Arezzo Cathedral

Arezzo Cathedral tickets: which one to buy

Arezzo Cathedral stands at the highest point of the old town of Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy, beside the Prato park, and entry is free. It holds one of the treasures of the Renaissance, Piero della Francesca's fresco of Mary Magdalene. Arezzo is about an hour from Florence by train, and visitors often combine the cathedral with the Basilica of San Francesco, which holds Piero della Francesca's famous fresco cycle of the Legend of the True Cross, for which booking is required, the Piazza Grande, where the Joust of the Saracen is held, the Church of Santa Maria della Pieve and the house of Giorgio Vasari.

The antiques fair held in the Piazza Grande on the first weekend of each month is one of the largest in Italy. The film Life Is Beautiful was shot in Arezzo. The cathedral is active, and visiting pauses during services. The Piero della Francesca fresco cycle at San Francesco must be booked in advance, and the cathedral does not require booking.

Visiting Arezzo Cathedral: what to see

The cathedral, dedicated to Saint Donatus, the patron saint of Arezzo, was begun in 1278 in the Gothic style and completed only in the early sixteenth century, while its facade was built in the early twentieth century in a neo-Gothic style. Inside, the cathedral has three naves with Gothic arches and stained glass windows from the sixteenth century by Guillaume de Marcillat, a French artist, among the finest in Italy. The main altar holds the Arca di San Donato, a marble tomb from the fourteenth century decorated with carved scenes. Near the entrance to the sacristy, a small fresco of Mary Magdalene by Piero della Francesca, painted around 1460, shows the saint holding a jar of ointment, a masterpiece of calm beauty.

The cathedral also holds the tomb of Pope Gregory X, who died in Arezzo in 1276, and the Chapel of the Madonna del Conforto, with terracotta works by the della Robbia workshop. The cathedral's stained glass windows by Guillaume de Marcillat show scenes such as the Calling of Saint Matthew and the Baptism of Christ. The Tarlati tomb, designed by Agostino di Giovanni, commemorates Bishop Guido Tarlati with carved scenes of his life. The cathedral's organ, from the sixteenth century, is decorated with carvings. The Chapel of the Madonna del Conforto holds a terracotta image of the Virgin, venerated since an earthquake in 1796. The cathedral's bell tower was built in the nineteenth century. The Diocesan Museum, beside the cathedral, holds works by Vasari and Signorelli.

Arezzo Cathedral opening hours and the best time to go

The cathedral is open daily, with a break at lunchtime. Arezzo is busy during the Giostra del Saracino, a medieval joust held in the Piazza Grande in June and September, and during the monthly antiques fair. Summer is hot, and spring and autumn are pleasant. The Christmas market in the Piazza Grande attracts visitors. Allow about half an hour for the cathedral, and book the Basilica of San Francesco in advance to see Piero della Francesca's fresco cycle. The Medici Fortress, at the top of the town, offers views over the Tuscan countryside and hosts exhibitions.