If I’m in Italy at the right time, this is one of my favourite things to do there.
The Arezzo Antique Fair is held the first Sunday of every month and the Saturday that precedes it. It is not the first Saturday and Sunday of the month. The Saturday can actually fall in the previous month. This is important to know as I discovered once when I showed up only to find that the Fair had occurred the week before. Now, if you find yourself in Arezzo without the Fair, it’s not the end of the world. Arezzo on its own is pretty cool. That, however, will be the subject of another post.
But back to the Fair. The Fair is one of the largest antique markets in Europe. Originally started in 1968, the fair has grown to over 500 vendors who arrive each month in the early morning hours to unpack their trucks.
By about 10am, the Fair starts to get going. Note: showing up too early wins you nothing but the chance to have an espresso and brioche (which also isn’t that bad) while the vendors get organized.
The Fair starts at the Duomo San Donato whose magnificent steeple guides you from afar. The Fair runs throughout the main town down as far as the train station. The main concentration of vendors is in the central square, Piazza Grande. In early September, Arezzo hosts the Giostra Saracino (their famous jousting match, again, something to look forward to at a later date), so the vendors from the Piazza Grande move to the park. The first time I went to the Arezzo Fair was a September many years ago. The vendors were all set up in the park. I thought this was how it always looked. I was quite surprised upon my next visit to find them NOT in the park (especially since I had spent half the car ride telling Pete how fun it was that the vendors were in the park).
ELIN’S TIP: Follow signs and park at the “Petri” parking lots. There are several lots in a row. One lot is free (and it is always jam-packed), but the other two are paid lots, so there are usually spaces. You will take the series of escalators up to the town, arriving near the Duomo. If you have time, stick your head inside the Duomo. It is worth it to see Piero della Francesca’s Fresco of Mary Magdalene.
What can you find at the Arezzo Fair?
- Furniture and various household articles (many items for the house have been found here)
- Linens
- Jewellery
- Art – original paintings, watercolours, old frames
- Door fastenings – locks, latches, hinges
- Farm equipment
- Musical instruments, records, gramophones – having a music major stepson, I am constantly on the look out for interesting musical instruments. I have bought an Althorn (or what we think is an Althorn)
- Books, cards, stationery, typewriters
- Clothing – vintage purses, shoes, fur coats, scarves
- Military surplus items
- Items so large you don’t know how they got them into town
- Those unique items you can’t find anywhere else! Gold thrones anyone? Statues of Jesus? Barber chairs?
Loved being there and Elin is, of course, the PERFECT tour guide!