Tuscany by Photocat, Part 6 : Arezzo
It is hard to keep shooting after Siena, as it makes you wonder if you will see anything like it again. But here we go, on Saturday we go to Arezzo,
I start my tour of Arezzo with the statue of Vittorio Fossombroni. This statue has been in Piazza San Francesco in front of the church since 1864.?Fossombroni was born in Arezzo in 1754 and died in Firenze in 1844. He graduated in engineering from the university of Pisa and was both a scientist and a politician. In fact he worked as an engineer for the Grand Duke of Tuscany but had a relevant role in the political life of the time too: he was prime minister for many years. He did quite many works in town but he is mainly famous for the drainage of the marshy Valdichiana, one of the four vallies around Arezzo.
One of the many palazzo, embellished with paintings looking like they are stamped on.
Reflection in a window
I walk in the main street named Corso Italia. As it is saturday, lots of shoppers around.
I will spend more then an hour in this street, it has everything. Life, shops, people, pets...
Again the message is look everywhere, up, down, sideways, can't miss a spot
Too soon to go for lunch, the sign is very attractive though
The orange boy with the orange balloons, he was shy...
Door knockers galore...
Extremely pink...
Extremely pink, the sequel
I have a cola sitting on a nice terrace, when a parade is passing
Females in the second batch
Brass looks out of this world in this city
I suspect that this is the church of San Francesco seen from the Corsa Italia
And we need to see at least one altar with Maria
The stone carving on the top of the door has suffered badly, only a vague impression left
The bells for the habitants of this building, first and second floor
Another Holy Mary
If you want to eat good and cheap, you go to the trattoria, as I told in an earlier post. This is where the locals go to eat, and the food is heavenly...
They make take-away pizza
The inside, badly shot as I did not want to flash, ISO 3200, rather grainy. But you can see what I mean. No fancy stuff, but wonderful food
Pomodoro with basil, I must have asked the wrong question as I get cherry tomatoes... I wanted big sliced tomatoes. I eat it anyway.
If you want bread, the lady of the house cuts it in front of your eyes. They have a furniture piece especially for this. A big pupiter with a cutting area on top
After my fabulous lunch, I continue my walk through the city, more doors in sight
Real pasta...
Can you say CHEESE
One of the back doors of the Pieve of Santa Maria, one of the largest and most attractive Romanesque “Pievi” in Tuscany and certainly the emblem of Medieval times in Arezzo. It was first built in the XIIth century, probably on the site of a Roman temple dedicated to the god Mercury, but was then enlarged and completed in the following two centuries.* The* facade is quite original, three orders of 'loggie' one on the top of the other with a different number of columns in each one. In 1330 the mighty bell-tower was erected to create a kind of link* with God in heaven. It is commonly called 'the Bell-tower of the Hundred Holes' for the many windows in it
Facing the Pieve, a fountain and a beautiful antique store
One of the many doors for the Pieve of Santa Maria
And a view downwards the Corsa Italia with the Pieve on the left
Giorgio Vasari was very well known in Italy as a* painter, architect and a writer too. He was the architect of the Uffizi in Florence, and the Logge Vasari in Arezzo. *
Giorgio Vasari was born on 30th July 1511 in Arezzo.
When Giorgio was 13 years old he went to Michelangelo's workshop in Florence. A short time later he had to come back to Arezzo to live with his family because his father had died from the plague.*
In 1550 he was renowned in Florence. In fact he was called by Cosmo I to work there building the Uffizi Palace.
During his life he travelled so much, he visited Naples, Verona, Mantua and Rome where he wrote a book: "vite dei più eccellent architetti, pittori, scrittori e scultori " .*
In 1541 he bought a house in Arezzo, in Via XX Settembre in Borgo S.Vito, which he himself restored and refurbished. Five years later they moved to Florence, where he lived for 20 years. *
After Vasari’s death the house was passed to his heirs and finally it in 1911 it became propriety of the State .
There is a legend in town about the choice of the place where to build this the Pieve of Santa Maria : on 7th August 301 Donato, the bishop of the time, was publicly beheaded on the top of the hill (where you can now find the Cathedral). It is said that his head started to roll down the hill and stopped exactly where now the Pieve is. Donato was then made patron saint of the city. This legend would so explain why St. Donato's relics are kept here.
