Santa Maria della Pieve

Santa Maria della Pieve is a Romanesque church in Arezzo featuring a striking facade composed of stacked colonnades. The lower section has five arches, and above them sit three galleries with columns that increase in number as they rise, creating a rhythmic visual pattern.

The church was consecrated in 1179 on a site with earlier religious structures. Construction and renovation continued through the 13th and 14th centuries, with Gothic elements being added to the interior during this period.

The central portal shows reliefs depicting the Months and the work of farming seasons, carved by artisans from the Po Valley around the 12th century. These stone carvings tell the story of how people lived and worked through the year, with each month showing its own activities and tasks.

The church sits in Arezzo's main square area, easily reached from the surrounding streets and nearby monuments. It is open for visitors to enter and view the interior artworks and decorations at their own pace.

The bell tower was completed in 1330 and is known as 'delle cento buche' for its five rows of mullioned windows that pattern the structure. At its base sits the baptistery, connecting the tower to the main building.