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Hele dag Kunst Dorpen Archeologie Uitzichten

Arezzo and Cortona: Piero della Francesca and the Etruscan hill town

The Legend of the True Cross and Piazza Grande in Arezzo in the morning, Cortona on the hill above the Val di Chiana in the afternoon.

Two towns in eastern Tuscany. In the morning Arezzo, the city of Piero della Francesca, Giorgio Vasari and Petrarch: in the church of San Francesco you'll find one of the most famous fresco cycles of the Renaissance, then the Pieve and Piazza Grande, on a slope, where the Giostra is held. After lunch Cortona, an Etruscan town on a hill, with steep streets, museums and views over the Val di Chiana and Lake Trasimeno.

Cortona e la Val di Chiana
Foto: Patrick Denker, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
  • Duur vanaf Bologna10 h 50 Hele dag
  • Rijden5 h 50 · 441 km heen en terug
  • Bezoeken en stops4 h 00
  • Wanneer gaanAll year round (in June and September Arezzo hosts the Giostra del Saracino)

Het programma vanaf Bologna

  1. Vertrek uit Bologna naar Arezzo2 h 20 rijden, 190 km
  2. Arezzo2 h 05 bezoeken: San Francesco and the Legend of the True Cross, The Pieve and Piazza Grande, The Cathedral and Piero's Magdalene
  3. Lunch in Arezzo1 h 00 bezoeken: in the centre: pici, pappardelle alla lepre, Chianina steak, crostini toscani, wines from the Val di Chiana.
  4. Rijden naar Cortona50 min rijden, 31 km
  5. Cortona1 h 55 bezoeken: Piazza della Repubblica and the Etruscan Museum, The Diocesan Museum and the view over the Val di Chiana
  6. Terug naar Bologna2 h 40 rijden, 219 km
  7. Aankomst in Bologna

Tijden zijn indicatief: rijtijden zijn berekend zonder verkeer, daarna komen de bezoeken en tien minuten bij elke stop om te parkeren. In de zomer richting de kust en tijdens de spits moet je extra tijd rekenen.

Wat je ziet

1Arezzo

San Francesco and the Legend of the True Cross 40 min

In the main chapel of the church of San Francesco, Piero della Francesca painted, between about 1452 and 1466, the Legend of the True Cross: the story of the wood of Christ's cross, from the tree planted on Adam's tomb to the Emperor Heraclius. The figures are calm and solemn, the light clear, the perspectives perfect: it's one of the masterpieces of fifteenth-century painting.

Timed ticket, for small groups in turns: best to book ahead.

The Pieve and Piazza Grande 30 min

The Pieve di Santa Maria, Romanesque, has a façade with three tiers of loggias and a bell tower called 'delle cento buche' (of the hundred holes), for its mullioned windows. Behind it is Piazza Grande, on a slope, enclosed by the Logge del Vasari, from 1573. Here twice a year the Giostra del Saracino is held, and scenes from the film La vita è bella were shot here.

Free.

The Cathedral and Piero's Magdalene 20 min

At the top of the hill is the Gothic cathedral, with stained glass windows by Guillaume de Marcillat. Near the sacristy door there's a small fresco by Piero della Francesca, the Magdalene, not to be missed. Next to it is the Prato park, with views over the hills.

Free.

2Cortona

Piazza della Repubblica and the Etruscan Museum 50 min

Cortona was one of the great Etruscan cities and preserves sections of the walls from that time. In Palazzo Casali is the MAEC, the museum of the Etruscan Academy and the city, with the famous Etruscan bronze chandelier, decorated with sea monsters, satyrs and the head of the Gorgon. Outside is Piazza della Repubblica, with the steps of the Palazzo Comunale, where everyone sits to watch people go by.

The square is free; the museum charges admission.

The Diocesan Museum and the view over the Val di Chiana 30 min

In the small square in front of the cathedral is the Museo Diocesano, with the Annunciation by Fra Angelico, one of his finest works, and paintings by Luca Signorelli, who was born in Cortona. From the square the view opens out over the Val di Chiana as far as Lake Trasimeno. Cortona became famous worldwide with the book and film Under the Tuscan Sun.

Admission charge. Check opening days.

Tips

  • The visit to Piero della Francesca's frescoes must be booked with a time slot: book it between 10 and 11.
  • On the first Sunday of the month, and the Saturday before, Piazza Grande and the surrounding streets fill up with the Fiera Antiquaria, one of the largest antiques fairs in Italy.
  • Cortona is all uphill: if you don't walk much, it's best to stay in the lower part and around the square.

Met je eigen auto

Bijna elk historisch centrum heeft een beperkt verkeersgebied (ZTL) met camera's: parkeer buiten en loop naar binnen. De boete komt thuis, ook in het buitenland. ZTL en parkeerplaatsen per stad

Deze reis met chauffeur

Romagna Transfer haalt je op bij je hotel, zet je af voor elke stop en brengt je terug: geen parkeergedoe, geen ZTL, en van de wijn kun je gewoon genieten.

Vraag Romagna Transfer

Meer routes in het gebied Bologna en omgeving

Alle routes

Routes geschreven door onze redactie op basis van de feiten van onze monumentenpagina's en de officiële sites. Openingstijden en -dagen veranderen: de opmerking onder elke plek vertelt je wat je moet controleren voor je vertrekt. Geen prijzen: die vind je op de sites van de musea.

Vraag Romagna Tourism

Probeer te vragen

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