A charming hilly town in the east of Tuscany, Arezzo boasts ancient origins. It was one of the greatest etruscan "Lucumonie" succesively it became a Roman town having a strategic position. It was an important centre for economic activities and for its oustanding monuments , such as the Amphitheatre with numerous ruins. Famous for its foundries and the artistic manufactures of red-painted vases (the so called coral vases) which spread all over the Roman world.

In the Middle Age, Arezzo was a free city-state where the Ghibellina supporters often prevail in an atmosphere of friction with nearby Florence. After the rout of Campaldino (1289) its fortunes were low and apart from a brief period under the Tartari, it definetely yielded to Florentine domination (1384) and became part of Medicean Granducato. Arezzo is set on a hill above the plain made up of the floods from Arno river. In the upper part of the town you can find the Cathedral, the Town Hall, the Medici Fortress, from which the main streets branch off towards the lower part as far as the gates. The upper part of the town maintains its medieval aspect even if we can find later architectonic monuments.

Arezzo was born as an Etruscan settlement in the 4th century B.C. and ows its name to this people. In the Roman time it was an important military station along Via Cassia, but it decayed in the Middle Ages. Its recovery was due to the bishops between the 9th and the 12th century. In 1098 it became a free commune starting the fights against Siena and Florence.
Arezzo is situated on a hillside , between Casentino, Valdichiana and Valdarno.

The good geographical position favoured the development of some crafts and industrial activities. The town has preserved a typical medieval structure of deep artistic and historical value and attracts many tourists too, thanks to its wonderful art works.
But it surely desrves to be visited not only because of its art as the other beautiful Tuscan cities do, but also for its astonishing nature.

Amongst the various itineraries, you can't forget the St Francesco's Church, for example, famous for the Piero della Francesca's frescos the Leggenda della Vera Croce (the legend of the True cross), the Arcaeological Museum, keeping Greek and Etruscan vases and the Parco delle Foreste Casentinesi, for their streams, astonoshing falls among secular firs and beech trees.

http://www.globeholidays.net/Europe/Italy/Toscana/Arezzo/Arezzo_Citta.htm
http://www.turismo.toscana.it/new/sitoinglese/m1.htm?page=./f_s/m1c.htm