Art in Arezzo

Art is everywhere in Italy. It is one of the things that make this place so special and historical. Art can really show you the history of a place, and in Arezzo, it's no different! Art can be seen hanging in restaurants, in museums, painted on walls, on churches, and even just in the beautiful architecture and scenery that we see around us. It is truly a part of the culture in Arezzo.

Walking down the Piazza Del Duomo, this piece of art
can be seen on the side of a building.

Many of the works of art and sculptures/statues that we see around churches are of religious figures, and this is obviously a reflection of the religion practiced within those churches. Often back hundreds of years ago in Arezzo, and in many parts of the world, common people could not read or write, and therefore in order to understand religion and what the scripture said, they would look to paintings and works of art in the church. Whatever was depicted in the image would help them to understand what was being taught and what their religious truth was. Looking at works of art doesn't take any reading or writing ability, so even though they couldn't do those things, they could still find the meaning in the art.


Check out this video of me walking around finding some art on the streets of Arezzo!

Arezzo is a smaller city in Italy, so there aren't large museums with works of Leonardo da Vinci or Picasso or Michelangelo, but Arezzo still has so much beautiful art to be seen. 

Amazing frescoes from the fifteenth century can be seen in Arezzo's own Basilica di San Francesco. I was truly in awe of the frescoes within this small church. It contained "The History of the True Cross" by Piero della Francesca, which is a famous work of art that spans several walls in the chapel. It tells the story of the cross that was thought to be the true cross of Jesus and the events taking place at that time in history. It also contains "The Annunciation," which is a famous work of art contained in "The History of the True Cross." This piece depicts God blessing Mary's womb while an angel is nearby. To learn more about the "History of the True Cross" and the stories of each of the paintings in the cycle, click here: http://www.wga.hu/html_m/p/piero/2/

Part of Piero della Francesca's "History of the True Cross"

"The Annunciation" by Piero della Francesca.

For more information on Piero della Francesca and his life, visit here: http://www.britannica.com/biography/Piero-della-Francesca 

Art doesn't just have to be centuries old frescoes or paintings that we see in museums or galleries, but they can be contemporary art that we see inside of buildings or in restaurants that give the place more character. Art livens up any space that it is in. Oftentimes when you're in a restaurant or a similar place, the art on the walls is what makes the place unique and inviting. This is no different for Arezzo. Art is seen everywhere in restaurants and shops and buildings.

A photo taken inside of the restaurant Tortello Divina in Arezzo. 

Tortello Divina, one of the restaurants in Arezzo, is a small and quiet restaurant that displays artwork on every one of its walls. It adds an Italian feel and a certain ambiance to the restaurant. For more information on Tortello Divina, visit here and learn about the restaurant: https://mangiarebenearezzo.wordpress.com/2016/01/25/ristorante-tortello-divino-via-cavour-70-arezzo/

A classroom at the school annex in Arezzo.

No matter where you are in Arezzo, art is there, and it makes the experience of being in Italy that much more memorable and exciting. The history and culture of the art in Arezzo is something that everyone can learn about and enjoy, and it is truly a reflection of the Italian lifestyle.