Arezzo
A hill town in eastern Tuscany known for Piero della Francesca's fresco cycle in San Francesco, a sloping main square and a short train ride from Florence.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Arezzo is a hill town in eastern Tuscany, a short train ride from Florence. Its main draw is Piero della Francesca's fresco cycle The Legend of the True Cross, painted inside the church of San Francesco. The old town climbs a hillside, and the sloping Piazza Grande sits below the cathedral, so the main sights are a short walk apart, though the streets are steep.
The town suits travelers who want a working Tuscan city and one major painting cycle, and a morning is enough to see the frescoes. Spring and autumn suit the hill walking best. The Saracen joust, a medieval-style contest held in the main square twice a year, and the monthly antiques fair both draw crowds, so check dates before you book. Plan one to two days: one for the frescoes and the old center, and one for the antiques streets and the countryside around the town.
Arezzo in five
- Book the Piero della Francesca frescoesThe True Cross cycle in the Basilica of San Francesco is visited on timed entries. Reserve through the official booking channel and check hours, since access is limited.
- Time the first weekend of the monthThe antiques fair fills Piazza Grande and the nearby streets on the first Sunday and the Saturday before. Rooms are tighter then, but the market is the draw if you like old things.
- Take the fast train from Florence or RomeArezzo sits on the main line, with services from Florence in about an hour and from Rome in about 2 hours. Regional trains cost less, and faster services cost more.Italy by train off-peak
- Walk up through the old town to the cathedralThe center climbs from the station to the Duomo and the Fortezza Medicea. Wear flat shoes, and finish in the park for views over the Valdichiana.
Things to do in Arezzo
See all attractions in Arezzo
Need to know
- Airport
- Florence (FLR) or Pisa (PSA), about 1.5 to 2 hours
- Getting there
- Train from Florence (about 1 hour) or Rome (about 2 hours)
- Getting around
- On foot in the old town
- Best base
- Near Piazza Grande or the station
- Time needed
- A day trip; 2 days with the hills
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh9°Low1°Cold, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh11°Low3°Cool, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low4°Spring, greenMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, green
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh17°Low7°Mild, clearAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- MayRain14 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°Warm, greenMayRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JuneClear8 rainy daysHigh28°Low15°Saracen joustJuneClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Saracen joust
- JulyClear5 rainy daysHigh32°Low18°Hot, dryJulyClear
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 32 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- AugustClear7 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low18°Hot, quiet townAugustClear
Good
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, quiet town
- SeptemberClear9 rainy daysHigh25°Low14°Joust, warmSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 99 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Joust, warm
- OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh20°Low10°Mild, quietOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 106 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Rain, coolNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 123 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, cool
- DecemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°Cold, lightsDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 107 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, lights
Average daily high and low in Arezzo, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Jun Saracen Joust · Sep Saracen Joust
Right now in Arezzo
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 77%
- Wind
- 18 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Arezzo
12:23 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today14°8°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed15°8°15%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Thu16°11°10%Thursday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Fri15°10°53%Friday: Rain. High 15°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 53%.
- Sat14°7°47%Saturday: Rain. High 14°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 47%.
- Sun15°6°26%Sunday: Fog. High 15°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 26%.
Updated 11:04 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Apr–JunMaggio Musicale FiorentinoFlorence, a day trip
- Jun–SepSaracen JoustArezzo
- JulUmbria Jazz FestivalPerugia, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Cortonaabout 30 min by trainA hill town with views over the Valdichiana and a small museum.
- Lago Trasimenoabout 1 hour by carA shallow lake with islands and quiet villages.Read the guide
- Florenceabout 1 hour by trainArezzo is a calmer base for Florence day trips than the city itself.Read the guide
Before you go to Arezzo
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Arezzo, checked
- Most non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check entry rules on the Italian visa site before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Cover shoulders and knees before entering churches, including the cathedral in Arezzo.
- Some antiques need an export licence to leave Italy or the EU, so check with the Italian Ministry of Culture before you buy.
Plan around Arezzo
Regions, cities and the rules every visitor needs
Read the guideFlorenceThe nearest big city, about an hour by train
Read the guideAssisiUmbria's pilgrim town, 1.5 hours by car
Read the guideLago TrasimenoA quiet lake across the Umbrian border
Read the guideItaly by train off-peakFast and regional trains compared
Read the guideBest time to visit ItalySeasons, crowds and the shoulder months
Read the guideArezzo FAQ
Is Arezzo worth visiting?
Yes, for Piero della Francesca's frescoes and an easier Tuscany. The center is compact, with fewer crowds than Florence or Siena.
Do you need to book the Piero frescoes?
Yes. Entry is timed and limited, so book through the official channel and check opening hours before you go.
Can you visit Arezzo as a day trip from Florence?
Yes, by train in under an hour each way. It works well as a calm break from the big city, with time for the frescoes and Piazza Grande.
When is the antiques fair in Arezzo?
The fair runs on the first Sunday of each month and the Saturday before. Check the city's official calendar for the exact dates, since holidays can move it.
How many days do you need in Arezzo?
A day covers the frescoes, Piazza Grande and the cathedral. Stay two nights if you plan Cortona or the Casentino hills.