Do you want to discover and learn typical activities of Arezzo 's past that are still carried out today by local artisans and people? This article is right for you!
Arezzo is a characteristic Tuscan city full of history and culture. The city has very ancient origins, in fact Arezzo was one of the major Etruscan lucumonies and later became a Roman center of strategic importance. In addition to the beautiful historical and artistic attractions it hosts, Arezzo is home to many artisans and also a land of inimitable flavours .
The craftsmanship of Arezzo is a heritage made up of technique, good taste and research, in which the best of the past is still preserved intact today.
Arezzo, city of gold
Cornerstone of local craftsmanship, goldsmithing in Arezzo is more of an art than a trade. It was the Etruscans who spread it throughout the area.
Subsequently, in the Middle Ages there were many goldsmith shops in the city, which then multiplied. This great success was achieved thanks to the Arezzo nobles who began to commission jewels and, moreover, the Papacy joined these customers. In the fourteenth century the craftsmanship of Arezzo began to turn to mainly religious clients. This is how crosses, reliquaries, chalices and monstrances have become the flagship of the city's art.
To appreciate the skill of the goldsmiths of Arezzo in person, just go into some jewelry and ask to see some creations made in Arezzo. You can observe masterpieces, unique pieces or small series of precious objects up close. An elegant design and the inimitable expertise of contemporary goldsmiths mix with Etruscan teachings. You will also be able to visit a small workshop where a master goldsmith works and creates jewels every day, and learn the techniques of processing this material from an expert.
Arezzo, city of art
Arezzo is a city with an enormous artistic heritage , with works by major Italian artists.
In the center you can visit the Basilica of San Francesco, which houses many frescoes of great value, such as those attributed to Aretino. In the main chapel, however, the frescoes by Piero della Francesca stand out, made in the mid-fifteenth century, with the Cycle of the stories of the True Cross, considered a masterpiece of Renaissance painting. The Cathedral of Arezzo , dedicated to Saints Peter and Donato, houses various works, including La Maddalena by Piero della Francesca. Also behind the high altar we can admire the ark of San Donato, built with rich decorations.
Other masterpieces can be found in the Pieve di Santa Maria , such as the polyptych by Lorenzetti representing the Madonna and Child and in the Badia delle Sante Flora e Lucilla which dates back to the 14th century, then transformed by the intervention of Vasari in the 16th century.
Finally, the Church of San Domenico, inside houses works of great value, the most important is the Crucifix by Cimabue, painted on wood by the famous artist with tempera and gold.
Thanks to the presence of these wonderful works, there are many expert restorers in the city who actively work in teaching and in the conservation of works of art , and who have taken care of masterpieces by important artists such as Pietro Lorenzetti, Neri di Bicci, Luca Signorelli, Giorgio Vasari, and Francesco Morandini. Some of these restorers organize restoration workshops where you can learn some artistic gilding and fresco techniques.
Arezzo, city of ancient flavours
Just from Arezzo , come many of the typical dishes of Tuscan cuisine. In fact, this cuisine originates from the times of the Etruscans, who prepared Etruscan-medieval dishes , which are still prepared and eaten today.
The main dishes vary between handmade pasta, meat dishes and desserts. The most typical are: maccheroni al sugo d'ocio (homemade egg pasta seasoned with duck sauce), black croutons, Chianina meat, scottiglia (a dish made with mixed meats), l 'Acquacotta (a broth-based bread soup). Dulcis in fundo among the Etruscan-medieval sweets absolutely to be tried there are: the Baldino and the Gattò from Arezzo.
If you want to discover the secrets of these historic dishes, you can take part in a cooking class right in the city where they were born.
What are you waiting for to live these experiences?
