New Year's Eve Arezzo

The city of Arezzo becomes particularly suggestive during the Christmas and New Year period, as its streets are full of flea markets and Christmas shows made by artists.
As a very old city, Arezzo has etruscan origins: the historic centre retains some witnesses, even if it has also been extended under the Roman domination.
But we start our visit of the city from the Duomo (cathedral), building that dates back at the beginning of 1500, in clear Gothic style.
On the neo-Gothic facade one can admire a Romanesque-Gothic door decorated with a Luca Spinelli sculpture.
Part of the cathedral is the bell tower, always in new gothic style, while inside we can admire the Guillame de Marcillat windows, of the XVIth century.
To stay in theme with the religious buildings, we can then visit the St. Francesco church, of the XIIIth century: inside are kept very important art works, such as the cycle of frescoes known as the Legend of the Cross, that Piero della Francesca ended between the 1453 and the 1466.
Other church that is worth to visit is that of S. Maria delle Grazie church, of 1435: besides the austere porch, we can admire the Andrea della Robbia great altar, which preserves the Parri di Spinello art work, namely the Madonna of Mercy.
But the most beautiful church of the city is certainly the Pieve di S. Maria, an important example of the Romanesque architecture.
Part of the church is the beautiful bell tower.
Then, we can walk along the two important roads: Cavour street (where is located the Pieve di S. Maria) and Corso Italia.
This last street represents the old Borgo Maestro of the city, of Medieval origin: still today it is the main street of Arezzo, and along it you will find important monuments, as the St. Michele church, the Bacci Palace, the Altucci Palace, the Albergotti Palace and the Bigazza Tower, in addition to numerous shops and coffes.
Walking along Cavour Street we reach Piazza Grande square, or Piazza Vasari: you will remain dazzled by this square, among the most suggestive of the Italian peninsula.
Here is organized the famous antiques fair and the Saracen Joust.
In the square, then, you can admire important buildings, as the Tribunal palace and the Loggia palace.
Near the square, instead, we find the alleged Francesco Tetrarca birthplace.
Other important noble palace is the Municipal Palace, built in 1333 besides the wonderful porch-courtyard, very important are also the preserved art works in the palace such as, among others, the Parri and Spinello paintings, two artists from Arezzo.
Then, on the XX Settembre road, there is the Vasari house, today headquarter of the Vasari museum and archive.
Continuing with the museums, we can visit the Modern and Medieval Art Museum, within the Bruni-Cocchi Renaissance palace, and the Mecenate Archeological Museum.