HOUSE OF SPLENDOUR

House of Splendour, situated on Arezzo’s main Corso, definitely possesses the WOW factor! In one of the most historically important noble palazzi in Arezzo, this wonderfully light and spacious apartment, sporting period decorations and frescoes, original fireplaces, even some original floors, is quite simply, beautiful.

Just the entrance to the building can’t help but impress, with its magnificent central stone staircase lit by natural sunlight pouring forth from the glass dome above. The ornamental courtyard beyond, delineated by majestic stone columns and archways, provides a sense of timelessness and grandeur.

The staircase is palatial and leads up to a wide landing area on the second and top floor, so full of natural light, that plants flourish in pots across its width. From the landing, there is immediate access to the apartment. It does not disappoint!

The apartment, 244 sqm gross/2620 sqf, consists of the following:

• An entrance hallway leading into an enormous living room-formal dining area dominated by three large windows - sound-proofed – and an original central stone fireplace, all overhung by a beautiful period chandelier.
• There are currently three bedrooms: a master bedroom, with ensuite bathroom, boasting period motifs and an original fireplace in marble. A second bedroom with walk-in wardrobe (which could possibly be converted into a bathroom) and a stunning frescoed ceiling restored to its original colours and a third bedroom with beautiful parquet floors.
• Two further rooms – one used as a study with ornate motifs and original floors and the other as a fitness gym could create a 4^th or even 5^th bedroom.
• There is a kitchen-breakfast room, light and modern, a large, second large bathroom which leads out onto a terrace and a good-sized pantry and/or laundry room. All bedrooms have A/C.

The dominant features of this stunning apartment, indeed the whole palazzo, are of light, space and elegance. While the external façade, that on Corso Italia, has already been magnificently restored, plans are also in progress for the imminent restoration of its internal facades and communal areas. Once complete, the building will be returned to its original glory, reflecting its reputation as one of the most important and beautiful palazzi in Arezzo’s historic town centre

Being on the main Corso, shops, restaurants and bars are all close by. The train station, with a myriad of destinations to choose from - Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Naples, Turin etc.., is at a distance of 600 metres and a mere 5-minute walk away.

Uber is also present in Arezzo for facilitating visits to the many beautiful towns nearby such as Stia, Poppi, Anghiari, Sansepolcro and Cortona, all of them towns rich in history, art and culture.

Definitely worth viewing!

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ABOUT AREZZO…a town which ticks most boxes

• A traditional Italian town in which to enjoy an Italian lifestyle.
• A town with beautiful piazzas, historic buildings and monuments.
• With museums, art galleries, shops, bars and restaurants.
• Weekly markets, cultural events, festivals and fairs.
• A place which is vibrant with a strong community spirit.
• Somewhere authentic and fundamentally Italian.
• With good connections by road, rail and air.
• A car an optional accessory

Arezzo has to be one of the most ideal towns to live in. It’s large enough, to all intents and purposes, to be a city, yet small enough to enjoy a community spirit. Everything important in Arezzo is within walking distance of the historic centre, including the train station.

The presence of the University of Oklahoma (OUA) which over the years has built a cultural bridge between the town of Norman - the birthplace of the University of Oklahoma - and that of Arezzo, lends a sense of youth and vitality to the city. The beautiful piazzas provide a sense of space.  The monuments and architecture – from their Etruscan origins, to the Medieval period, up to the Baroque – a sense of history.

It is elegant, with an olde worlde charm and wonderfully uncrowded.  It is also surrounded by beautiful countryside and lies just 50 minutes from Chianti, Val d'Orcia and the Crete Senesi - places rich in colour with picture perfect landscapes and hills that the whole world envies.  A few short kilometres from the town centre is Ponte Buriano, the famous back-drop to Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa - La Giaconda.

It goes without saying that Arezzo which borders the Sienese Chianti Classico region produces fine extra virgin olive oils, wines cheeses and salumi.

Arezzo is very much a Tuscan town which still displays the authentic community spirt of the medieval town it once was. It is perhaps one of the few towns in Tuscany to have remained true to its Italian heritage, despite the seductive charms of tourism, that have compromised others.

This well may be due to its inherent wealth. Arezzo, also known as the City of Gold, has never required tourism to bolster its municipal coffers. Dating back to the Etruscans, goldsmiths have been plying their trade in the town; in recent years with global success. This affluence has allowed the town to evolve naturally and at its own speed.

Still largely 'undiscovered', one can walk, without being jostled, through Arezzo’s old town centre and enjoy uninterrupted views of beautiful piazzas surrounded by Medieval and Renaissance buildings.  One can equally peacefully, stroll through the narrow, cobbled side streets or walk up to the top of the town where the Medici Fortress stands. From there, one can visit the beautiful public gardens or stroll back down to the main Corso where there are stylish shops, bars and restaurants and predominantly Italian families, milling around. 

Day trips to any number of beautiful towns are made easy because the town has the biggest rail station in the province, at just a ten-minute walk from the city centre. There are local, regional and intercity trains to take you almost anywhere. More recently, the high speed Freccia Rossa line also stops at Arezzo, with Rome reachable in just 1hr 14 minutes and Milan in 2hrs 47 mins!

