Situated on a slightly raised plateau in the eastern part of Tuscany, Arezzo was, in ancient times, one of the principal Etruscan cities before becoming a Roman city of strategic importance.
The ancient Arretium was renowned for its vases, called Aretian vases. The manufacture of ceramics decorated in relief soon supported a thriving export business to all parts of the Roman empire. Situated on the convergence of four valleys (the Valdarno, the Valdichiana, Val Tiberina and the Casentino), Arezzo became a point of encounter (the meeting point) of different civilisations and cultures.
In the Thirteenth Century the city experienced a decline after the defeat of Campaldino, before being integrated, together with the rest of Tuscany, into the Grand Duchy of the Medici. Today, Arezzo is one of the most flourishing cities in Tuscany partly due to its important goldsmith industry.
Thanks to its long cultural tradition, this region is one of particular interest for art lovers; the Church of San Francesco d'Arezzo, for example, is home to the extraordinary frescoes illustrating the "Legend of the Holy Cross" by Piero della Francesca.
Surrounding area:
Bibbiena
This is one of the oldest cities in the region, and one can admire works of the Florentine and Giottoesque schools in the church "Santissima Ippolito e Donato", which dates back to the XII Century.
Camaldoli
This village is situated in the mountains, in the middle of the vast pine forests of the Casentino. It was here that the monk Romuald founded the order of the Camaldulites, whose monastery is surrounded by 35,000 hectares of lands that include the national park of Mount Falterona, Campigna and the forests of the Casentino (see below).
Casentino
This is the valley formed by the upper course of the Arno, flanked by the mountains of Pratomagno on one side, and on the other by the Appenines. The wooded hills of the Appenine forest extend to the north of Arezzo and shelter numerous small villages which invite the visitor to take in the splendid view of the countryside, the many Romanesque churches, isolated abbeys and fortified castles. The region is also ideal for hikers and ramblers.
Caprese Michelangelo
Michelangelo was born in Caprese Michelangeloon 6 March 1475. You can visit the ‘Casa Michelangelo’ set in the old castle of the fourteenth century, as well as the ‘Museo Michelangiolesco’.
Castiglion Fiorentino
A medieval borough of the Valdichiana, very typical with its walls and tours surrounding the historic centre.
Cortona
Colsoe to Lake Trasimeno, this town, perched on the hill covered in olive and cypress trees, dominates the Valdichiana. It has preserved all of its medieval atmosphere , ist palazzi, walls, historic buildings and narrow streets with pittoresque names.
Monte San Savino
Birth town of the sculptor Anrea Contucci called Sansovino (1470-1529). Its central artery is a street flanked by fine buildings, that runs through the whole length of the town up to the gates of the city walls and the old castle.
Montevarchi
This town of the Valdarno ‚Superiore‘ is known for ist agricultural and vinicultural market (selling wines of the Aretian hills) and for its textile industry. The visitor will also find small villas and buildings in Art Nouveau and Art Deco style.
Poppi
Situated in the heart of the Casentino, straddling a hill, the proud and pittoresque fortified town of Poppi dominates the Valdarno. It has a sumptuous Gothic castle of the thirteenth century, the Castello Pretorio. Not far from here, the zoo Fauna Europa specialises in the conservation and protection of endangered European species such as the Appenine wolf and the lynx.
Sansepolcro
A seductive little art town where the painter Piero della Francesca (1416-1492) was born. The name Sansepolcro stems from the tenth century when two prilgrims brought relics from the Holy Sepulchre back from the Holy Land. A monastery was built around the relics and the village acquired the name Borgo San Sepolcro.
For any question about Agriturismo in Arezzo, please contact our Tuscany Agriturismo Specialist
Alessandro@dolcevita.be
Tel: +32 2 653 25 20
Ask him for a customized proposal !
