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Table of Contents:
How to get to Arezzo from Florence
When to travel to Arezzo
Arezzo is an ideal place to learn history. Cozy squares, architectural monuments, labyrinths of cobbled streets – all this makes the town pretty charming. You can walk here all day and never repeat the route. The town was once considered Etruscan, but was later conquered by the Roman Empire. Today this Italian town, located in the “heart” of Tuscany, is full of historical monuments from different periods.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Arezzo. I figured out how to get to the town, where to stay & what to see there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Arezzo.
To my mind, Arezzo can be visited all year around as its main attractions are architectural, not natural. Local climate in Tuscany is quite mild, so tourists can choose any season to stroll around the town. Winters are usually a bit rainy, but warm. Springs are colorful and charming. Summer is also a good choice for travelling to the region, but July and August can be a bit hot. Autumn is one more season for perfect travelling to Tuscany. It is warm, but not too hot in autumn time and the local countryside is full of colors.
How to get to Arezzo
Where do you fly into to get to Arezzo? Arezzo is located in Tuscany, close to Florence. You can find direct flights from all over the world to Florence. The current flight timetable can be checked via specialized online services such as Aviasales and others. I often use this online service as it helps me a lot to compare different flight options and to choose an optimal one. The distance between Florence and Arezzo is 80 km. You can get from Florence to Arezzo by public transport or by rented car.
How to get to Arezzo from Florence
By public transport: The most convenient way to get to Arezzo from Florence, which is only 82 km away, is to use a train. There is a railway connection between the cities. Direct trains take you to Arezzo in 1.5 hours. Trains depart from Florence Santa Maria Novella station twice an hour throughout the day. You can check the current train timetable and purchase tickets in advance at the Raileurope booking service. It is one of my favourite online planners and I would totally recommend using Raileurope when you are figuring out how to move between towns in Italy.
By rented car: If you travel by car, then you should choose route No. A1/E35, it is the fastest one. The travel time is about 1 hour 10 minutes (see on the map). By the way, you can rent a car in Florence for travelling in advance. There are special services for comparing rental offers, for example, Discover Cars, Economybookings etc. Rental offices in Florence can be found at the airport, as well as in the city center on Via di Santa Lucia and Via Forlanini. In my point of view, booking in advance is a more reliable option.
If you wish, you can get to Arezzo from any other major city in Italy. So, trains run between Pisa and Arezzo (a change in Florence is required); the travel time is 2 hours 10 minutes. Trains run between Rome and Arezzo (direct); the travel time is 2.5 hours. Trains run between Lucca and Arezzo (requires a change in Florence); the travel time is 2.5 hours. You can check the current train timetable and purchase tickets in advance at the Raileurope booking service. Also, these cities are connected by highways, for instance, Pisa – Arezzo No. SGC Firenze-Pisa-Livorno and A1/E35 (see on the map); Rome – Arezzo No. A1/E35 (see on the map); Lucca – Arezzo No. A11/E76 and A1/E35 (see on the map).
Where to stay in Arezzo
Arezzo is a fairly popular town among tourists. People come here for excursions and for outdoor activities in the surroundings of the town. For holidaymakers, Arezzo offers accommodation in apartments, bed and breakfasts, standard hotels, holiday homes, guest houses, country houses and villas. If you travel by car, you can combine different kinds of activities, having stayed outside the town, in the scenery of the beautiful Tuscan countryside. If you come to Arezzo by public transport and for only one excursion day, then it will be more logical to stay closer to the historical center with its many attractions. According to my research, the following hotels can boast a good location relatively close to the city center:
Graziella Patio Hotel 4* is located in the historical center of Arezzo. You can stay in rooms of various sizes, including family rooms. Breakfast is included in the price. Wired internet is available in public areas and is free of charge. Private parking is provided nearby for an additional fee. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and offers luggage storage services;
B&B via Roma 25 3* is a bed and breakfast hotel that is located in the center of Arezzo. It offers rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Breakfast, depending on the room type, may be included in the price or paid additionally. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Private parking nearby is provided for an additional fee. Luggage storage services can be found at the front desk;
B&B Il Piccolo Cavour 3* is located in a historical building, within walking distance of the main attractions. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories. Breakfast is included in the price. Some rooms have balconies. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Public parking is provided nearby for an additional fee. Luggage storage services can be found at the front desk;
La Corte del Re 4* is a guest house which is located in a historical building in the center of Arezzo. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories. Breakfast, depending on the room type, may be included in the price or paid additionally. Each room is also equipped with a coffee pot or a kettle. Wi-Fi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge. Public parking is available nearby and at an additional cost. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and provides luggage storage services;
La Terrazza 3* is located near the town center and close to the railway station. Guests can stay in double rooms with a balcony. Breakfast is included. Wired internet is available in public areas and is free of charge. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that street parking is also available. Luggage storage is provided at the reception.
