Arezzo

The town stands 296 m. above sea level on a hilly slope near a wide plateau on which open the Valdarno, Casentino and Valdichiana. Of prehistoric origins, with Cortona Arezzo was one of the most important etruscan towns (VI century B.C.). It was an important Roman Municipium in the Imperial period with the Cassia road influencing greatly his economy; after the fall of the Empire it came first under Goth then Byzantine, Lombard and Frankish rule.
From the end of the IX century Arezzo is ruled by the Bishop-Counts and is part of the Tuscan march before becoming a free municipality in 1098, when the city elects a consul, flanked by 40 boni homines.
The medieval period is signed by the old rivalry with Siena and Firenze, the expansionist policy of Arezzo finds an end with the defeat at Campaldino (near Poppi) by the hand of the Florentines (1289).
The city reach a period of economic splendor under the rule of bishop Guido Tarlati, but short after his death, sapped of its power, the city is first "rented" in 1337 by Pier Saccone to Firenze for ten years (at the price of 18000 fiorini) and then sold by Enguerand of Coucy (November 5, 1384).

Monuments:

Pieve di S. Maria (XII century). Impressive romanic monument. The bell tower, with 40 mullioned windows, is said "delle cento buche" (of the 100 holes).
Basilica di S. Francesco (XIV century). Typical umbro-tuscan gothic building, housing the `Leggenda della Croce', a series of frescoes by Piero della Francesca (XV century).
Palazzo della Fraternit� dei Laici (Gothic-Renaissance, 14th century).
Chiesa di S. Domenico (13th-14th century). Famous for the XIV century frescoes and a crucifix of Cimabue.
Duomo (XIV century).
Chiesa della Badia (XIV century).
Fortezza Medicea.
Roman Amphitheater.

Famous People:

Guido d'Arezzo (inventor of the stave, 992-1050)
Guittone d'Arezzo (poet, 1230-1294)
Francesco Petrarca (poet, 1304-1374)

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