The medieval center of Arezzo is rich with splendid monuments, churches, palaces and museums. The Basilica of San Francesco is perhaps the most famous church in the city. Inside it preserves the cycle of frescoes of the Legend of the True Cross by Piero della Francesca, a Renaissance masterpiece of inestimable value. Other historical highlights include; the Medici Fortress, the Roman Amphitheater and the Church of San Francesco, home to the wooden Crucifix of Cimabue, the Cathedral, and Piazza Grande, one of the most beautiful squares in Tuscany.
Home to many famous people such as Giorgio Vasari, Piero della Francesca, Guido Monaco, Francesco Redi and Petrarca, in 1997 Arezzo was put ‘back’ on the map by Roberto Benigni’s famous Oscar-winning film Life is Beautiful (actor/director). Arezzo, essentially Benigni’s home town, was featured significantly in the film and there are placards throughout marking the locations of famous scenes.
