Arezzo Antique Market

In July I went on a solo trip to source some objects of beauty, and caught the train from Florence to Arezzo for the Fiera Antiquaria. It was very hot, and by mid-morning every stallholder was sheltering under their umbrella. I learnt quickly that if you go in summer, this is a market for early risers.

The Town 

Arezzo sits slightly off the tourist trail, often overlooked by visitors racing between Florence and Rome, which is why I liked it so much. The old centre climbs a hill to Piazza Grande, a sloping square framed on one side by Vasari’s loggia, with medieval towers and Renaissance palazzi around the rest.

Once a month the whole place becomes a market. The fair was founded in June 1968 by Ivan Bruschi, an antiques dealer and collector, and it is still a two-day affair held on the first weekend of every month, filling the streets of the historic centre with hundreds of exhibitors. It is the oldest antiques fair in Italy, and you can feel the history of the city surround you.

Coffee First 

Before anything else I stopped at Sandy Caffè on Via Garibaldi. Sandy was founded in 1957 by a man named Bruno, and it still roasts its own coffee. The bar has barely been touched since.

I loved the old deco tiles on the bar, and the ceiling texture was cool. I would go back for the interiors alone.

The Market

Then straight into it. Over two days the fair covers everything: door handles, 1970s crockery, linen, sofas, photo frames, remnant fabrics, vases, light fittings, larger pieces of furniture.

My sense was that most of the action, and most of the better pieces, sit in the main square, though there are plenty of stalls tucked down the small alleys with hidden treasures.

Lunch 

I stopped for lunch at a small family-run place on the square, owned by two sisters. It was a charming, old-school lunch spot full of locals, which is always a good sign. I didn’t write down its name, but I don’t think you can go wrong eating in Arezzo. I ordered the meatballs, and I still think about them.

Then back out for the hunt, revisiting things I had made a mental note of. I bought a few things for my lifestyle brand, like the Ladys’ Affairs Box. Feeling content with my purchases, I caught the train home to Florence in the early evening.

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