Piazza Grande

Across Via di Seteria, where the buildings remind you of the alignment of traditional boutiques, you are lead to the spacious and scenic Piazza Grande (also called Piazza Vasari), probably made from the ancient Roman forum, setting of the attractive “Giostra del Saracino” and of an interesting monthly antique fair, used in the early Middle Ages as a market, and at that time it was located outside of the city wall; in the 12th century it widened and became included in the city, becoming a platea communis, and thus the “public piazza”, which was, however, reduced in the 1500’s in favor of the beautiful Logge del Vasari. The visual impact of this exceptional space creates an effect of immediate surprise to the visitor; it extends up on an inclined level with a 10-meter rise, singular structure that released the fundamental function of water drainage. Compared to a large and refined living room, its tower houses and medieval buildings look onto the piazza, in which there is the picturesque Palazzo Cofani-Brizzolari (13th-14th century), Palazzo del Tribunale (17th-18th cent.), Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici, elegant Renaissance building on Gothic base, and the solemn Palazzo delle Logge, this, too, built based on a Vasari plan, under the colonnade on which the antique Arezzo boutiques open, in part still occupied by stores and typical restaurants; finally, the apse of the Parish Church of Santa Maria  and a 16th century public fountain embellish this monumental scene. To fully appreciate the details and powers of Piazza Grande it is recommended visiting it both during the day and at night, in order to observe the contrast first between the effect of the daytime lights and the lovely illuminations of the night on the monuments, and secondly between the vivacity of the tourists coming from all over, which in the daytime hours fill the piazza, and the calm and tranquility of the evening hours, most of all in winter, which creates a very romantic atmosphere.