Itineraries for Your Trip to Arezzo
3 Days in Arezzo for Foodies
Set in the heart of Tuscany and surrounded by some of the most prestigious wine country and fertile hills in Italy, Arezzo is the perfect destination for lovers of classic Tuscan cooking. Don’t expect newfangled fusion or molecular cuisine in the city’s old-school trattorias—hearty pastas, grilled heirloom pork and beef, and local seasonal vegetables tossed with extra-virgin olive oil have been the order of the day here for centuries.
Arezzo is one of my favorite spots for tucking into satisfying Tuscan fare without being surrounded by the crush of tourists that overrun heavy hitters like San Gimignano and Cortona. Here’s how you can cover the fundamentals in three days.
Set in the Apennine foothills, Arezzo has hot summers and nippy winters, with lots of rain in spring and fall.
If you only have time for one thing, tuck into a steaming plate of pappardelle all’aretina, a satisfying dish of fresh egg pasta in a thick hare sauce.
Begin your culinary journey with a bit of education. Join a local cook for a guided tour through the town market to learn about Tuscany’s tradition of using only local, seasonal ingredients, then head to their home kitchen to learn the secrets to making fresh pasta and sauces plus dessert like a true Tuscan.
In the afternoon, head to a cellar in the rolling vineyards of the Val di Chiana; sample bold red Chianti vintages in the hills where they’re produced while snacking on local artisan cheeses and cold cuts.
Arezzo sits within striking distance of a number of Tuscan culinary destinations; this morning, travel south to the pretty hill town of Montepulciano that overlooks the Val D’Orcia. Stroll through the medieval town center and visit its historic underground cellars, then sample Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG at wineries set in the surrounding hills and relax over a tasting lunch.
Tonight, claim a table at a cafè or bar in Arezzo to enjoy a classic Italian aperitivo with finger foods.
Spend today exploring the town and countryside of Siena, just west of Arezzo. Begin with a food tour through the city’s spectacular medieval old town to discover the most traditional local specialties and the best places to sample them.
Spend your last evening watching a home cook make Siena’s historic dishes, learning about the history and significance of each. Then gather around the table for an informal Tuscan meal with your host.
