- Arezzo is an easy train ride from Florence and far less crowded
- Book ahead to see Piero della Francesca's Legend of the True Cross
- Cortona, Anghiari and Sansepolcro make good day trips
- The Casentino valley offers castles, monasteries and ancient forest
- Airports
- Florence (FLR), Pisa (PSA), Perugia (PEU)
- Best time to go
- April-June and September-October
- Type
- Province
Arezzo is the capital of eastern Tuscany, a prosperous city known for gold-working, a big monthly antiques fair and one of the great fresco cycles of the Renaissance. Its sloping Piazza Grande is among the most beautiful squares in Italy, and the city has a lived-in feel that is a welcome change from busier Florence.
The province stretches from the forested Casentino valley in the north to the Valdichiana, the flat, fertile plain where Chianina cattle are raised, and east to the border with Umbria. See our Italy guide for the rest of the country.
Things to do
- The Legend of the True Cross – Piero della Francesca's fresco cycle in the Basilica of San Francesco. Visits are timed and limited, so book in advance.
- Piazza Grande – a sloping square framed by medieval towers and Vasari's loggia, used for the Giostra del Saracino joust in June and September.
- The cathedral and Santa Maria della Pieve – the Duomo holds a Piero fresco of Mary Magdalene; the Pieve has a Romanesque façade of stacked columns.
- The antiques fair – held on the first weekend of each month in and around Piazza Grande.
- Cortona – a steep Etruscan hill town with views over Lake Trasimeno, made famous in Britain and the US by "Under the Tuscan Sun".
- Sansepolcro, Monterchi and Anghiari – the Piero trail continues with his Resurrection in Sansepolcro and the Madonna del Parto in Monterchi.
- The Casentino – Poppi castle, the Franciscan sanctuary of La Verna and the Camaldoli monastery, surrounded by ancient forest in a national park.
Where to stay
| Area | Why stay there |
|---|---|
| Arezzo old town | Walkable, good restaurants and the railway station |
| Cortona | Views, atmosphere and easy access to Montepulciano |
| Valdichiana countryside | Farm stays between Tuscany and Umbria |
| Casentino | Walking, forests and quiet villages |
Getting there
Fly to Florence or Pisa. From Florence, trains to Arezzo take roughly 35 minutes to an hour, depending on the service. From Pisa allow around two hours by train or car. Perugia airport is roughly an hour's drive from Arezzo and handy for Cortona. A car is useful for the Casentino and the Piero trail.
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn are the most pleasant, and the antiques fair and Giostra del Saracino give extra reason to time a visit. Summer is hot in the Valdichiana but fresher in the Casentino forests.
Arezzo makes a good day trip from Florence, but staying overnight lets you enjoy Piazza Grande after the day visitors have gone.
Top attractions in Arezzo
LandmarkColosseum
Rome's great amphitheatre, where up to 50,000 spectators once watched gladiator fights, is the city's most iconic sight.
LandmarkFlorence Duomo
Florence's cathedral, crowned by Brunelleschi's record-breaking dome, is the symbol of the city, with the bell tower…
NatureMount Etna
Europe's tallest active volcano, with lava fields, craters and sweeping views over eastern Sicily.
NaturePath of the Gods
A spectacular cliff-top trail high above the Amalfi Coast, with views over Positano and out to Capri, that is free to…
LandmarkPompeii
The Roman town buried by Vesuvius in AD 79, Pompeii is the most complete ancient city in the world and an unforgettable…
ViewpointSeceda
A grassy ridge above Val Gardena that drops away in a dramatic wall of jagged peaks, reached by cable car from Ortisei.
Arezzo on the map
Frequently asked questions
Is Arezzo worth visiting?
Yes. It has world-class art, a beautiful medieval centre and fewer tourists than Florence, Siena or Pisa.
How far is Arezzo from Florence?
Roughly 80 km. Fast trains take around 35 to 40 minutes, regional trains closer to an hour.
Is Cortona in the province of Arezzo?
Yes, Cortona is in the south of the province, about half an hour's drive from Arezzo.
Written by
Anna Beach, family & practical travel editor
Anna knows which beach has shade at 3pm and which car hire excess is a rip-off. She covers sun, islands, family trips and practical travel tips.
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