AREZZO CITY OF CHRISTMAS

Città di Castello

We are in the land to discover the Upper Tiber Valley, the natural gateway to the "Green Heart of Italy", a strip of land without borders, between Umbria, Tuscany and the Marches, designed by the elegant game of the green and charming Apennine hills. But in addition to the natural beauty, the Upper Tiber Valley boasts a secular culture, and is so rich in history, monuments and works of such beauty that it can be called "Valley Museum". Città di Castello, Citerna, Montone, Pietralunga, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Umbertide, San Giustino and Lisciano Niccone are the jewels of the valley

Arezzo

City of ancient origins, an important Etruscan and then Roman center, seat of the Christian Diocese as early as the 4th century, occupied by the Lombards at the end of the 6th century AD C. and strongly influenced by this population.
Arezzo in the Middle Ages became a powerful free commune, often led by its bishops, who were Counts of the Holy Roman Empire. He was at war with Siena, but above all with Florence, which subjected it in 1384. From this date, except for two extensive rebellions, in 1502 and 1529-1530, its history merges with that of the dominant city and then with that of Tuscany.
The current historic center still retains all the charm of the illustrious past and its main monuments are enriched by the works of great medieval and Renaissance artists, such as Cimabue, Piero della Francesca, Andrea della Robbia and Giorgio Vasari.
Arezzo, also the birthplace of the great poet Francesco Petrarca, has also enjoyed international fame as the natural stage of a famous film: the most evocative corners of its monumental area have been the movie set of some scenes from Roberto Benigni's film “La vita è Bella ”, winner in 1999 of 3 Academy Awards.
Arezzo, modern and industrious, city of art of the past and present, where the brilliant creativity of Arezzo is expressed in the ancient flavors of the kitchen, in quality craftsmanship, in the tourist vocation and in the goldsmith experience that made it famous in the whole world, as a city of gold.
Arezzo, city of the Giostra del Saracino, the Antiques Fair and the International Polyphonic Competition "Guido d'Arezzo".
Arezzo, a gem set among the rolling Tuscan hills and fertile birthplace of illustrious personalities, as the distinguished poet Giosuè Carducci said: "Arezzo would be enough for the glory of Italy".

Cortona

Cortona is an Italian town of 22 526 inhabitants in the province of Arezzo, the main cultural and tourist center of the Val di Chiana in Arezzo. The surface of the municipal territory is the fourth largest in Tuscany and the 29th in Italy. Ancient lucumonia, part of the Etruscan dodecapoli, is located south of the province of Arezzo and south-east of the Tuscany region, on the border with the Umbria region.