Arezzo
Arezzo stands on a hill in eastern Tuscany, just behind the Apennines between Tuscany and Romagna. The architecture of its centre is evidence of the town’s ancient origins: it was one of the main centres of the Etruscans and a strategic city in Roman times. The highest part of the town is typically medieval, dominated by the Cathedral and the Medici’s Fortress. The Gothic Cathedral has valuable works of art, including Magdalene by Piero della Francesca and precious glass windows decorated with historical scenes by Guillaume de Marcillat. Right in the centre of the town, the Piazza Grande encompasses a wide range of architectural styles. Besides the medieval towers, there stands the majestic Loggiato Vasariano - one of the most interesting architectural works of the Renaissance -, the Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici - a fine example of both gothic and renaissance style -, and the apse of the Parish Church of Santa Maria. On the third Saturday of June and on the first Sunday of September, Piazza Grande becomes the setting for the Giostra del Saracino, a medieval tournament. On the first Sunday of each month and on the previous Saturday, an important Antiques’ Fair is held in the piazza and in many areas of the historical centre. The Bacci Chapel in the Basilica of San Francesco is splendidly decorated with the extraordinary cycle of frescoes of the Legend of the True Cross by Piero della Francesca, one of the finest examples of Italian Renaissance painting. In the simple one-nave Basilica of San Domenico, visitors can admire the Cross painted by Cimabue, one of his early works. With their beauty and architectural originality, many other churches and palaces pay tribute to Arezzo’s culture and importance throughout history, including the Abbey of Sante Flora and Lucilla, the Church of Santissima Annunziata, Palazzo Pretorio and Palazzo dei Priori and, just a couple of minutes away from the city walls, the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, and the Romanesque Parish Church of Sant’Eugenia al Bagnoro. The city museums - the Archaeological Museum Gaio Cilnio Mecenate, the State Museum of Medieval and Modern Art, Vasari’s Museum and House, the House & Museum Ivan Bruschi - allow visitors to admire extremely valuable works.
http://www.comune.arezzo.it
Monterchi
The medieval hamlet stands in a location that was considered sacred by the Romans, and where the cult of Hercules used to be worshipped.
Visitors interested in Piero della Francesca’s art cannot but stop in this small town, placed between two small valleys (Val Padonchia and Val Cerfone), surrounded by holm-oak-covered hills. Piero della Francesca’s mother was born here, as witnessed by the small museum dedicated to her figure (right in the centre of the town), which also contains the famous fresco Madonna del Parto, an extraordinary portrait of the pregnant Virgin Mary.
http://www.comunemonterchi.it
Sansepolcro
The small town of Sansepolcro, built around a great Benedictine Abbey, has kept essentially unaltered its medieval urban structure, enriched over the years with beautiful Renaissance and Baroque buildings. Sansepolcro was Piero della Francesca’s native town, and its Civic Museum is a tribute to the Biturgense artist. Works such as the Resurrection, a highly complex and symbolic work, the Polyptich of Mercy, San Giuliano and San Ludovico bear witness to the early Renaissance artist’s genius. The Cathedral has the interesting “Holy Face”, a wooden crucifix of Carolingian times, the Polyptych by Francesco di Segna and the Ascension by Perugino. The Cathedral is flanked by the manneristical Palazzo delle Laudi, now seat of the Town Council. Other artistic works may be seen just by walking around the town centre, such as the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and the Church of San Francesco. Visitors cannot miss the Church of San Lorenzo, with the Deposition by Rosso Fiorentino. The heart of the town centre is Piazza Torre di Berta, where, on the second Sunday of September, there is the traditional Palio della Balestra - the costumes worn by the figurantes draw from paintings by Piero della Francesca.
http://www.sansepolcro.net
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