Casa Vasari, the museum dedicated to the multifaceted artist from Arezzo

For anyone arriving in the splendid Arezzo, city of thousand-years history and crossroads of arts and culture, the most irresistible temptation is to lose yourself among its scenic squares and renaissance beauties. But there is one place that, perhaps better than any other, can tell the most representative story of the City of Arts and its most important advocate.

A few steps from the heart of the historic centre, in an area rendered elegant and airy by the renaissance era - Borgo San Vito, the extraordinary charm of the Casa Vasari House Museum welcomes both passionate and merely casual visitors for a one-of-a-kind cultural and artistic experience.

Casa Vasari in Arezzo is more than just a historic building or a museum exhibition to add to your list of things to do in the city; it is a true time capsule, the guardian of the soul and genius of its celebrated owner, Giorgio Vasari, the man who made his hometown a stronghold of renaissance artistic and cultural heritage.

Visiting Casa Vasari in Arezzo means taking an intimate journey into the everyday life of an intellectual who shaped the way of experiencing art and culture of his century - and for centuries to come - an unmissable experience that promises to reveal the fascinating secrets of the “father of arts history”.

The historic building that hosts the house-museum, purchased by Giorgio Vasari himself in 1541 when the multifaceted artist from Arezzo was a rising star sought after by the most illustrious Italian courts, was conceived as a true manifesto for his aesthetic vision. Vasari dedicated years to its renovation and initial decoration, more precisely until 1548, making the residence one of the finest examples of an artist's house to visit in Tuscany.

The cultural significance of Casa Vasari lies primarily in the iconography program the artist created there, with the support of his students. Here Vasari did not limit himself to decorating for purely artistic purposes; he sought to build a rich, allegorical and celebratory narrative aimed at glorifying artist's role and intellectual rise within the social landscape.

Through the creation of fresco cycles and tempera decorations inspired by mythological and biblical references, and typical allegorical figures of the time, the artist transformed his own town’s residence into a personal and professional storytelling. It was a powerful statement of early Mannerism, a fusion of technical virtuosity with philosophical and literary speculation; but above all, it was his soul's place, a place where he truly felt at home and where he preserved his loved ones and his intellectual heritage.

Although Vasari was often away from Arezzo due to his prestigious engagements at the Medici court in Florence, or in other prominent art cities like Rome, it is here that he always longed to return to cultivate his vocation for arts. And it is precisely here, among priceless works, that you can enjoy one of the most beautiful experiences Arezzo has to offer.

A visit to Casa Vasari in Arezzo focuses primarily on the piano nobile (main floor over ground), where the artist and architect's decorative genius expressed to its fullest. While maintaining a typically domestic layout, its halls indeed are configured as a true art gallery to explore in awe.

The tour begins with masterfully frescoed chambers, among which the Chamber of Fame and Arts stands out, an inspiring exhibition celebrating Vasari's artistic lineage through oval portraits of his family's predecessors, as well as past and contemporary masters, such as Michelangelo and Signorelli.

Similarly, the Chamber of the Muses guides the visitor through an exploration of the house-museum in an atmosphere of great fascination and wonder, admiring depictions that underscore the importance of culture and poetry in the workshop of this multifaceted artist.

Also valuable the Chamber of Abraham, where biblical themes are reinterpreted with refined mannerist flair, and the Hearth’s Hall, the core of the residence, where stunning frescoes and tempera decorations complete the entire iconography program in a skillful and unparalleled blend of mural paintings and coffered ceiling decorations.

The rich and rewarding visual experience offered by Casa Vasari goes on with a precious Pictures Gallery, established in the 20th century, which accurately documents the artistic and intellectual environment in which Vasari worked. This collection displays around sixty paintings by Mannerist artists, his contemporaries and collaborators, who collaborated with Vasari on the decoration of the Studiolo of Francesco I de' Medici in Palazzo Vecchio, and for this reason are known as the “studiolo painters”. Their most prestigious names are Alessandro Allori, Mirabello Cavalori, Santi di Tito and Giovanni Stradano.

Also worth mentioning, although not always included in a tour in Casa Vasari, is the preservation of the precious Vasari Archive. This space is an open book on Vasari's personal and professional life, rich in documents essential to art historians and scholars, an extensive correspondence between the artist and other great personalities of his time, and thematic works on the history - personal and otherwise - of the arts such as Ricordanze (Memories) and Zibaldone (Book of Inventions), offering a privileged source for understanding the pop culture of 16th-century Italy.

Casa Vasari House Museum in Arezzo is located at Via XX Settembre, 55, in a strategic position close to the city's historic centre. Its proximity to key attractions for art-loving visitors, such as the Basilica of San Francesco with Piero della Francesca's Cycle of the True Cross and the National Museum of Medieval and Modern Art, makes it an ideal addition to a daily itinerary dedicated to discovering the city's most authentic beauties.

From the Arezzo train station, the main logistical hub, Casa Vasari is easily reached on foot (about 20 minutes) or by bicycle in half the time, taking advantage of the historic centre's convenient bike-sharing service. Alternatively, you can opt for the Line C buses, which bypasses the historic centre by Viale Buozzi (Medici Fortress); the most convenient stop is in Piazza San Domenico.

Due to the limited space in the historic residence, visits to Casa Vasari are recommended by reservation, with a maximum of twenty-five people allowed at a time; additional restrictions apply to the more intimate spaces of the house-museum, such as the Vasari’s Private Room, which can be visited by only three people at a time for approximately twenty minutes. You can complete your visit to this magnificent attraction with a stroll through the elegant Italian-style garden next to the building, a regenerating opportunity for resting and artistic contemplation.

For a more in-depth experience and to fully appreciate the complexity of Casa Vasari's iconography program, inquire at the ticket office about guided tours or cultural packages that include access to other city attractions. On the first Sunday of every month the admission is for free. All information about opening hours, ticket purchases and combined promotions can be found on the dedicated website by Fondazione Arezzo Intour.

Giorgio Vasari's artistic vision, in his hometown of Arezzo, is clear well beyond the walls of his home. The father of modern art history is a key figure in the history of this city and the entire Italian Renaissance, having significantly contributed to shaping the urban and aesthetic profile of the City of the Arts, making it a hub of humanistic prestige just like Florence.

While Casa Vasari is the ideal starting point for a themed itinerary in Arezzo, the historic centre offers a delightful opportunity to admire the master's creativity and quality through iconic architecture and priceless paintings.

Among the most significant works there’s Loggia Piazza Grande, designed by Vasari on behalf of the Fraternita dei Laici, an imposing and elegant late-renaissance portico that gives the heart of the city one of the most spectacular urban views in Tuscany. Also worth mentioning is the Vasari Aqueduct, a remarkable example of hydraulic engineering whose monumental roman-inspired arches testify to the talent of this multifaceted artist as an engineer too.

For those who prefer to focus on the purest art and exquisite paintings by Vasari, above all those who love sacred art, the Museum of Medieval and Modern Art - not far from the house-museum - houses some of his highly sought-after panels and altarpieces, particularly a Mary and Child and an iconography dedicated to Saint Roch.

Visiting Vasari's birthplace and work, by his own artistic sensibility and the practicality that definitely unites the arts, technology and science, is the ultimate experience that will allow you to experience Arezzo from a different perspective. Inspiring, fascinating, refined, the Vasari house-museum awaits you for an adventure into the magic of ancient Arretium.