Arezzo Province

The province of Arezzo forms the eastern part of Tuscany and borders Umbria, Marche, and Emilia-Romagna. Its capital is Arezzo . The province is divided into four major valleys – Casentino, Valdarno, Valtiberina, and Valdichiana – and offers Renaissance art cities, monasteries nestled in deep forests, and noticeably less hustle and bustle than Florence or Siena.

What to expect in the province of Arezzo

Arezzo: Frescoes and antiques market

The Church of San Francesco houses Piero della Francesca's fresco cycle depicting the legend of the True Cross. Around the Piazza Grande, the Fiera Antiquaria, one of Italy's most famous antique markets, takes place every first Sunday of the month and the Saturday before.

Casentino: Castles and monastery forests

In the upper Arno Valley, the Guidi family castle towers above Poppi . The Foreste Casentinesi National Park, with the Camaldoli and La Verna monasteries, is ideal for hiking. Relaxation awaits you at the Terme di Stia spa.

Cortona and the Valdichiana

Cortona, with its Etruscan roots, lies high above the wide Chiana Valley. In the valley below, the Chianina cattle breed is raised, from which the traditional Bistecca alla Fiorentina is made.

Valtiberina: Sansepolcro and Anghiari

In the upper Tiber Valley, near the border with Umbria, lie Sansepolcro, the birthplace of Piero della Francesca, and the medieval town of Anghiari, known for the battle of 1440. The quiet side roads are well suited for cycling tours.

Practical information

Getting there: The A1 motorway (Milan–Rome) has its own Arezzo exit. Arezzo is on the Florence–Rome railway line; regional trains take about an hour from Florence. The nearest airports are Florence and Pisa.

Market days: Weekly markets in Arezzo and Cortona are held every Saturday – all dates can be found in our overview of markets in Tuscany . For the best time to travel to Tuscany , see our guide to the best time to visit; the map of Tuscany shows the location of all provinces.