Arezzo - Tuscany's little gem

Arezzo - Tuscany's little gem – main image

Everyone knows and loves Tuscany - after all, it is one of the most beautiful and advertised regions of Italy. Each of my holidays in Tuscany was different and I always tried to visit different places. And although, like everyone else, I visited its most famous cities: Florence, Pisa and Siena, I finally wanted to get to know something new. Then friends said, "Go to Arezzo!" As it turns out, not everyone remembers that this small town is as worth visiting as its bigger brothers. Steeped in history, situated among picturesque hills, it used to be one of the most important cities of the powerful Etruscan civilization. It won my heart right away - why? Because it is here that ancient history is intertwined with modernity, the art of ancient history - with the modern one, and the culinary routes of many cultures intersect, allowing you to discover their amazing richness. Therefore, when traveling in Tuscany, it is worth taking a moment to stray from the beaten track and stop for a few days in Arezzo, discovering the secrets of one of the most beautiful Tuscan cities.

Former Etruscan city

Arezzo is not as big as Florence, and that's good! This makes it one of the few places in Tuscany that you can explore on foot, at your own pace, giving yourself plenty of time to explore it. Visiting Arezzo should start with his heart, i.e. Piazza Grande . It is here that hundreds of residents pass by every day, rushing to work in the morning and stopping in the evening to drink hot and aromatic coffee on the fly. Around the square there are beautiful tenement houses of powerful merchant families living here.

Arezzo

If we come here in June or September, we have a chance to see a special event - a celebration to commemorate the expulsion of the Saracens from the city ( Giostra del Saraceno ). Believe it or not, on this holiday, everyone in the city wears traditional clothes, and properly armed "knights" defeat a formidable enemy in battle. It is definitely something worth seeing! From the vicinity of the square, we can easily walk to the walls of the cathedral - a great example of the richness of ancient art. Its powerful silhouette combines the two styles that shaped medieval Europe: Romanesque and Gothic. However, apart from the magnificent architecture, Arezzo has two interesting flavors that may be of interest. The first is Petrarch's house . Yes, it was here that one of the most famous European poets lived - and although his house will only open to us if we are very stubborn ... it's worth it! The second "flavor" will certainly interest cinema lovers: Arezzo, as it turns out, "played" in Roberto Benigni 's Oscar-winning film "Life is Beautiful". Movie locations are easy to find, as they are precisely marked and described.

Campsites in Arezzo

I was looking for a suitable accommodation in Tuscany for a long time. Despite the wide range of hotels and hostels, something still did not suit me. And then it turned out that Tuscany is best explored using an extensive network of campsites. Yes, the campsites in Tuscany offer independent travelers all the amenities they can imagine and are usually superbly located. When in Arezzo, stay at the Village la Verna campground , which is one of the best campsites in the entire region.

Camping Village La Verna

Located on the edge of the picturesque Casentino forest, surrounded by trees, it allows you to perfectly rest and relax after sightseeing. The wonderful surroundings - hills and mountains - make you feel part of nature here. On site, we have a swimming pool, jet ski and mountain bike rentals, which will make even the biggest fans of active recreation happy. The culinary offer is also excellent - a pizzeria, a shop with fresh bread and a fast food bar will feed everyone who is hungry. The youngest guests will also feel great here - they have at their disposal a swimming pool with slides, a water playground, a year-round playground, and even a trampoline - it's probably enough to fall in love with every Little Traveler!

Arezzo - Tuscany's little gem – image 1
Arezzo - Tuscany's little gem – image 2
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A. Żaba
A. Żaba

I love traveling, it's an understatement, it's just my whole life. I spend 80% of the year jumping here and there :)

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People who like variety will fall in love with Trentino Alto Adige. It is a region in the north-eastern part of Italy, bordering two other Italian regions and two countries: Austria and Switzerland. Its location translates into a huge number of tourist attractions and a varied cuisine, richly drawing on the influence of its neighbors. If Italy, especially Trento, then polenta. It is usually served baked (smacafam), with bacon or sausage. Cheeses are an important element of the local cuisine, produced in most alpine valleys and chapels. Those interested in new flavors should try the mild Pustertaler, the spicy Graukäse, and if they like goat's milk products, then also the Ziegenkäse. When someone plans a vacation in Italy in terms of culinary experiences, they will quickly find out that Trentino-South Tyrol is the perfect destination for gourmands. The region is famous for apples, which are a frequent ingredient of dishes. It is worth getting to know the taste of the local strudels and the so-called Apfelküchel, pancakes a bit like donuts and a little pancakes. Local soups are nutritious, thick and difficult to digest - with a base of pork, potatoes or tripe. Meat is eaten a lot, ranging from poultry, through beef and venison, to trout and rabbit. Alto Adige boasts Speck dell'Alto Adige , a pork belly on the bone, dried and smoked in small artisanal factories in the Venosta Valley. It is protected by the IGP mark, and in regional restaurants it is served as a snack or appetizer, with dark bread or rice bread. When talking about the kitchen, the wine must not be forgotten. Red wines predominate in the region, but the most famous are white wines, including Sylvaner, Müller Thurgau and Gewürztraminer. They are distinguished by an unusual aroma and lightness.