alex2

We will be 5 days in Tuscany next Easter. We have reserved a day to visit Arezzo and Cortona and we are specially interested in visiting the fresco paintings of Piero della Francesca in San Francesco (Arezzo). I don’t know if it’s possible to buy tickets on-line and reserve the visit (because normally the visits to these kind of chapels are quite limited to a number of people). I also would like to know the timetable of visits. I can’t find that information. Does anybody know about this or have any experience?
Thanks

Àlex

HelenDonegan

Here is the official site:
http://www.pierodellafrancesca.it/piero_gb/index.html

alex2

Thanks, Helen, but the booking system of the website doesn't work. Do you know if there is any other possibility or source of information?
Thanks again

HelenDonegan

Send me the details via email and I will ring them for you.

wanderful

I dug up this old post because I'm interested in getting tickets to view Piero della Francesca's frescoes depicting The Legend of the True Cross in the Basilica of San Francesco in Arezzo. I accessed the website cited by the poster above, but, like the OP's problem seven years ago, the website doesn't work, including the link for an English translation. There seems to be a website message in Italian acknowledging the problem, but I'm wondering if this difficulty is standard fare and some alternative method of getting tickets is required.

wanderful

I dug up this old post because I'm interested in getting tickets to view Piero della Francesca's frescoes depicting The Legend of the True Cross in the Basilica of San Francesco in Arezzo. I accessed the website cited by the poster above, but, like the OP's problem seven years ago, the website doesn't work, including the link for an English translation. There seems to be a website message in Italian acknowledging the problem, but I'm wondering if this difficulty is standard fare and some alternative method of getting tickets is required.

kybourbon

Many times Italian websites will have a link for English without any translations or only partial information. You can use Google translate for the Italian page.

DAX

Glad to know about this as I'm going to Arezzo this year as well. Is there anything else that Arezzo is well known for? We will be staying in Cortona.
Here's my own translation of the basilica reservation:

Il servizio di prenotazione online è momentaneamente sospeso
Ci scusiamo per il disagio, Il servizio tornerà attivo a breve
The online reservation system is momentarily suspended
Please excuse us for the awkwardness, the service will become active shortly

Per la prenotazione rivolgersi direttamente alla biglietteria chiamando il numero 0575 352727
oppure scrivendo a [email protected]
For reservation, turn directly to the ticket office by calling the number 0675 352727
or by writing to [email protected]

DAX

The other message::
Con il biglietto di ingresso alla Basilica è possibile visitare la Casa Museo di Ivan Bruschi,
in Corso Italia 14 ad Arezzo, al prezzo speciale di 1 euro!

With the entrance ticket to the basilica it is possible to visit the Casa Museo of Ivan Bruschi on Corso Italian 14 in Arezzo, at special price of 1€!

wanderful

DAX:

Thanks for the translations. I sent an e-mail to the ticket office asking if e-mail was an optional way of getting tickets. I'll await their response. Or I'l use the online service when it kicks in.

raincitygirl

DAX, your wives will be happy to know that Arezzo has some rather nice shops!

raincitygirl

DAX, since you asked about things to do in Arezzo, I will suggest this if you like wine. Just outside Arezzo is an amazing small winery owned by a very interesting Dr. who bought the property because he fell in love with the beautiful Renaissance era house. We were taken there as part of a day tour from our cooking school last October and it was a very memorable day.

It is called Villa la Ripa, www.villalaripa.it and his name is Dr.Saverio Luzzi, a most engaging and interesting man, lovely wine, and the most interesting and gorgeous house.
I highly recommend this if you like wine and interesting people with intelligent conversation and an interesting story.

DAX

Wanderful : Let me know what response you get as I need to do mine later.

Raincitygirl: Nice tip on the winery tour, both my friend and I collect tuscan wines. My wife and I actually give wine tasting tours on special weekends at a friend's winery for fun. I'm impressed by the adjectives that you used to describe your tour experience, it's exactly what I try to do to create the most impact, perhaps I can pick up a couple pointers from them.
No, I don't think our wives should be shopping in Arezzo as we will be broke for that day after dropping them off at the designers outlet just before Arezzo. I plan to do the wine tour while they are at the outlet and my friend can stand in the forever long line for the tax refund while they shop.

raincitygirl

DAX, you can get your tax refund right there at the outlet mall? I guess I've always done it at the airport.
What happens if they don't find what they like there and need to hit the shopping streets of Arezzo? ( just trying to be a trouble-maker..lol)

That's interesting that you collect tuscan wines and that you and your wife give wine tasting tours! This is a small property so the range of wine is small but good, I think you will not be disappointed.

On the Amalfi thread after you said you love food I meant to say if you are departing Italy from Naples airport you should know that after you clear security there are several duty free/deli shops where one can buy styrofoam coolers with fresh buffalo mozzarella and other tasty edibles so leave room in your carry-ons and budget for some of this if you can bring it back into the U.S. with you.

DAX

Yes it is in our plan since we saw those addicting mozza bufala at the Naples airport a couple years ago when we went to Sorrento in horrible weather (never made it to Amalfi/Positano). We just need to figure out how to make the mozzarella last a few days without refrigeration as we'll be flying to Berlin for a short stay before flying back to SFO.

julia1

I may be out of date with this, however you may find that fresh buffalo mozzarella is not permitted entry into US. Recommend you check this out before your travel.

wanderful

DAX:

Using the e-mail address below, I just made a May 10 e-mail reservation for the frescoes after receiving this reply:

Hello,

Thank you for your request, we apologize but due to a change of reservation system our booking online is not working. For making a reservation please answer to this e-mail. We need to know, at what time you want to book, the date and for how many people. You can pay cash the day of your visit.

Best regards
Laura

Ufficio Prenotazioni e Biglietteria
Affreschi di Piero della Francesca
"La Leggenda della Vera Croce"
Cappella Bacci - Basilica di San Francesco
Via di San Francesco - 52100 AREZZO
Tel: 0039 0575 352727 - 0039 0575 299071
Fax: 0039 0575 302001
E-mail: [email protected]

julia1

Thanks for the update. Good to know.

When I was in Arezzo three years ago, we just walked up and entered, no reservations, very few people there. It's kind of an out-of-the-way place, I had the impression most tourists wouldn't seek it out except specifically for the frescoes.

DAX

Thanks for posting it Wanderful, are you planning to see anything else in Arezzo? There's not much info on Arezzo.

Julia: Glad to know that you were actually able to enter the church without reservation, probably just depends on what day and season.

stoweflake

Here I am just looking around for some information on the Arezzo and I see you described designer outlets. Almost dropped my coffee. Please tell me more. lol