The Palace of the Fraternita dei Laici

The Palace of the Fraternita dei Laici dominates the Piazza Grande or main town square in Arezzo. Thanks to the building’s unique architecture and to the artwork kept there, this palace recounts much of the history of Arezzo. You can admire it from outside while standing in Piazza Grande and then enter the different rooms, each full of the treasures of this beautiful city. 

The Secular Fraternity wanted their headquarters in this palace because of its position and beauty.

The palace represents a harmonious synthesis of Gothic and Renaissance styles. It’s located right next to the Logge del Vasari. By the middle of the 16th century, Vasari completed the construction of the Palace. 

The facade with its stone portal and a lunette depicting Christ in the “Pietà” by Spinello Aretino is representative of 14th century art from Arezzo. The greatness of those years carried on uninterrupted with sculptures by artists like Bernardo Rossellino with his beautiful “Madonna della Misericordia” and the statues of St. Donald and Pope Blessed Gregory X. Both of these pieces represent good examples of 15th century art. The 16th century is represented in time by the extraordinary bell tower. In the bell tower, there is one of the oldest functioning clocks. It is the work of Felice da Fossato and it still acts as the keeper of the hour and the phases of the moon.

The Palace also houses the Museum of the Fraternita of Arezzo, the famous Gold Museum and the House of Music of Arezzo.