Tuscany and the most beautiful Tuscan towns: gold and culture in Italy

A trip to one of the most beautiful Tuscan towns: the masterchiefs by Piero della Francesca and the memories of its Etruscan and Roman past. And a sight to the best of its province from Cortona to Sanseplocro.

Twenty-five golden centuries of history: from Renaissance to the modern industry of goldsmith. First Etruscan then Roman and Medicean, Arezzo has always been an oasis for culture in the South-East of Tuscany, and its rich past is witnessed by monuments and museums. Also its province is worth being descovered: it lays in the centre of four marvellous valleys (Valtiberina, Casentino, Valdarno and Valdichiana) with delightful landscapes rich in colours plunged in the green of the hills.

The first archeological signs of a urban centre trace back to the late VI century B.C. It was one of the twelve lucumonies, the largest Etruscan towns, then a fortified Roman city called Arretium on guard of the Appenninic passes.

The basilica of S. Francesco hosts the absolute masterpiece of the town: the magnificent cylce of frescos called "Legend of the Cross" by Piero della Francesca (1452 and further). He was son of Arezzo just as Masaccio, Paolo Uccello, Luca Signorelli, Michelangelo, Sansovino, Vasari. To see the works by Piero della Francesca, among the highest of Renaissance, we suggest to visit Valtiberina: there is a beautiful "Madonna del Prato" in Monterchi and many works in Sansepolcro, such as the "Resurrection" and the "Madonna della misericordia". An entchanting "Crucifiction" on table by Cimabue must be seen in the Church of San Domenico and it is also worth visiting the portico of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which was the first arcade of Renaissance (about 1470) and the Renaissance churches of S. Maria in Gradi and SS. Annunziata.

To visit the province we leave from the Valdichiana, where lays Crotona, one of the most ancient and pitoresque towns of Tuscany, where you may enjoy a beautiful sight embracing the whole valley. You may still see parts of the primitive cyclopic Etruscan walls, that were just lightly modified in the Middle Age. The dominant character of its buildings is Medieval, this helps giving the narrow roads their evocative aspect.

Also Valdarno offers wonderful landscapes above all from Pratomagnoto massif to the area of Cavriglia where there is an equiped natural park. A great deal of evidences of the secular presence of man can be found in the ancient village Loro Ciuffenna or in a "walled land" such as San Giovanni Valdarno, the largest, built by the Florentines to prevent attacks by the ennemy Arezzo Republic. Arnolfo di Cambio, also architect of Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, built here the well known Palazzo del Podestà, one of his most beautiful monuments. The XV century basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie has a front of '700; in the very large inside, with nave and two aisles, we find plenty of important works of art: paintings by Giovanni da San Giovanni, by Paolo Schiavo and a marvellous "Annunciation" by Beato Angelico.

Vacanza in Toscana: vacanze in una delle più belle regioni d'Italia tra oro e cultura

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