ITS HISTORY

Like Florence and Siena, Arezzo too, was founded by the Etruscans in the VII - VI century B.C. - and is rich in history. The Etruscans were responsible for the origin of its name, Aritim (which the Romans later transformed into Arretium). Remains of the Etruscan protective walls can still be seen in Piazzetta San Niccolò. Up by the Medici fortress traces of a temple remain visible. The archaeology museum contains many Etruscan and Roman artifacts from jewellery to sculptures to earthenware, bronze and ceramics.

The city was conquered by the Romans in 311 BC and sometime between 117 and 138 AD, the amphitheatre, whose outline is still clearly visible today, was built. Constructed for events and celebrations, it could hold up to 8000 people. Events and exhibitions are still hosted there during the summer months.

For a time, Arezzo was also part of the Medici’s grand duchy and as such, there are many striking buildings and works of art to see, not least of which is the Medici Fortress at the top of the town, as well as numerous noble palazzi - built for aristocrats - many a church and a wealth of fine works of art which are distributed in various buildings and churches around the town.

Among the most impressive of these and considered one of the greatest achievements of Italian art (taking 20 years to complete), is Piero della Francesca’s, The Legend of the True Cross, located in the Basilica di San Francesco. In the Cathedral, at the top of town, one can view more of his works.

The museum of medieval and modern art – Il Museo del’Arte Medievale e Moderna - is housed in an impressive Renaissance palazzo with a beautiful internal cloister. It hosts works by Signorelli, Vasari and Margaritone d’Arezzo among others.

The Diocesan Museum, in the Bishop’s Palace across from the cathedral, includes a room dedicated to works by Vasari.

Arezzo is the birthplace of numerous renowned personalities including the poet Francesco Petrarca and the musician Guido d'Arezzo, but perhaps none more famous than Vasari himself, whose local home, now a museum, can also be visited.

WHAT TO DO IN AREZZO

There is much to see and do in Arezzo. There are a wealth of museums, churches, galleries, beautiful piazzas and even quiet green areas. There is an abundance of shops, all of them stylish in the classic Italian way – from clothes, to jewellery, to kitchenware, to cottons and threads – and a great selection of restaurants, some excelling themselves in simple, traditional fare which hasn’t changed in centuries, others in finer dining. There are even some with Michelin stars!

There are museums filled with art by Tuscan and Italian masters, museums dedicated to archaeology and the sciences, and interesting contemporary art galleries such as the LIS10 Gallery. The beautiful Teatro Petrarca which was opened in 1833 – and featured in the Oscar winning film Life is Beautiful - puts on a full calendar of operas, ballets and classical concerts while the Mecenate Theatre, in contrast, hosts more modern and experimental shows for the visual arts and dance.

There are cinemas, bars and cafes, the odd Sushi bar, Mexican restaurant etc… There is a big hospital which has an excellent reputation. There is a traditional weekly market - with fresh produce, clothes, household goods and Tuscany’s revered porchetta - and on the first Sunday of each month (starting on the Saturday) there is a monthly antique fair which takes over most of the town centre.

There is an annual goldsmith’s fair, a bi-annual jousting competition – held in period Medieval costume in both June and September – to rival the famous Siena Palio, an international street-food fair with dishes from all over the world and in general, any number of cultural initiatives which extend until Christmas and the New Year.

CONNECTIONS - DAY OR WEEKEND TRIPS

By car: Arezzo has direct access to the A1 Autostrada del Sole and is centrally located for any number of surrounding cities and smaller towns. A day or weekend trip from Arezzo to places such as Cortona, Florence, Lucca, Siena, Pienza, Montepulciano, Sansepolcro, Perugia, Assisi, Orvieto, Rome, Milan, Venice, Turin, Naples etc… are all easy to navigate.

By train and/or bus: There are endless options via local, regional and intercity trains and buses to get to any of the above cities or towns. Changes may be required for some trips with the final leg of the journey being made by bus transfer from train station to town centre, but the services operate well.

UBER is present in Arezzo as well as other large Italian cities such as Rome, Milan Turin and Bologna. According to Reuters, it is set to expand its operation to over 80 Italian cities with ultimately, over 12,000 taxi drivers having access to the Uber platform.

AIRPORTS

By rail

Arezzo is equidistant between Florence and Perugia airports - circa 60 mins.

Pisa airport 1hr 50 mins

Bologna airport 1 hr 50 mins

Rome airport 2hrs 30 mins *

(*with Freccia Rossa 1hr 14 mins – there are scheduled morning and evening trains).

It seems extraordinary that this gracious, affable and pedestrian friendly town was not somehow integrated into the Florence – Chianti – Siena, holy grail of a trail, but it now means this unspoilt town can be enjoyed to the full, in all its authenticity. It is perhaps one of the most interesting places remaining in Tuscany in which to invest. Property prices are low compared to elsewhere, making purchases excellent value for money. At least for the moment!

House for sale Arezzo Tuscany