Arezzo city of Christmas is always the protagonist of the weekend coming, with attractions dedicated to families and children alongside special events. A journey of emotions among the markets, the light installations, the Ferris wheel, the house of Santa Claus.
The weekend in the Arezzo area also offers many other appointments: theater, excursions in nature and with snowshoes, itineraries among the cribs and the atmosphere of Anghiari by candlelight.
Arezzo City of Christmas, the magic continues
The calendar of “Arezzo Città del Natale” (Arezzo Christmas Town) continues until next January 9th, offering a series of fixed attractions and events that allow you to experience the magical atmosphere of this time of year.
There are many opportunities for shopping with the “Market of Wonders” of Prato, rich in typical gastronomic products and many curiosities. In the nearby Piazza Grande, shines the Tyrolean Village, where exhibitors from Tyrol, Germany and Austria offer Christmas objects and typical products. Traditional markets are also set up in Piazza San Jacopo and Piazza Risorgimento while in Piazza Guido Monaco there is a market of handmade arts.
Not to be missed are the light installations that, at the first shadows of evening, light up the buildings of the historic center and offer an unusual interpretation of the architecture, accompanying the visitor on a fascinating and spectacular itinerary. In the large green area of the Prato, the high Ferris wheel offers a view that sweeps over the city, with the beauty of the landscape that changes during the hours of the day. For the youngest and not only, there is the “Christmas Brick Arezzo” the Christmas village made with the most famous bricks in the world: more than three hundred square meters of exhibition and workshops. The youngest are instead expected to the House of Santa Claus, set up in the Palace of Fraternity in Piazza Grande.
Numerous events that enrich the weekend. Al Prato, Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 at 15.00 “Like angels from heaven”, the angels in silence take possession of the city. Saturday, December 11 from 17.00 will be exciting the descent of the “Santa Claus acrobatic” from the Tower of the Town Hall. In the afternoon of Saturday and Sunday, from 15 hours arrive the “Elves with the magic cart”, street artists in beautiful costumes with gags, shows and other surprises in a comic key.
On Sunday at 16.30, the folklore and tradition of Arezzo will be on stage with the show of the Sbandieratori della Giostra del Saracino (flag-wavers of the Saracen Joust) who will perform their games of skill and acrobatics.
On Saturday and Sunday, the tourist guide associations offer guided tours accompanying small groups to discover the historical and artistic beauties of the city. Sunday, December 12 “Waiting for Christmas in the Fortress”, at 11.00 am the visit “The Medici Fortress of Sangallo and the ancient citadel disappeared of Arezzo, between architecture and important people: A good returned to the city. At 14.30 the guided tour “More than 2000 years of history inside and outside the Medici Fortress – We tell you the origins of Arezzo and anecdotes through the ramparts: the “Diacciaia”, the “Spina”, the “Belvedere”, the “Chiesa” and the “Soccorso”.
Arezzo City of Christmas – the complete program
Anghiari, a fairytale village by candlelight
Sunday, December 12th an exceptional appointment in the medieval village of Anghiari. Beginning at 6:00 p.m., the artificial public lights located in the historic center will be turned off and the small streets and squares of the town of Valtiberina will be illuminated only by torches and candles, becoming a real natural crib, a setting to recreate the atmosphere of Christmas in one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
The program of the weekend in Anghiari also includes Friday 10th at 19.00, the Sacred Representation of the Living Pictures, a traditional event, a procession where scenes from the biblical tradition are represented along the alleys of the historic center. Sunday, December 12th from 8.00 am in Piazza Baldaccio there will be Memorandia, an exhibition of antiques, modern art and collectibles, while in the afternoon from 3.00 pm guided tours of the town center, the Taglieschi Museum and the Museum of the Battle and Anghiari. Finally, for fans of the tablecloth, at 5:30 p.m. at the Theater of Anghiari there will be a screening of the film “Pan de’ mia”, the new version (book tickets at https://www.teatrodianghiari.it/).Anghiari Christmas – complete program
The playbill of the Theatre
At the start of the prose season of the Teatro Petrarca in Arezzo with the show “Lysistrata” by Aristophanes and the adaptation and direction Ugo Chiti. The production is by Arca Azzura Teatro and in the cast Amanda Sandrelli. The shows scheduled for Saturday, December 11 at 21.00 and replicated Sunday, December 12 at 17.00.
On Saturday, December 11 at 9.30pm, the last appointment at the Cavriglia Theatre for the “Materiali in Scena” festival, with a concert by Peppe Voltarelli in “Planetario – recital of songs”.
Final event on Sunday, December 12th at 5pm for the Festival of Classical Music City of San Giovanni Valdarno which takes place at the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie. The program includes a concert dedicated to Maestro Franco Cipolla with Llya Grubert on violin, Claudio Casadei on cello and Andrea Turini on piano. There will be pieces by Chopin and Brahms.
In Montevarchi, at the Collegiate Church of San Lorenzo, the Christmas in Montevarchi program includes Saturday, December 11 at 19.00 the concert “Cantico dei Cantici” with Riccardo Massai (actor) and Luca Provenzani (cello). Music by Bach will be performed.
In Castiglion Fiorentino, the Mario Spina Theater presents on Sunday, December 12th at 5pm the show for children “OZz. Della mancanza e dello stupore”, a journey into the fantastic world of Dorothy.
Gli eventi a teatro – il cartellone su Discover Arezzo
Journey through the cribs
Cities and towns in the area invite you to discover the creation of the crib, between art and tradition. In Sansepolcro Sunday 12, at 17.00 inauguration of the great crib of Santa Marta that for over thirty years is designed and set up at Porta Romana. Also on Sunday 12 at 15.30 opening of the Crib of Gricignano (Sansepolcro) in the spaces in front of the Church of San Biagio, recently restored and enriched with new elements and features. During the afternoon there will also be the inauguration of the new route “La Via di Francesco” in Valtiberina.
In San Giovanni Valdarno, continues the XVIII Rassegna di presepi, at the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie, with the exhibition entitled “Il cielo in una stanza”, where nativities are presented through Italian and international music. In Chiusi della Verna, on Sunday 12th, there will be a Christmas market and an itinerary to discover nativity creations set up in the town and in the surrounding hamlets.
The cribs in the territory of Arezzo – the program on Discover Arezzo
Excursions, history, nature and… snow
Back to the Outdoor Experience calendar, excursions and outdoor experiences to discover fascinating but less known corners of the territory.
Sunday, December 12 with departure from Romena (Pratovecchio Stia) at 9.30 am “Among songs and castles”, an excursion to the history, architecture and literature in Casentino, from the Parish of St. Peter in Romena to the Castle of Porciano.
Sunday 12th at 2.30 pm in Arezzo, “On horseback with a Santa Claus”, an experience for children from 3 to 16 years old who will be able to ride ponies and horses and play games of skill on horseback, or make a simple excursion among the colors of the. Here the Outdoor Experience program, promoted and organized by the Fondazione Arezzo Intour, events with reservation required (Link program).
In the mountains of the National Park of the Casentino Forests, snow has fallen in the last few hours and at Burraia (Passo della Calla – Pratovecchio Stia) on Saturday, December 11, there will be “Ciaspolata al tramonto” (snowshoe hike at sunset), an appointment to experience the fascinating night hiking with snowshoes, for a simple excursion at sunset and under the stars. Departure at 15.00 from the parking lot of Passo della Calla(Link program).
