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Home , Anghiari, Monterchi, Piero della Francesca, Province of Arezzo, Sansepolcro

IN AND AROUND

The itinerary through the , in discovery

SP310 of the works of Piero della Francesca, unwinds through the Forlì - valley of the , the Valtiberina, taking in the towns of SR70 and Monterchí, birthplace of the artist’s mother, Monna Romana, and the city of Arezzo.

Fiume Tevere VALTIBERINA

F iu m e SR71 SS 3 bis/E45 A rn o A1 Firenze SANSEPOLCRO Toscana SP1 SP43

VALDARNO AREZZO SS73 AREZZO E78

SR71

Siena

Perugia A1 One of the most interesting aspects of the works of Piero della Francesca, whether they are frescoes or panel , is the

Roma landscape to which the artist devotes ample space in his works. Photos: By permission of the Ministry for the Cultural Who has not paused for a moment to observe and submit to the Heritage and Activities-Commission for the Historic attraction of those natural or architectural backgrounds which are The Tiber, the river that laps the town of Sansepolcro and appears and Ethno-antropological Heritage of the province to be found in the frescoes of the Legend of the in Arezzo as a naturalistic element dividing the two armies in the Battle between of Arezzo. Photo A. Benci/Fototeca APT Arezzo or the Resurrection in Sansepolcro? The attraction that this aspect Constantine and Maxentius in the Arezzo frescoes, is described with (photo archive) has always exerted, inspiring poets to pen noble verses and writers particular affection and devotion by the English writer G. M. Trevelyan: to impassioned prose, is well-known. “This reach of the great river, where it first leaves its mountains Even today, the descriptions of the great cradle, has a peculiar effect on the imagination…the line of a poplar travellers could guide the visitor through wood shading the course of the Tiber…a clear stream of the blue the works of Piero della Francesca, and silver eddies”. PIERO DELLA FRANCESCA allowing him to discover that practically The ilex-cloaked hills that form the background to the scene showing nothing has changed. The beautiful views, the appears to have been a landscape very dear to IN AND AROUND AREZZO the daring foreshortenings, the barren Piero, a memory linked to the artist’s childhood between the Val and rocky mountains of the Valtiberina Cerfone and the Val Padonchia, between which was the birthplace are those described in 1581 by Michel de of his mother, Monterchi, famous for the celebrated of the Montaigne on a journey from Sansepolcro del Parto. to Arezzo, via the La Scheggia pass, The ploughed fields, the hills seen from the heights of Anghiari landscapes immortalised in the appearing like hillocks of colour, shifting with the change of the background to the Resurrection. seasons, are arranged with graceful harmony and give the observer a sense of calm and grace. These are the same sensations that we perceive before the landscape of the Adoration of the Wood in the Arezzo cycle, or in the background of the Resurrection in Sansepolcro. SANSEPOLCRO MONTERCHI AREZZO

Piero della Francesca was born in Sansepolcro 6 3 around 1418-20, and the Museo Civico of the town 1 1 houses four works by the artist. The itinerary through the homelands of Piero then proceeds to Arezzo where it 9 1- The Polyptych of the Misericordia, tempera on terminates. The Bacci chapel in the panel, was commissioned from Piero by the Basilica of San Francesco houses the Sansepolcro Compagnia of the same name in 1445. fresco cycle of the Legend of the True The central panel of the shows the Madonna Cross, the masterpiece which the artist of Mercy, or Misericordia, sheltering the community painted for the Franciscan church between of the commissioners and the faithful beneath her around 1452 and 1466. The subject of the 2 mantle, as in a large tabernacle, with men on the left 9 1 2 cycle is taken from the Legenda Aurea and women on the right. written by Jacopo da Varazze in the 7 thirteenth century. 2 - The Resurrection is a large fresco painted by Among landscapes dear to the artist and 7 2 Piero della Francesca on the central wall of the painted architectures, we find Arezzo itself, 6 3 Council Chamber. This work, considered to be among perched on the hilltop, and Sansepolcro the most representative of the artist, is the human with its buildings arranged in 5 and spiritual expression of the rebirth of Christ. Strong 8 10 4 5 like scenographic backdrops. Elegant and 8 and solemn, the figure of the Saviour dominates the geometrically perfect figures gracefully scene. In the background the artist has chosen to accompany the observer through the story, represent the dawn, the beginning of a new day, 3 scene after scene. raised to a symbol of the dawn of life. Legend of the True Cross Leaving Sansepolcro the itinerary continues in 3 - The fresco portraying St. Julian was discovered Iconographic layout Monterchi, in the Val Cerfone. For this little town, 10 4 1 - The Death of Adam in 1954 in the old church of Sant’Agostino, later perched on a hill on the border with , Piero dedicated to Santa Chiara. The saint, portrayed with 2 - The Adoration of the Wood – The della Francesca painted the extraordinary fresco of Meeting of and the a youthful appearance, is wrapped in an elegant red the for the ancient church of cloak which stands out against the background of In the Cathedral of Arezzo, at the top Queen of Sheba Santa Maria a Momentana. Since 1991 the fresco 3 - The Burial of the Wood antique green imitation marble. has been housed in a small museum. The iconography of the north aisle, is the fresco showing St. Mary Magdalene. 4 - Constantine’s Dream 4 of the expectant Virgin gives the image an impressive 5 - The Battle of Constantine and 4 - The detached fresco showing St. Louis, originating sacred monumentality. The light enhances the colours, the white from the Palazzo Pretorio, shows the saint dressed and red of the mantle, the green of the dress Maxentius The Madonna is an expression at once human and 6 - The Torment of the Jew in a Franciscan habit with a richly decorated bishop’s divine. At her sides are two angels, their hands holding and the rosy cheeks. Mary Magdalene, one cope; in the background is a fake niche of precious of the artist’s most beautiful figures, is 7 - Discovery and Proof of the True back the curtains of the tent to reveal the Virgin, Cross red and green marble. dressed in a simple blue dress and white smock with striking for her facial expressiveness and the penetration of her lowered gaze. 8 - The Battle of and her hand resting on her swollen womb. Chosroes 9 - The Exaltation of the Cross 10 - The Annunciation

