AREZZO - CODE: TEDARZZ
Botoli trova poi, venendo giuso,
ringhiosi più che non chiede lor possa,
e da lor disdegnosa torce il muso.
(Pg., canto XIV)
«Io fui d’Arezzo, e Albero da Siena»,
rispuose l’un, «mi fé mettere al foco;
ma quel per ch’io mori’ qui non mi mena.
(If., canto XXIX)
Arezzo rises on a hill in eastern Tuscany, against the Tuscany-Romagna Apennines.
As the city's own architecture tells us, the city boasts of very ancient origins, indeed it was one of the major Etruscan cities and then a strategic Roman city. The highest part of the city has kept a medieval aspect, dominated by the Cathedral and the Medici Fortress. At the heart of the city, Piazza Grande displays a true anthology of architectural styles. Near the medieval towers, there are the imposing Vasari Loggia, one of the most interesting Renaissance architectural works, the Palace of the Lay Fraternity, a beautiful synthesis of Gothic and Renaissance architectures, and the apse of Santa Maria della Pieve.
On the second to last Saturday in June and on the first Sunday of September, Piazza Grande holds the Saracen Joust, a knightly tournament of medieval origins.
On every first Sunday of the month and the previous Saturday, the same square and a large part of the centre host the Antiques Fair.
Places to visit:
The Bacci Chapel in the Basilica of San Francesco is home to the extraordinary cycle of frescoes called History of the True Cross by Piero della Francesca, one of the highest examples of Italian Renaissance painting.
In the Church of San Domenico, a simple construction with a single nave, is home to the Cimabue Crucifix, an early work of the artist.
With their beauty and stylistic originality, many other churches and palaces bear witness to Arezzo's civilization and its importance in various historical periods. Some of these are: Badia delle Sante Flora e Lucilla, the Church of the Santissima Annunziata, buildings such as the Palazzo Pretorio and Palazzo dei Priori, and, just a few minutes from the city, the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the Romanesque Parish Church of Sant'Eugenia al Bagnoro.
Main museums:
The Gaio Cilnio Mecenate Archeological Museum, the State Museum of Medieval and Modern Art, the Vasari House and Museum , the Ivan Bruschi House and Museum and the Diocesan Museum.
Arezzo and Dante:
A Tuscan city traditionally hostile to nearby Florence. The antagonism separating the two cities is reflected in Dante's attitude: indeed, probably driven by an angry patriotism for his city, steadfast in spite of his exile, is the famous terzina in which he calls the Aretines "Botoli ... / ringhiosi più che non chiede lor possa" (Purgatorio, Canto XIV 46-47). Of the great figures of Arezzo, Dante mentions Guittone twice in his Divine Comedy (Purgatorio XXIV 56-57, XXVI 124-126) and twice again in De Vulgari Eloquentia (I XIII 1, II VI 8), always with a critical tone, to highlight his undeserved reputation. Only one other Aretine has a certain artistic relevance in the Divine Comedy: Griffolino, the alchemist that Albert of Siena, victim of his prank, had burned (Inferno, XXIX 109-120). Dante mentions the wars that Florence and the Guelphs fought with Arezzo and the Ghibellines more than once in the Divine Comedy. In addition to the battle of Campaldino, he mentions, in Lano's episode, the battle of Pieve al Toppo where Arezzo won against Siena (Inferno, XIII 119-121). It's very likely that Dante moved to Arezzo for a while shortly after news of his exile, as a guest of his stepbrother Francesco.
