 |
Located only 65km southeast of Florence,
Arrezzo was a major Etruscan and Roman city, and was a prosperous
independent republic in the Middle Ages, until, in 1289, its Ghibelline
loyalties precipitated military defeat at the hands of Guelph Florentines.
In the arts, Petrarch, Pietro Aretino and Vasari, all native Aretines,
brought lasting prestige to the city, yet it was an outsider who gave
Arezzo its permanent Renaissance monument – Piero della Francesca, whose
extraordinary frescoes belong in the same company with Masaccio's in
Florence and Michelangelo's in Rome. Arezzo is the capital city of the
province of Arezzo, a region proud to demonstrate the artistic, historical
and natural beauty of Italy. It is set in the south-east of Tuscany, in
the middle of four marvellous valleys which radiate off from the town: the
"Val Tiberina" , "Casentino ", "Valdarno" and "Valdichiana" and has a
charming old quarter. Apart from Valtiberina with its works of art,
pastures and woodland, the area also offers splendid landscapes where you
can find famous monastic settlements, completely surrounded by century-old
trees and numerous romanesque parishes. The surrounding countryside
is scattered with a whole host of other towns and villages all equally as
rich in charm and character. Visitors to the province will find an
abundance of friendly citizens, artistic masterpieces and cultural
treasures.
|
