While I'm staying in Perugia in September, I thought I would do a day trip by train across the border to Arezzo. It looks like a straight-forward jaunt, only about an hour each way, and I`ve wanted for years to visit Arezzo.
While I'm there, I'm especially interested in seeing Piero della Francesca's Legend of the True Cross fresco cycle and I'm wondering if it's still necessary to get advance tickets. I recall last year there was a specific exhibition of his works in Tuscany and tickets were then apparently hard to get.
I'm thinking of visiting Arezzo during the week of September 22nd and I'm sure that's still a pretty busy time. But busy enough to warrant pre-booking, or am I over-planning. Again.
We were there this past April and we just went up in the morning and bought tickets for later that day. When my husband went back the net day he did not have to wait very long at all to get in.
Sandra, I'm an overplanner too. I guess if it's something I really want to do, I'd buy the advance tickets. If it's something that I wouldn't mind missing, I don't worry. The sacrafice of being on a schedule versus not for something I want always seems worth it.
All that said, I can't remember which website I used for our advance tickets years ago.
I've had the same experience as VeniceJ. Whenever I'm in Arezzo for the antique market, I try to also make time for the Legend of the True Cross. Buy your ticket after alighting from the train and then, if your viewing is scheduled for later in the day, have some lunch and a leisurely stroll. It will be an enjoyable day.
"I am a Southerner. I like the feel of these words. I could no more be otherwise than I could shed my outer skin or change the color of my eyes." Willie Morris
Posts: 1456 | Location: on the Alabama River | Registered: 22 July 2002
I too visited Arezzo in late May of last year, and purchased tickets for the Piero della Francesca Legend of the True Cross. I got in 1 hour afterwards, just enough time for a leisurely panino e bibita. My visit was on a weekday mid-morning.
NOTE: You can still enter the church and view the frescos from afar, without paying for the ticket. But if you want to see them "up-close", you'll need to fork out some Euros.
VeniceJ, Bags packed, GAC, thanks for this. It sounds like it shouldn't be too difficult to get a ticket the same day that I arrive in Arezzo.
That said, Kim makes an excellent point. This is something that I very much want to see (and up close!) It's really the main reason I want to visit Arezzo. So, I'd be very disappointed if I arrived and for some reason couldn't see the fresco cycle.
Perhaps what I need to do is check with ticketeria or a similar service, see if there is much of an advance booking fee, and if the church is going to be open on any of the dates when I can visit Arezzo; then, decide if it looks necessary to lock myself in to a particular date, to be certain that I can see the True Cross.
BTW, GAC -- your wonderful review of the Hotel Brunamonti in Bevagna convinced me to book there for several days before I travel to Perugia. The people there seem delightful and I'm excited to see Bevagna. Thanks for that!
