Tag: Teofilo Torri in Arezzo

Buy tickets & tours:VivaTicket The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Donatus is the Cathedral of Arezzo, located in Piazza del Duomo, on top of San Pietro Hill. Its elevated position places the church within the historic centre, beside the Bishop’s Palace and close to the Palazzo dei Priori, overlooking much of the surrounding urban landscape. The Arezzo Cathedral is the principal Catholic place of worship in the city and the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Arezzo-Cortona-Sansepolcro. It is also the largest religious building in the Province of Arezzo, reflecting the political and ecclesiastical importance of the city during the Middle Ages. The present building was constructed over several centuries, beginning in the late 13th century and continuing through the Renaissance. Later interventions altered its chapels, decoration, staircase, façade, bell tower, and presbytery. The resulting monument combines a predominantly Gothic structure with Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical, and modern additions. The Arezzo Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Peter the Apostle and Saint Donatus, the patron saint of Arezzo. Saint Donatus was an early Christian bishop traditionally associated with the city, and most of his relics are preserved inside the monumental marble shrine behind the cathedral’s high altar. Among the most important works Read more [...]

Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici is a historic palace overlooking Piazza Grande, the monumental heart of Arezzo. Construction began during the fourteenth century, but the building developed through several distinct phases, combining medieval stonework, Renaissance sculpture and sixteenth-century architectural additions within a single façade. Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici occupies a prestigious position between the apse of the Church of Santa Maria della Pieve and the Logge Vasari. Its location reflects the importance acquired by the Fraternita dei Laici, an institution established in Arezzo in 1262 and closely connected with the city’s social, charitable and cultural development. Originally known as the Fraternita di Santa Maria della Misericordia, the organization assisted poor residents, transported and buried the dead and administered donations received from local benefactors. It gradually accumulated enough property and financial resources to support hospitals, schools, public infrastructure, artistic commissions and cultural institutions. Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici is especially recognizable for its façade, where the Gothic lower level is joined to a Renaissance upper section and a bell gable designed by Giorgio Vasari. The latter contains an astronomical clock constructed in 1552 and still operated through its historic mechanical system. The building now accommodates the Fraternita dei Laici Museum, Read more [...]

Palazzo del Comune is a palace in Arezzo, located in Piazza della Libertà, on top of the San Pietro Hill, near the Cathedral of Santi Pietro e Donato. Today, the palace houses the city’s Town Hall.   SHORT HISTORY Palazzo Comunale, known at first as Palazzo dei Priori, was home to the supreme magistrature of Arezzo. The original facade of the building, dating back to the 14th century, can be admired from Via Ricasoli. In 1454, there was a first major renovation. In 1466, the large clock was mounted on the tower. In the second half of the 16th century, a new makeover of the palace began after a design by the famous Florentine architect Alfonso Parigi, which was completed in 1602. During the works, the layout of the stairs was changed, and the large internal portico was built. In 1650, the facade collapsed and some frescoes painted by Lorentino d’Andrea were lost. The reconstruction was carried out by slightly withdrawing the front of the building. In 1715, a bell dedicated to the Madonna and Saint Donatus was placed in the tower. The last major renovation was carried out in 1930s, under the supervision of Giuseppe Castellucci and Umberto Tavanti. Read more [...]