Written by Lucrezia Worthington
modified 2 April 2026
5 min. read
Arezzo is one of those Tuscan towns where many visitors feel an immediate attachment. Honey-hued façades, gently sloping cobblestone streets, and a lively historic centre give the city a warmth that reveals itself slowly as you wander.
The town manages to appeal to many different travellers at once. History enthusiasts, art lovers, design observers, and anyone simply looking to experience an authentic slice of Italy tend to find their place here. The historic centre is compact, and one well-spent day is often enough to uncover much of Arezzo’s character.
Morning in Arezzo
Breakfast at Pasticceria Flli Bruschi
One of the nicest ways to begin the day in Arezzo is at Pasticceria Flli Bruschi, one of the city’s historic cafés. The pastry shop has been family-run since the 1930s and still preserves much of its traditional character, both in its recipes and in its interior.
As you walk in, a long marble counter is filled with pastries, biscuits, and small savoury bites. Many locals stand at the bar for a quick espresso, while others settle at a table for a slower breakfast with cappuccino and fresh pastries.
Piazza Grande and the Logge Vasariane
From the café it is an easy walk toward Piazza Grande, the architectural heart of Arezzo. The square is distinctive for its gentle slope and the elegant Logge Vasariane that frame one side of the piazza.
The portico was designed in 1573 by Giorgio Vasari, Arezzo’s most celebrated painter, architect, and art historian. Beneath the arches you will find cafés and small boutiques, while the building above once served as a residence for Ferdinando II de’ Medici.
Casa Vasari
A short walk away stands Casa Vasari, the house where Giorgio Vasari once lived. The residence offers a more personal glimpse into the life of the Renaissance artist who wrote Lives of the Artists, one of the most influential texts in art history.
Inside, frescoed ceilings and richly decorated walls reveal the artistic world Vasari created for himself. Although he spent much of his life travelling for commissions, he remained deeply attached to this house and imagined it as a place where he could always return and restore himself.
Lunch in Arezzo
Le Chiavi d’Oro
For lunch we often suggest Le Chiavi d'Oro, one of our personal favourites in the centre of Arezzo. The restaurant combines thoughtful contemporary cooking with a carefully designed interior by Milanese architect Vincenzo De Cotiis.
The restaurant is run by the Stilo family, three siblings who divide the work between them. Francesco leads the kitchen together with his mother, Giovanna oversees the pastry section, and Teresa runs the dining room.
The menu changes regularly, but the tagliatelle with duck ragù is a dish we almost always return to, as well as their tartare with is a true signature dish. On some days the menu also features steak, and if you happen to find it listed it is usually worth ordering.
A starter of brie flan with saffron-infused honey, radicchio, and walnuts is another dish that reflects the kitchen’s contemporary approach to Tuscan ingredients.
Afternoon in the Historic Centre
Wandering Through Arezzo
The historic centre of Arezzo is best explored without too much planning. Narrow streets lead from one small piazza to another, and in the afternoon you will often see locals sitting outside cafés with a spritz in the sun.
It is the kind of town where wandering slowly tends to be more rewarding than moving from sight to sight.
Sugar Arezzo
If you feel like doing a little shopping, Sugar is worth visiting even if only to see the interior. The boutique is widely considered one of the most beautiful fashion stores in Italy.
Founded in the late 1970s as a small curated boutique, the store has gradually expanded while maintaining a careful selection of international designers. The interiors, also designed by Vincenzo De Cotiis, combine historic architecture with contemporary design.
Look up while you browse and you will notice frescoed ceilings and a monumental fireplace that give the space the feeling of a private residence rather than a traditional store.
Basilica di San Francesco
Nearby stands the Basilica di San Francesco, home to one of the great masterpieces of Renaissance art. The church contains Piero della Francesca’s fresco cycle The Legend of the True Cross, painted between 1452 and 1466.
Many visitors end up spending longer here than expected. The quiet interior and the luminous colours of the frescoes make it easy to linger while following the painted narrative across the chapel walls.
Casa Museo Ivan Bruschi
If you still have time for a museum, Casa Museo dell’Antiquariato Ivan Bruschi is a fascinating stop. The house museum preserves the eclectic private collection assembled by antiquarian Ivan Bruschi, the founder of Arezzo’s famous antiques fair.
The rooms are filled with objects gathered across centuries: paintings, jewellery, furniture, and archaeological finds. The collection reflects the long tradition of antique collecting that has shaped the identity of Arezzo.
The Arezzo Antiques Market
If you happen to visit Arezzo on the first weekend of the month, the city’s antiques market is not to be missed. The market spreads across the historic centre, filling piazzas and streets with hundreds of stalls, the full Saturday and Sunday.
You will find everything from silverware and vintage table linens to jewellery, porcelain, furniture, and vintage cameras. It is also a good place to spot pieces from the Ginori porcelain manufacture, often hidden among the stalls.
If you plan to browse seriously, arriving by car can be useful. It becomes surprisingly easy to leave with more antiques than you expected.
Dinner in Arezzo
La Buca di San Francesco
For dinner another restaurant we often recommend is La Buca di San Francesco, located in medieval cellars beneath the basilica. Vaulted stone ceilings and fragments of old frescoes create the atmosphere of a traditional Tuscan trattoria.
The menu focuses on classic regional dishes. Knife-cut prosciutto and a selection of bruschette are good starters to share, while pasta dishes and grilled meats form the centre of the meal.
Dinner here tends to unfold slowly, which suits the rhythm of an evening in Arezzo. By the time you step back outside, the historic streets are usually quiet and softly lit, a calm ending to a day in the city.
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Lucrezia Worthington
I am a Travel Journalist and Content Creator born in the UK, made in Italy. It is in fact in Italy that I have settled down, travelling to Umbria, Puglia and Sicily on a frequent basis. Although it seems as though I was always destined to work in the travel industry (I took my first flight at the age of 3 weeks old), I wouldn't have had it any other way. I love discovering, exploring and sharing the beauty of this world, and specifically, of our country: Italy.