Palazzo Pretorio is situated in Via dei Pileati, that is how the upper stretch of Corso Italia is called. It is one of the most impressive buildings in town and is now the seat of the central library of Arezzo. It consists of three different buildings which belonged in the past to three important families of the town: Albergotti, Sassoli and Lodomeri. These buildings can be dated back to the XIIIth century but were later enlarged and transformed just like the other buildings in Corso Italia. Palazzo Sassoli, for example, has been used as a prison for over 500 years since the XIVth century. We can still see the bars on the windows in some old photos.*
On the facade you can admire quite many XVth and XVIth century coats of arms which do not only belong to the main families in town but also to captains or podestàs who had played a relevant role in the town political life.
A gallery takes me to the Piazza Grande. It is the lodge, designed and built by Vasari. It used to have the most expensive stores in Arezzo, and was the place for the richest families to take their walks in.
Passing an attractive Bric-a-brac store...
Mirrored in the window of the antiques store is the other side of the Pieva Santa Maria. The apse of the Pieve is one of the buildings on the west side of the square. As in the facade, there are some 'logge' here too. But unfortunately this part of the church was badly restored in the years 1864-1878 and what we see today is far from the original pure romanesque style.
The Fraternita dei Laici is part of the Law Court but it is still called by the name of Fraternita dei Laici. In fact it was originally built* for the Confraternity of St. Maria*in the late XIVth century.
The Fraternita dei Laici was a fraternity of religious laymen which was founded in 1262, thanks to*some Domenicans monks. Its main task was to help the poor and needy, the rectors used to go round the town twice a week and beg for bread and money. In the XVth century the Fraternita was rich enough to stop begging and became richer and richer in the following centuries: many noblemen left it their possessions and money.*
During the Renaissance the Fraternita was quite important in town where they involved other fields, such as culture - it had its own schools of civil law and logics and gave citizens grants to study at the University of Pisa* and even abroad. *
The construction of the building started in 1375, but some years later the works stopped because the town had lost its independence. In 1433 Rossellino continued to work, but the building was finished only one century later after Vasari did the drawings for the facade. In the end it was the result of different styles: Gothic, Renaissance and late Renaissance.*
In 1552 Felice da Fossato built the clock which is at the top of
the building This clock is one of the most ancient still working today in Italy.
The piazza is bordered off with very nice houses and Palaces
A little boy playing in front of the Fraternita
The door of the Fraternita
The building of the Law Court was built in the XVIIIth century after a design by Francesco Cerrotti. It lies between the apse of the Pieve and the building of the Fraternita dei Laici. It is probably the only Baroque building in town: quite remarkable are the staircase, which was built in 1780 and some finely wrought iron bars at the windows.
The apt has a strange quirk in one of the columns...
The fountain in the west side of the Piazza, the pigeons take their bath in it, and I sit there and watch them for a long time
La vita e Bella was partially filmed here on this square
Nightlamps in a little antique store
Jacobo is riping in front of his moms antique store... He is not bored no, he is RIPING
His mom has nice stuff in her little store
Another store where you would want to go in and never come out again
On our way to the train station in Arezzo I have a talk with some homeless people. My heart breaks again for them, I wished I could do more then give them some money. They have two dogs in their company, and I feel sad for the animals too. It's a hard life on the streets.
Most of the people pass them without even looking at them, I never get used to seeing homeless people. They touch me. Don't know why.
They are planning to go to Rome soon. We chat for a while, boy they are smelly. They probably don't wash themselves. All in all, it stays sad to see young people like them wondering around, going from place to place, without setteling in, and with no future...
One of my co-travellers is snapping too
Time to leave Arezzo and go back to the farm. (To be continued)
http://www.fossombroni.it/monuments/PRINCIPALI/piazzagrande_principal.htm
is the link for more info on Arezzo...
I start my tour of Arezzo with the statue of Vittorio Fossombroni. This statue has been in Piazza San Francesco in front of the church since 1864.?Fossombroni was born in Arezzo in 1754 and died in Firenze in 1844. He graduated in engineering from the university of Pisa and was both a scientist and a politician. In fact he worked as an engineer for the Grand Duke of Tuscany but had a relevant role in the political life of the time too: he was prime minister for many years. He did quite many works in town but he is mainly famous for the drainage of the marshy Valdichiana, one of the four vallies around Arezzo.
