AREZZO – HALF DAY – (Life Is Beautiful)
Life Is Beautiful, winner of many awards including three Oscars, was shot by Roberto Benigni almost entirely in Arezzo. On this tour we retrace the locations of many of the most important scenes of the film, walking through the streets of the historic center. It will be easy to recall such scenes as Guido, Dora, and Giosuè getting off their bicycle in Piazza Grande, as well as the various occasions in which Guido meets the school teacher who will soon become his wife.
Along the way you will learn about various art-historical details and anecdotes concerning the main monuments of the city of Arezzo.
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AREZZO – MONTEVARCHI – FULL DAY – (Life is beautiful)
After spending the morning in the various streets and squares of Arezzo where scenes from the film were shot, we move to Montevarchi, once famous for its production of felt hats. Between 1924 and 1927, Angelo Masini had a villa by that name built here. This was a splending contruction in the liberty/art-déco style with elegant interiors, a beautiful Limonaia (lemon-tree greenhouse), Rimessa (storage space), Voliera (aviary), Tempietto (little temple) and garden all adorning the main building.
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AREZZO – HALF DAY ( Antiques Fair )
On every first Sunday of the month, as on the preceding Saturday, an antiques fair takes place in Arezzo. This is an occasion which Aretines hate to miss but which also draws many tourists to the city; each intending to see or to buy objects of the most varied nature in the over 400 stands set up along the main streets of the city through which you will be guided.
At the end of our tour through the historic center, we have included a visit to the House and Museum of the founder of the fair, Ivan Bruschi, featuring a beautiful view onto the Pieve from the terrace of the 14th-century building. One may then visit the second floor of his house as well as the lower floors filled with objects he collected during his lifetime.
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CASA MUSEO IVAN BRUSCHI
OPENING HOURS: 10 – 13/14 – 18
CLOSED ON: MONDAYS
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AREZZO – HALF DAY ( Archeological Museum and Roman Amphitheater )
In the Archeological Museum, housed in a former Olivetan convent in the center of the city, the most interesting part of the collection is that of objects in “sealed Aretine clay”--a technique used to make clay waterproof. But the museum is worth a visit if only to admire the red-figure Crater with scenes of the battle between Heracles and the Amazons, attributed to Euphronius (5th c. BCE).
We then go down to the Roman amphitheater. Erected in the II century of our era under Emperor Hadrian, it consists of 2 orders of seats. This arena could hold up to 8,000 spectators. This is where fighting between gladiators and between animals and men would take place.
MUSEO ARCHEOLOGICO GAIO CILNIO MECENATE
OPENING HOURS MONDAY – SATURDAY 8.30 – 19.00
FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH 8.30 – 19.00
THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH 13.30 – 19.00
CLOSED ON: SECOND AND FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE MONTH