*Gli orari e i costi dei biglietti sono quelli che i musei hanno comunicato alla data della stampa della presente pubblicazione. SANSEPOLCRO MONTERCHI AREZZO Museo Civico* Ticket prices Museo “Madonna del Parto” * Ticket prices: Basilica di San Francesco* Visiting Hours Legend of the True Cross • Free with booking (€ 0.00 + € 2.00) = € 2.00 Booking of guided tours of the Via N. Aggiunti, 65 • Full price € 6.00 Via Reglia, 1 • Full price € 3.50 Cappella Bacci – Legend of the True Cross Every 30 minutes, groups of 25 persons - European Union citizens aged under 18 Legend of the True Cross Tel./Fax 0575 732218 • Reduced price € 4.50 (adults aged Tel./Fax 0575 70713 • Reduced price € 2.00 (students over 14) Access for the disabled • April-October: or over 65 Tel. 0575 352727 - Fax 0575 302001 Access for the disabled between 19 and 25; adults over 65; No access for the disabled • Reduced price € 2.50 (groups more than Ticket office and Bookshop Monday-Friday 9/18.30 - Saturday 9/17.30 - Teachers and students in the Faculty of [email protected] museocivico@.sansepolcro.ar.it groups of more than 10 persons) [email protected] 15 persons) Piero della Francesca - Online bookings Sunday 13/17.30 Architecture and Literature and equivalent • Reduced price € 3.00 (young people • Free: young people up to 14; pregnant Piazza San Francesco, 4 • November-March: Monday-Friday 9/17.30 Institutes (History of Art and Cultural Arezzo Tourist Information Offices Opening hours: aged between 10 and 18) Opening hours: women; inhabitants of Monterchi; invalids; Tel. 0575 352727 - 0575 299071 Saturday 9/17 - Sunday 13/17 Heritage disciplines) Piazza della Repubblica, 28 • Closed on: New Year’s Day - 13 June • 15 June - 15 September • Free: children under 10; the disabled • April - October the disabled Fax 0575 302001 - Employees of the Ministry for the Cultural Tel. 0575 377678 - Fax 0575 20839 4 October - Christmas Day Heritage and Activities 9.30/13.30 - 14.30/19 and accompanying persons; police; 9/13 - 14/19 www.apt.arezzo.it www.apt.arezzo.it - Authorised Tourist Guides of the European journalists [email protected] Ticket prices including booking fee [email protected] • 16 September - 14 June • November - March Union exercising their profession Access for the disabled Booking obligatory 9.30/13 - 14.30/18 9/13 - 14/17 - Groups of public or private schools of • Full price with booking Welcome Centre and Tourist Information Closed: New Year’s Day, Sansepolcro District Tourist Office Closed: Christmas Day Ticket office and Bookshop the European Union accompanied by their (€ 4.00 + € 2.00) = € 6.00 Via Ricasoli Christmas Day Via Matteotti, 8 Piero della Francesca teachers • Reduced price with booking Tel. 0575 377829 Tel./Fax 0575 740536 Opening hours: - ICOM members (International Council (€ 2.00 + € 2.00) = € 4.00 [email protected] • November-March: Weekdays 9/18 of Museum) - European Union citizens aged between 18 Sundays and holidays 10/18 • Free • April-October: Weekdays 9/19 and 25 * Opening hours and ticket prices are those communicated by the museums to the Agenzia per - Teachers in State Schools - Childrens aged under 6 il Turismo di Arezzo on 1 July 2008. Sundays and holidays 10/19 - The disabled and accompanying person