The “Antique Fair Weekend”
Arezzo’s Fiera Antiquaria is not a museum visit and not a typical market. Once a month, the historic centre becomes a walkable archive of objects and stories, with Piazza Grande as the stage set: steep stone, Vasari’s loggias, and rows of dealers that turn browsing into a real city experience. Founded on 2 June 1968 by the antiques dealer and collector Ivan Bruschi, the fair was conceived after looking at major European street markets and it still carries that original idea: bring the pleasure of discovery into the open air, inside the oldest parts of town.
At a glance
- Drive time from Villa Vianci: 88 min
- Best for: antiques and design lovers, vintage hunters, curious browsers, couples, families with older kids
- Time needed: half day
- Booking tip: entry is free, but check the official dates and seasonal hours, and plan your parking and walking route in advance
- Highlight: Piazza Grande and the upper streets turned into a monthly “collectors’ city”, with around 400 exhibitors on fair weekends
What to experience
Begin in Piazza Grande early, when you can actually see the pieces and speak to dealers without pressure. The slope of the square makes the fair feel almost theatrical, and it is the best place to calibrate your eye: a fast first lap, then a slower return to the stalls that keep calling you back.
Then let the fair pull you through the centre. The event spreads across key streets and squares of old Arezzo, and the variety is part of the point: antiques, modern antiques, vintage and collectibles sit side by side, so different tastes in the same group can stay engaged without splitting up.
A small “curiosity” that improves the visit: browse once with your hands in your pockets, then browse again with questions. Dealers are used to precise requests (prints, ceramics, silver, books, small furniture), and the conversation is often where the fair becomes memorable. If you are tempted by something fragile or valuable, ask about packing and transport early, before the streets get dense.
If you enjoy the fair as a story, keep its origin in mind. The official history notes Bruschi’s inspiration from famous open-air markets abroad, and that ambition to revive the upper city is still visible in how the fair animates the oldest spaces of Arezzo.
Practical notes
This is a hill city with stone streets and steps. Wear comfortable shoes and plan small breaks, especially if you are visiting with children.
Access matters. On fair weekends, the centre is busy, and driving into the historic core is rarely the best idea. A practical solution is to use parking connected to the escalators up to the city walls, such as Parcheggio Pietri, then walk the last stretch into the fair area.
Food can be easy or chaotic depending on timing. If you want a calm day, eat early or late, and keep a bottle of water with you. For most Villa Vianci guests, the best rhythm is: fair in the morning, lunch after the peak, one final pass for purchases, then back to the countryside.
When
The Fiera Antiquaria takes place every month on the Saturday before the first Sunday and on the first Sunday itself, right in the historic centre of Arezzo.
Opening hours follow a seasonal schedule published by the organisers. From April to October, the fair runs Saturday 09:00 to 20:00 and Sunday 09:00 to 19:00. From November to March, it runs Saturday 09:00 to 19:00 and Sunday 09:00 to 18:00.