One of the many palazzo, embellished with paintings looking like they are stamped on.
Reflection in a window
I walk in the main street named Corso Italia. As it is saturday, lots of shoppers around.
I will spend more then an hour in this street, it has everything. Life, shops, people, pets...
Again the message is look everywhere, up, down, sideways, can't miss a spot
Too soon to go for lunch, the sign is very attractive though
The orange boy with the orange balloons, he was shy...
Door knockers galore...
Extremely pink...
Extremely pink, the sequel
I have a cola sitting on a nice terrace, when a parade is passing
Females in the second batch
Brass looks out of this world in this city
I suspect that this is the church of San Francesco seen from the Corsa Italia
And we need to see at least one altar with Maria
The stone carving on the top of the door has suffered badly, only a vague impression left
The bells for the habitants of this building, first and second floor
Another Holy Mary
If you want to eat good and cheap, you go to the trattoria, as I told in an earlier post. This is where the locals go to eat, and the food is heavenly...
They make take-away pizza
The inside, badly shot as I did not want to flash, ISO 3200, rather grainy. But you can see what I mean. No fancy stuff, but wonderful food
Pomodoro with basil, I must have asked the wrong question as I get cherry tomatoes... I wanted big sliced tomatoes. I eat it anyway.
If you want bread, the lady of the house cuts it in front of your eyes. They have a furniture piece especially for this. A big pupiter with a cutting area on top
After my fabulous lunch, I continue my walk through the city, more doors in sight
Real pasta...
Can you say CHEESE
One of the back doors of the Pieve of Santa Maria, one of the largest and most attractive Romanesque “Pievi” in Tuscany and certainly the emblem of Medieval times in Arezzo. It was first built in the XIIth century, probably on the site of a Roman temple dedicated to the god Mercury, but was then enlarged and completed in the following two centuries.* The* facade is quite original, three orders of 'loggie' one on the top of the other with a different number of columns in each one. In 1330 the mighty bell-tower was erected to create a kind of link* with God in heaven. It is commonly called 'the Bell-tower of the Hundred Holes' for the many windows in it
Facing the Pieve, a fountain and a beautiful antique store
One of the many doors for the Pieve of Santa Maria
And a view downwards the Corsa Italia with the Pieve on the left
Giorgio Vasari was very well known in Italy as a* painter, architect and a writer too. He was the architect of the Uffizi in Florence, and the Logge Vasari in Arezzo. *
Giorgio Vasari was born on 30th July 1511 in Arezzo.
When Giorgio was 13 years old he went to Michelangelo's workshop in Florence. A short time later he had to come back to Arezzo to live with his family because his father had died from the plague.*
In 1550 he was renowned in Florence. In fact he was called by Cosmo I to work there building the Uffizi Palace.
During his life he travelled so much, he visited Naples, Verona, Mantua and Rome where he wrote a book: "vite dei più eccellent architetti, pittori, scrittori e scultori " .*
In 1541 he bought a house in Arezzo, in Via XX Settembre in Borgo S.Vito, which he himself restored and refurbished. Five years later they moved to Florence, where he lived for 20 years. *
After Vasari’s death the house was passed to his heirs and finally it in 1911 it became propriety of the State .
There is a legend in town about the choice of the place where to build this the Pieve of Santa Maria : on 7th August 301 Donato, the bishop of the time, was publicly beheaded on the top of the hill (where you can now find the Cathedral). It is said that his head started to roll down the hill and stopped exactly where now the Pieve is. Donato was then made patron saint of the city. This legend would so explain why St. Donato's relics are kept here.
Palazzo Pretorio is situated in Via dei Pileati, that is how the upper stretch of Corso Italia is called. It is one of the most impressive buildings in town and is now the seat of the central library of Arezzo. It consists of three different buildings which belonged in the past to three important families of the town: Albergotti, Sassoli and Lodomeri. These buildings can be dated back to the XIIIth century but were later enlarged and transformed just like the other buildings in Corso Italia. Palazzo Sassoli, for example, has been used as a prison for over 500 years since the XIVth century. We can still see the bars on the windows in some old photos.*
On the facade you can admire quite many XVth and XVIth century coats of arms which do not only belong to the main families in town but also to captains or podestàs who had played a relevant role in the town political life.
