Arezzo on My Own

As part of my paper project I was charged with going to Vasari's hometown of Arezzo to see the frecoes of his house. I woke up early on Saturday and got all of the necessary supplies for a train trip then took off for Santa Maria Novella. I took the intercity train and within an hour I had arrived.

My professor had assured me that it was a small town and from the centrally located train station. I was able to see up to the center square and also Arrezo's Duomo at the top of the hill (which I discovered was located at the furthest side of the city).

It was also the best labeled city I have ever been to! I followed the signs to a tourist information shop (about a 15 minute walk) and picked up a map. When the shop worker handed it to me she pointed out my current location and I had already practically crossed town!




I really enjoyed walking the streets because there was no one around--no tourists... no townspeople. It was a little eerie but the peacefulness was welcome.


I'll also have to see the movie "Life is Beautiful" when I get back to the states, apparently it was filmed here!

On my way to Vasari's house I stopped by a small church and snapped a picture of a Crucifix done by Cimabue.



I made a few quick turns between streets and I was at the Casa di Vasari in short time.



When I arrived I was unsure of how to enter, so I waited a few moments to see what other visitors would do. Two other sets of tourists walked by, read the signs and took pictures but then walked away. I knew I was visiting within the right hours, but it took me a little while to translate the bottom line of the plaque--"For visiting play the bell."

Once inside I only had to pay 2 euro to walk around. I wasn't supposed to take pictures, but since I was doing important research I snuck some!






After I finished at the museum, I walked around the rest of Arezzo and finally started to see more groups of touristi and residents. Maybe they had been hiding from the rain. On the way to the main piazza and up to the Duomo I started to see preparation's for the town's joust! I almost wish that I could stay another week in Italy so I could attend all of the festivities that will be going on! The Paolo in Siena, the feast day of St. John the Baptist in Florence and the Saracen Joust in Arezzo!






Can you tell that Vasari designed the building in the above photo? It was planned out just like the Uffizi!



Behind the Duomo was a large park that (sadly) was littered worse than any I have seen in America, the view from the top was amazing though!





Last stop, the Duomo! When I visited the church was closed to the public, but when I walked by the main doors I heard a wedding march.





I then took the walk down the hill (once again not bad) down to the train station. I bought a ticket for the train to Firenze within a minute of it arriving and headed back home. I did take a charming little picture of this shop before I left though!