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Archeological remains are evidence of the existence of Arezzo since VI cent. The town kept being important in Roman times. In the first Imperial time its ceramics in red coral with decorations in relief was famous and copied all over the Empire. It was as famous as nowadays for its goldsmith's that make of Arezzo one of the richest cities in Italy. Of its classic history the Archeological Museum gives many examples: the most important piece is the Euphronios of 500 B.C.

Rich and intense was its life in the Middle Age: the battle against Florence in Campaldino in 1289 is described by Dante Alighieri. The surroundings are rich of traces of the Florentine poet. In 1384 Arezzo was almost sold to Florence and from that time its history was as a Florentine republic first, Signoria and Granducato di Toscana later. The Medici Family have left their trace in the '500 fortress in the north of the town.

In the centre if you walk along the Corso or the Medioeval streets that go to San Donato Church, you get the feeling of being part of a fresco of Piero Della Francesca's "The legend of the real cross", in San Francesco. In the background of the "Finding of the three crosses", Gerusalem has the features of Arezzo in '400. Of the Romanic period it's very important the Pieve di Santa Maria (XII-XIII cent.) that contains a polyptic by Pietro Lorenzetti. In San Domenico Church there is another exceptional piece, the Crucifix of Cimabue.

In this town Francesco Petrarca was born, and some centuries later, Giorgio Vasari.

In Arezzo every year the "Giostra Del Saracino "takes place. With a lance, some knights attact the wooden figure of the "buratto" that ,in turn, can attack the knight and the horse with a weapon he holds in its right hand.

Piero Della Francesca "descovery of the cross" particular of the landscape of Arezzo
(San Francesco Church)

Attic crater with red figures with Ercole against the Amazons Euphronios (500 a. C.) archeological museum.