Situated in Tuscany’s east and bordered by the Apennines, Arezzo lies at the crossroad of four valleys comprising unique landscapes where natural beauty blends with masterpieces of art, architecture and culinary tradition: Casentino, Valdarno, Valtiberina and Val di Chiana.
Arezzo was one of the great Etruscan capitals, conquered by the Romans in 311 BC. An independent city-state in the Middle Ages, it then fell under Medicean rule and saw the flourishing of Renaissance; it was home to Guittone d’Arezzo, Francesco Petrarca and Guido Monaco.
Signs of this past are visible around the city: Romanic and Gothic churches showcasing Piero della Francesca frescoes, a crucifix by Cimabue and a Roman amphitheatre, Vasari’s Loggia and a Medici Fortress. The medieval streets, the Piazza Grande, the bell towers and palaces with their inscriptions show the ancient connection of the city and its inhabitants with music and poetry.
While retaining its historic heritage, Arezzo is a lively and eventful city: it is renowned for its goldsmiths, its monthly Antiques Market, the prestigious Concorso Polifonico and the historical reenactment called the Saracen Joust.
