Casa di Giorgio Vasari
On Via XX Settembre, behind a plain street facade, Giorgio Vasari decorated every ceiling of his own home with the ambitions of a man who wanted posterity to know exactly what he valued. He started in 1542, the year after he bought the land, and finished the fresco project in 1568 — working around commissions in Florence and Rome, returning to Arezzo to paint his wife's portrait into the Camera di Apollo alongside the Nine Muses.
The house is four floors: basement, a noble piano nobile, a second floor, and attics. Six rooms carry frescoes. The Camera della Fama holds his self-portrait alongside likenesses of Michelangelo, Luca Signorelli, and Andrea del Sarto — Vasari curating his own artistic lineage on a domestic ceiling.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who come back tend to linger in the archive room, where 17 letters written by Michelangelo to Vasari are held — along with three autograph sonnets and three original drawings. The handwriting alone stops you. The Stanzino Vasariano admits only three visitors at a time, so arrive early or expect a short wait.
The story behind Casa di Giorgio Vasari
Vasari acquired the property on 7 September 1541 and began decorating the following year. He married Niccolosa Bacci in 1550 and moved in, though his work kept him away for long stretches. The fresco programme, completed with the help of his pupils, wrapped up in 1568, six years before his death.
The house passed through family hands until 1687, when the last Vasari heir, Francesco Maria, bequeathed it to the Fraternita dei Laici of Arezzo. The Brozzi and then the Paglicci family held it before the Italian state purchased it in 1911 and opened it as a public museum. Since 2014 it has been managed by the Italian Ministry of Culture.
Good to know
Entry is €4, reduced to €2 for eligible visitors, and free on the first Sunday of each month (timed slots fill quickly). Closed Tuesdays. The ticket office closes 30 minutes before the museum does. Rooms cap at 25 people; the Stanzino at three. Budget around 90 minutes.
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What travellers say about Casa di Giorgio Vasari
Fascinating look at how a late Renaissance artist and architect designed for himself rather than clients like the Medici and the Pope. Interesting short intro film in Italian with English subtitles. Go slow and read the signs in each room to understand function and the symbolism of the artwork. Also visit the quiet garden and fish in the fountain in the back.
Que bella, questa casa! Beautiful house of multitalent Giorgio Vasari, artist, architect, author! A miracle that these frescoes on ceilings and paintings - from the Renaissance ! - remained intact. Impressive, admission price of 4 Euros I found very fair. Be sure to check availability (and ideally reserve) as only few people are allowed in at one time. The presentation of information could be better, a bit more modern. But: great museum!
House Vasari in Arezzo is a great spot for anyone who loves art and history. It was the home of Giorgio Vasari, a key figure in the Renaissance who was a painter, architect, and writer. Inside, you can see rooms decorated with his beautiful frescoes, giving a sense of 16th-century style. Highlights include Vasari's studio, the Hall of Fame with portraits of famous people, and a large collection of his drawings and sketches. Visiting the house gives you a close-up look at Vasari's life and work, making it a must-see in Arezzo.
Very nice museum. It’s small, You need about 30-40 min for it. The wall painting are gorgeous. Would recommend to watch the short intro movie.
The Arezzo home of the 16th Century artist/art historian Vasari. Approx 5 decorated rooms and a terrace garden. At July 23 entrance was €5. Interesting in itself but more so if you have in interest in high renaissance art. Would take somewhere between 30 mins and an hour to go round.
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