Arezzo: Piero della Francesca, Giorgio Vasari and Masaccio

Arezzo is a city in southwest Tuscany. I’ve been craving for a long time to visit it – not only because Arezzo is/was one of the biggest Etruscan founded cities, but also for precious art works that can be found in almost every church in town! 🙂 And here come along the names of the painter and mathematician Piero della Francesca, painter, architect and art historian Giorgio Vasari and painter-pioneer Masaccio.

But if these names don’t say nothing to you, maybe the name of maestro Michelangelo would remind you of the statue of David – the incarnation of physical beauty perfection? Or Cappella Sistina in Vatican? Michelangelo was born in Caprese near Arezzo and was aretino (native from Arezzo in Italian), in his family house where he born and grew is now reorganized in Michelangelo museum. Let me say a few words about Roberto Benigni – actor and director – he was born also near Arezzo. We could remember him from a movie “Life is beautiful”, that some parts of the movie are located in Arezzo. (Down below is the trailer)

 

Other famous persons of Arezzo – Francesco Petrarca (famous writer of Italian literature), Paolo Uccello (painter).

Here some pictures of the city:

Piazza Grande – medieval square that used to be a marketplace, nowadays is a spectacular place for square visitors because of its unique – sloping pavement. Also, we can admire Vasari Loggia:

And now where to find art works and which churches to visit:

Church of Santissima Annunziata and Giorgio Vasari’s work ” Deposizione”:

Basilica of San Domenico and Crucifix by Cimabue:

Cathedral of Saint Donatus and a fresco by Piero dell Francesca. (I didn’t enter so I put just a photo of the cathedral):

Basilica of San Francesco and a fresco cycle by Piero della Francesca. My favorite episode is Constantine’s dream 🙂

Santa Maria della Pieve – Romanesque style and was renovated by Giorgio Vasari in 1590.

Casa Vasari – house of Vasari – is a museum of Vasari, where he frescoed and lived.

Room of The Triumph of the Virtue. Vasari liked very much the scene depicted on the ceilings with the Allegories of Virtue, Fortune and Jealousy. because depending on which point you see it – Virtue or Fortune or Jealousy win for the others – just like happens in real life 🙂 (I include a description in Italian language)

And this is it. I hope you like it 🙂