Francesco, Piazza San Francesco, Tel.+39-0575-20630.

• Church of Santa Maria della Pieve, Corso Italia 7, Tel. +39-0575-22629.

• Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, via S. Maria delle Grazie 1.

[edit]Museum

• Museo del Duomo, (on the back side of theDuomo).
• Museo Archeologico "Gaio Cilnio Mecenate", Via Margaritone 10
• Museo Statale d'Arte Medievale e Moderna, Via San Lorentino 8
• House-Museum of Ivan Bruschi[4], Corso Italia 14

[edit]Of Cultural Interest

• Casa del PetrarcaOnly open if you knock and ask nicely if you can come in; this is the home of famous Italian medieval poet Petrarch. Hours vary depending on the mood of the proprietor, but it is totally worth it.

• La Vita è BellaRoberto Begnini's Academy Award-winning film was shot here in Arezzo, and as you proceed through the city centre, you will see colorful signs featuring pictures from the film at the specific locations of actual filming. Spend at least an hour wandering from sign to sign.

[edit][add listing]Do

• TheAntiques Fair[5]that occupies Piazza Grande and many of the streets leading to it, with an array of some 500 stalls by which is fun to browse though.Arriving by car it's best to leave it in the Pietri free parking lot and go up to the Duomo on the escalator.

Dates:Takes place on the first Sunday and the Saturday preceding it of every month -

03-04 March 2007

31 March - 01 April 2007

05-06 May 2007

02-03 June 2007

30 June - 01 July 2007

04-05 August 2007

01-02 September 2007

06-07 October 2007

03-04 November 2007

01-02 December 2007

• Not being a big touristic city like Firenzeit is most recommended to strollin the charming old city center along the small alleys and enjoy its quiet streets. a good panoramic view of the city can be seen from the tower of "Palazzo dei Priori" in Piazza della Libertà, or walking through the "Il Prato" park up to the Medicea fortress.

[edit]Festivals

• Arezzo is home to an annual medieval festival called theJoust of the Saracens(Giostra del Saracino). In this, "knights" on horseback representing different areas of the town charge at a wooden target attached to a carving of a Saracen king and score points according to accuracy. Virtually all the town's people dress-up in medieval costume and enthusiastically cheer on the competitors.

Dates:The third Sunday of June and on the first Sunday of September - 23 June (by night) and 2 September 2007.

• Arezzo is also home to an annual popular music and culture festival, each July (17-22 July 2007), calledArezzoWave[6]. Publicly funded, it attracts bands of high repute and attendees from all over Europe and North America. It also features literary and film expositions. From summer 2007 Arezzo Wave will move to Florence.

• TheArezzo Festival[7]- an annual summer theatre festival that brings together emerging professional and university-based performance groups from all over the world.

[edit][add listing]Buy

• Typical Tuscany wine Miseria e Nobiltà,Piaggia s. Bartolomeo 2 - near Piazza grande,☎+39-338-2056240,[8].11:00-24:00.  edit

[edit][add listing]Eat

Arezzo is famous for its cuisine too. The most famous dishes of Arezzo areAcquacotta, a bread soup made with porcini mushrooms andRibollita, a bread soup made with many different vegetables but you can also taste the wonderfulChianinaSteakand all sorts of pastas. Arezzo'swinesare also very appreciated all around the world.

Restaurants:

• La Taverna del Pittore,via Vittorio Veneto n.72,☎+39-0575-908050.19:00-23:00.€ 15-30.  edit
• Miseria e Nobiltà,Piaggia S.Bartolomeo 2-near Piazza Grande,☎+39-057521245,[9].11:30-24:00.€ 15-30.  edit

[edit][add listing]Drink

• Miseria e Nobiltà,Piaggia S.Bartolomeo 2-near Piazza Grande,☎+39-057521245,[10].11:30-24:00.€ 15-30.  edit

[edit][add listing]Sleep

[edit]Budget

• il paradisino, delle paniere, Tel.+39-348-6412433, Fax+39-0575-295567. Rates: Double €50-60.

• Hotel Euro,[11], Località Pieve S. Stefano, Arezzo, Tel. +39 0575.797055 Fax +39 0575.797166. The Hotel is the best solution for independent travellers and also for groups of people who want to discover Tuscan Arts and Heritage, culture, traditions and religion sights.

[edit]Mid-range

• Residence Il Pozzeto,Via Casale, 16 Località Preconne 52031 Anghiari (Arezzo),☎0575 723248(fax:0575 724351),[12].In Preconne, a small village between Arezzo Cortona, and S. Sepolcro, you can find IL POZZETO, a wonderful residence which is the result of the refurbishment of an architectural work. edit

[edit]Splurge

• Castelletto di MontebenichiLocality Montebenichi, Bucine, Ph. +39.055.9910110 Fax +39.055.9910113.[13]. A luxury hotel in an antique castle in the heart of Chianti. Standard double room €250.

• Etrusco Palace Hotel, Via Fleming 39. Tel.+39-0575-984066, Fax.+39-0575-382131, email: etrusco@etruscohotel.it. Rates: €143-214.

• Hotel & Apartment Villa Cassia Di Baccano, Via Setteponti Levante, 132. Tel.+39-055-9772310, Fax+39-055-9772898, email: info@villacassiadibaccano.it. Single €113-180, Double €157-260, Triple €171-290, Quadriple (2 bathrooms) €190-330.

• Agriturismo Foresteria Il Giardino di Fontarronco, Località Monte San Savino.[14]A Cozy Agriturismo and wonderful base location.email: info@foresteria.it.

• Badia Di Campoleone Green Resort, Località Castelluccio 38, Capolona. Tel.+39-0575-451561, Fax+39-0575-451492, email: info@badiacampoleone.it.[15]. 4-star resort with modern comforts and services to surrender to the relaxation of Tuscan country. Double from € 200.

• Relais Villa I Bossi B&B[16]Arezzo, Tel. +39 0575 365642 Fax +39 0575 964900 E-mail franvig@ats.it Bed and Breakfast in Tuscany, in a relais with a beautiful and quiet Italian-style gardens with two swimming pool.

[edit]More information

Tourism agency of Arezzo[17]- Piazza Risorgimento, 116 Tel: 0575 23952/3 Fax: 0575 28042,apt@arezzo.turismo.toscana.it

Information offices - Piazza della Repubblica, 28 Tel: 0575 377678 Fax: 0575 20839,info@arezzo.turismo.toscana.it

Centro Accoglienza e Informazioni Turistiche - Via Ricasoli Tel: 0575 377829

[edit]Get out

CortonaandLucignanoare both within a short drive.Florencecan be easily reached by train.