Piazza Grande: the most beautiful square in Arezzo

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Piazza Grande, the most beautiful public square in Arezzo, is opened in the heart of the medieval city, the square is a mix of buildings of several ages that gives an evocative and scenographic aspect.

It has a characteristic trapezial shape, with a strongly tilted surface, the square was the ancient Platea Communis, risen around 13th century and then modified in the course of 16th century, when the public square was reduced to the current dimensions with the realization of the Vasarian Loggia. The square, in the communal age, was a place of mercantile exchanges between the city and the country, and then, in Medicean age, became the center of the civil offices.

A SQUARE THAT IS A REAL JEWEL

Between the buildings that characterize the square, are worthy of mention the imposing Palazzo delle Logge, constructed in 1573 from Georgio Vasari (1511-1574), the palace is opened by an immense and beautiful colonnade on which still are old craftsmen shops and business activity.

L'abside della Pieve di Santa Maria, Piazza Grande, Arezzo. Autore e Copyright Marco Ramerini — The apse of the Pieve di Santa Maria, the Palazzo del Tribunale and the Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici, Piazza Grande, Arezzo. Author and Copyright Marco Ramerini

Continuing to the left we find the Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici, an elegant palace with a partly Gothic and partly Renaissance facade. Its construction was started in 1375 by Baldino di Cino and Niccolò di Francesco who built the portal. Then in 1434, Bernardo da Rosellino continued the construction of the facade, which was completed in 1460 by Giuliano and Algozzo da Settignano. In the 16th century the small bell tower with the clock was added.

Next to it is the Palazzo del Tribunale (XVII-XVIII century) with an elegant semicircular staircase. Then there is the apse of the Pieve di Santa Maria, whose facade is located on the opposite side, in Corso Italia. On the other two sides of the square there are interesting buildings which preserve the original medieval character of the square with old houses with wooden balconies and crenellated towers. Among the most characteristic buildings are the Torre Faggiolana (XIII century), the Palazzo Cofani-Brizzolari and the tower house of the Lappoli (XIII century).

Piazza Grande is the picturesque scenery of the Giostra del Saracino – jousting tournament that takes place in June and September – and the Fiera antiquaria (antiques fair), which takes place on the first Sunday of the month and the Saturday before it.

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