santa maria della pieve

Compared to other churches I didn't find anything particularly attractive, but if you are already in Arezzo, you can stop by.

Santa Maria Della Pieve was built in the 12 th century as a parish church and altered in the 16th century by the famous master Vasari, a local boy whose fame extended to Rome and Florence. The facade is highly decorated with humorous representations of the twelve symbols of the zodiac. The campanile is adorned with 40double bays called the "hundred holes." Interior pillars have capitals with large human heads. The main entrance is off Corso Italia, but exit the side door and walk around the back to Piazza Grande to view the galleried apse of the church and to enjoy a traveler's break at one of the cafés on the square.

Beautiful externally both from the front and when viewed from the Piazza Grande.Interesting stonework, with out of vertical columns, one held together near the main altar.Below the altar in the ? undercroft, there is an altar with marvellous inlaid stone.This and Santa Maria delle Grazie made the trip worthwhile to an otherwise not terribly interesting city.

The church of Santa Maria della Pieve is situated in the historic center of Arezzo , between Corso Italy, overlooked by the facade, and Piazza Grande, which promises the ' apse . The facade was rebuilt in the thirteenth century , from three lodges supported by columns ; the two lodges are less arched, the third, the upper one, is to architrave . The crowning glory of the facade is devoid of the eardrum. In the lower part of the facade, there are three portals splayed; the central one, presents the bezel Virgin between two angels bearing the name of the artist, Mark, and the date 1216 . On the right side of the facade, stands the bell tower , known as the Hundred holes for the mullioned windows, ten on each side, arranged in five overlapping orders. A beautiful Church.On the back of the church there is a large apse semicircular, decorated with blind arches and round-headed lancet windows that give light and inside the crypt .

It's a very simply stone church but is large and majestic and contains a silver head of San Donato which is serenely lit in the crypt.

This was our 2nd visit to Arezzo, and since I missed seeing this church the first time, I was hoping to see it this time around. We did get in, however, it soon started filling with guests for a funeral, so we left. We tried to return the next day, but it was closed, although supposed to be open.

This ancient church is, in my mind, the most interesting building in the city. It does not contain heaps of great art (except for the silver bust containing St. Donato's head--the rest of him is in the Duomo), but the pre-gothic structure itself is fascinating as are the bell tower and the apse.

Definitely worth a wander inside... the outside is striking and dominates the skyline. The interior was austere and there was a lovely sense of tranquility.

It is aery, impressive and well restored. There is a sort of majesty and calm about it at the same time.

What a beautiful space! It was stripped back down to its Romanesque appearance sometime in the late 19th or early 20th Century -- it would have been interesting to see some other layers -- but as it is presented it is really a gem. Annoyance - no interior photos and no interior view postcards for sale!! Still, well worthwhile.

Fine Romanesque church with superb facade and apse.

Ci siamo stati alla mattina presto, eravamo soli, c'era un organista che suonava divinamente. Una chiesa romanica molto bella. Si trova davanti alla Piazza Grande, in centro.

Siamo stati ad Arezzo a metà febbraio,una città stupenda a misura d'uomo.Gli aretini ,sono persone gentili e simpatici e sono stati molto educati.Santa Maria della Pieve è una bellissima chiesa da visitate con la sua torre!(ma anche tutto il centro storico)Da non perdere!!!!!

Hay tres cosas que destacaría de este magnífico templo románico: el ábside, deliciosamente medieval y estructurado en tres niveles, con arcos ciegos muy verticales en la base, y una doble arcada esbelta y ligera encima de aquéllos. El políptico del altar mayor, obra de Pietro Lorenzetti en 1320 (extraordinario); y por último, algo que pasa desparecibido para casi todos: un calendario de trabajos propios del campo, como el que figura en la bóveda de la cripta de San Isidoro de León, pero esculpido y policromado: está en el intradós del pórtico principal. Merece mucho la pena visitar esta iglesia.

Chi si trova ad Arezzo per turismo e non solo, non può percorrere il centro Storico senza alzare lo sguardo su questa splendida facciata romanica della Pieve e sulla sua torre campanaria detta "delle cento buche". Il monumento risale al XII secolo con interventi successivi. L'interno nonostante i restauri ottocenteschi ha mantenuto l'aspetto romanico nelle sue grandi proporzioni a tre navate, con tetto a capriate. Da non perdere il polittico di Pietro Lorenzetti (1320) sull'altare maggiore.