Things to do in  Arezzo

Perched on a hill in Tuscany’s unspoiled Val d’Orcia is Pienza, surrounded by the cypress trees and rolling hills for which the region is famed. A town without a train station in the middle of the countryside, Pienza isn’t the easiest place to reach. However, those who do make the effort to get there are rewarded with a pristine Renaissance town, city walls for panoramic views, and the town’s famous pecorino cheese.

Overlooking Cortona is one of this lovely Tuscan Hilltown’s many architectural treasures, the Santa Margherita Basilica (Basilica di Santa Margherita). The church, with a history dating to the 13th century, boasts an imposing neo-Gothic façade and lavish interior, and the preserved body of its namesake, St. Margaret, still rests within.

Italian style is loved and emulated worldwide, and one of the country’s most recognized fashion houses is Prada. Head to the Prada Outlet to find the label’s chic bags, shoes, clothing, and accessories—including pieces from Prada-owned brands such as Miu Miu—at discounts of up to 50 percent off retail prices. Also known as the Space Outlet, the shopping destination is just an hour outside of Florence.

Arezzo is famous for its monthly antique market, the oldest in Italy, that takes over the sweeping Piazza Grande in the heart of the old town. Even those who aren’t on a hunt for antique treasures will enjoy visiting this medieval public square lined with handsome palaces and loggias dating from the 13th to the 16th centuries.

Don’t judge the Arezzo Cathedral for its somewhat understated Gothic exterior—its real treasures lie within. Pop in for free to see masterpieces such as Piero della Francesca’s renowned 15th-century fresco of Mary Magdalene. At the altar, an ornate marble shrine contains the remains of Arezzo’s patron saint Donatus, while colorful stained glass windows filter in the sunlight.

The fresco-filled Basilica of San Francesco houses one of the most important masterpieces of the Renaissance: Piero della Francesca’s Legend of the True Cross, which tells the story of the wood used for Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. Nearly 600 years after its creation, the remarkably restored fresco cycle is open to the public in the basilica’s Bacci Chapel.

Set in the vineyard-covered Chianti hills near Arezzo, Villa La Ripa is one of the area’s most historic estates. Today, the Renaissance-era villa is home to a prestigious winery that offers tours of the vineyards and cellars, and tastings of its red, white, and rosè wines and award-winning extra-virgin olive oil. You can also book a Tuscan picnic, truffle hunt, and other foodie experiences.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria della Pieve is considered a symbol of Arezzo for its striking Tuscan Romanesque architecture. Strolling through the city’s picturesque historical center, you can’t miss the church’s imposing bell tower and four-tiered facade with increasingly narrow arches. Inside the high-ceilinged church, which dates back to the 1100s, visitors will find the remains of an ancient well and a vivid gold altarpiece featuring the Madonna and Child.