For those who decide to stay in the surroundings of Arezzo, closer to the countryside, there are also many options. For example, at Villa Ghiandai you can rent excellent apartments and enjoy not only the views around you, but also an outdoor seasonal pool, a garden, and a terrace. Wi-Fi and parking are provided free of charge. At the same time, the town center is only 5 km away. Villa D`Epoca Carniani also offers apartments for renting. The place is suitable for privacy, because it is surrounded by a large park. Free private parking and Wi-Fi are also provided.
What to see in Arezzo
When coming to Arezzo, you need to be prepared that you will be surrounded with the ancient and medieval architecture of Italy. It’s like traveling back in time, since there are almost no modern buildings in Arezzo. For example, in the town you can see a real amphitheater, which was built back in the first century AD. The amphitheater was partially preserved and a monastery was built in its place later, in the 16th century.
The semicircular Piazza Guido Monaco, built in the 18th century, is also attractive. All the main roads of Arezzo intersect in the square, and in the center, there is a monument to Guido Monaco, who created the musical symbols and the tetragram. In general, Arezzo is extremely famous for its natives. So, here you can find the house of the poet Petrarch. Nowadays, the Petrarch Academy of Letters, Arts and Sciences functions in the poet’s house.
Want to see Arezzo from a bird’s eye view? Then I would recommend heading to the Medici fortress, which was built here in the 16th century. It is located on a hill, which is why it is considered to be the best place to view the city from above. A beautiful landscape park called “Prato” was created around the fortress, where you can also have a pleasant time.
As for palaces, or so-called palazzos, Arezzo also has a lot of them. The Palazzo dei Priori, built in the 14th century, is definitely worth a visit; Palazzo Pretorio was built at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries; the opulent Renaissance palazzo Fraternita dei Laici was created by Bernardo Rossellino in the 15th century. Among religious buildings, it is impossible to stay away from the main Cathedral. It is also located near the Medici Fortress and Prato Park. The location was not chosen by chance. Despite the fact that the construction of the cathedral began in the 13th century, its location is still visible from all points of the town. To my mind, the interiors of the cathedral are no less amazing than the facades.
While walking around Arezzo, do not miss the Church of Santo Domingo with a Romanesque portal (built in the 13th century); the Basilica of San Francesco, which houses the work “The Legend of the True Cross” by the artist Pierro della Francesca; the Abbey of Saints Flora and Lucilla, built by Benedictine monks in the 14th century; the Church of Santa Maria built in the 12th century; the Church of Santa Maria della Grazia built in the 15th century and other objects.
Arezzo is also home to several notable museums. Among the artistic ones, there is a museum of Medieval and Modern Art, the House of Vasari (the main architect of the town), and the House-Museum of Ivan Bruska. In my opinion, the local archaeological museum and the Bacci Chapel are also interesting to look at.
While vacationing in Arezzo, be sure to visit neighboring Pisa and Lucca. I would definitely recommend visiting these towns when travelling around Tuscany. These three towns form the “golden triangle” of history, science and architecture in Tuscany, and their attractions are famous throughout the world. Each of the towns can be visited on a one-day trip, which is enough to see the main monuments. In addition, Pisa, Lucca, and Arezzo are located in the picturesque Tuscan countryside, which makes such trips not only educational, but also very memorable.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Michael Cahill
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Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…