A gallery takes me to the Piazza Grande. It is the lodge, designed and built by Vasari. It used to have the most expensive stores in Arezzo, and was the place for the richest families to take their walks in.
Passing an attractive Bric-a-brac store...
Mirrored in the window of the antiques store is the other side of the Pieva Santa Maria. The apse of the Pieve is one of the buildings on the west side of the square. As in the facade, there are some 'logge' here too. But unfortunately this part of the church was badly restored in the years 1864-1878 and what we see today is far from the original pure romanesque style.
The Fraternita dei Laici is part of the Law Court but it is still called by the name of Fraternita dei Laici. In fact it was originally built* for the Confraternity of St. Maria*in the late XIVth century.
The Fraternita dei Laici was a fraternity of religious laymen which was founded in 1262, thanks to*some Domenicans monks. Its main task was to help the poor and needy, the rectors used to go round the town twice a week and beg for bread and money. In the XVth century the Fraternita was rich enough to stop begging and became richer and richer in the following centuries: many noblemen left it their possessions and money.*
During the Renaissance the Fraternita was quite important in town where they involved other fields, such as culture - it had its own schools of civil law and logics and gave citizens grants to study at the University of Pisa* and even abroad. *
The construction of the building started in 1375, but some years later the works stopped because the town had lost its independence. In 1433 Rossellino continued to work, but the building was finished only one century later after Vasari did the drawings for the facade. In the end it was the result of different styles: Gothic, Renaissance and late Renaissance.*
In 1552 Felice da Fossato built the clock which is at the top of
the building This clock is one of the most ancient still working today in Italy.
The piazza is bordered off with very nice houses and Palaces
A little boy playing in front of the Fraternita
The door of the Fraternita
The building of the Law Court was built in the XVIIIth century after a design by Francesco Cerrotti. It lies between the apse of the Pieve and the building of the Fraternita dei Laici. It is probably the only Baroque building in town: quite remarkable are the staircase, which was built in 1780 and some finely wrought iron bars at the windows.
The apt has a strange quirk in one of the columns...
The fountain in the west side of the Piazza, the pigeons take their bath in it, and I sit there and watch them for a long time
La vita e Bella was partially filmed here on this square
Nightlamps in a little antique store
Jacobo is riping in front of his moms antique store... He is not bored no, he is RIPING
His mom has nice stuff in her little store
Another store where you would want to go in and never come out again
On our way to the train station in Arezzo I have a talk with some homeless people. My heart breaks again for them, I wished I could do more then give them some money. They have two dogs in their company, and I feel sad for the animals too. It's a hard life on the streets.
Most of the people pass them without even looking at them, I never get used to seeing homeless people. They touch me. Don't know why.
They are planning to go to Rome soon. We chat for a while, boy they are smelly. They probably don't wash themselves. All in all, it stays sad to see young people like them wondering around, going from place to place, without setteling in, and with no future...
One of my co-travellers is snapping too
Time to leave Arezzo and go back to the farm. (To be continued)
http://www.fossombroni.it/monuments/PRINCIPALI/piazzagrande_principal.htm
is the link for more info on Arezzo...
0
Comments
I love the pillar with the quirk in it
Do you know what the parade was for?
www.ivarborst.nl & smugmug
neen, geen idee... En mijn italiaans is onbestaande, beetje hard om dan uitleg te vragen.
Bedankt voor het commentaar! Zeer gesmaakt!
http://photocatseyes.net
http://www.zazzle.com/photocatseyes
I love this, readable, but slightly broken dutch. Very cute
www.ivarborst.nl & smugmug
AAAGGGGGRRRR, mijn dutch is slightly broken??? AAAGGGGRRRR, ik ben een vlaams sprekende belg. Mijn nederlands(vlaams) zou moeten impekabel zijn... Grinnik. Mijn leven in Engeland heeft waarschijnlijk mijn nederlands om zeep geholpen... (wat betekent dat ik half engels spreek en schrijf en nu ook half vlaams!!!)
http://photocatseyes.net
http://www.zazzle.com/photocatseyes
Don't worry, my dutch is pretty poor after having lived abroad for several years as well. I still like your photos
www.ivarborst.nl & smugmug
I think it helps so much to have fresh eyes in a new place. There's just so much to see and take in. I've enjoyed your journeys very much.
http://www.twitter.com/deegolden
Bugs
Spiders
Flowers
thanks for sharing...still looking for more