Arezzo

Arezzo: About 65 kilometers after leaving Florence you come to a turnoff to Arezzo, located about 10 kilometers east of the highway. Arezzo is still in Tuscany, but since it is so close to Umbria and “on the way,” now is the time for a visit. Arezzo has a rich history dating back to the Etruscan era, but is not as quaint as some of its smaller neighbors. It is well known as one of the largest gold centers in Europe and has many shops selling gold jewelry. Arezzo is also famous for its Antique Fair that is held in the Piazza Grande on the first Saturday and Sunday of every month. Here you find many unusual items such as antique coins, jewelry, furniture, stained glass remnants, paintings, light fixtures, handmade linens, pottery, trunks, etc. The fair is considered one of the most important ones in Italy and so popular that people come from far and near to browse the rich collection of antiques. Arezzo was the birthplace of Guido Monaco who around the year 1000 A.D. devised musical notes and scales. Another of Arezzo’s famous inhabitants was the powerful 14^th-century poet Pietro Aretino who took great glee in writing scandalous poetry about the rich and famous. Aretino’s greatest skill was gentle blackmail, extorting great sums from princes and popes who paid him not to expose their naughty indiscretions in his poetry.