Arquà Petrarca, a timeless place
"I shun the town as a prison and choose to live in a solitary tiny village, in a pretty little house, secluded by olive trees and a vineyard. Here I pass my days in perfect tranquillity, far from uproars, from noises, from doings - reading all the time, and writing".
So wrote Francis Petrarch, Friend of Solitude, who chose Arquà to live out his days. Silence is still a good companion when discovering this magic place. Arquà is an ideal location to plunge into a pleasant past, with a scent of art and nature. Street and buildings of the middle ages, and of the 15th and 16th centuries, gothic style, holding the signs of the power of paduan Carraresi first and of Venice afterwards.
On the main square, the St. Mary Parish Church, dating back to 1000 a.d., and close to it the red marble Petrarch's grave.
Moving uphill along Rome street, you'll see ancient houses and a small beggars' hospital. A bit further, Villa Alessi. On the small St. Mark's square, the Holy Trinity oratory with the Vicars' House and a house with a balcony dominating the hills. From the little church just aside you can walk up to Monte Castello's gardens. Pass a column with the Venetian Lion at its top and - walking up Valleselle street - reach Petrarch's house (visits), where the poet spent the last years of his life (1370 - 1374).
"Parva est sed apta mihi: E' piccola, ma è adatta a me".La piccola e accogliente casa fu rimaneggiata nel 1500 con una loggia e arricchita di affreschi ispirati alla vita e alle opere del Poeta. Oggi vi si possono trovare cimeli e opere petrarchesche. Arquà Petrarca is a member of the Club of "The most beautiful villages in Italy".
Arquà Petrarca, Bandiera Arancione del TCI
Arquà Petrarca has been awarded the Orange Flag by TCI - The Italian Touring Club The Orange Flag is the environmental quality mark granted by the Italian Touring Club - TCI, aimed to award little hinterland villages whith a distinguished tourist offer and a special quality in hospitality. The trade mark is granted upon evaluation of heritage exploitation; environmental preservation; hospitality; accessibility and usage of resources; quality of hotels, restaurants and local productions. The Orange Flags Project has been appointed by WTO (World Tourism Organization) as one of the fifty most successful programmes for sustainable tourism worldwide.
Arquà Petrarca is also a member of the Italian Oil Towns Association.