Fortezza Medicea di Arezzo

The Medici Fortress of Arezzo stands on the hill of San Donato, which, rising to dominate the city and surrounding area, offers a sweeping view of the hills that lead to the Chianti region to the west, the slopes of the Pratomagno massif to the northwest, the Catenaia and Poti Alps to the northeast and east, and Mount Lignano to the south. This hill and the nearby hill of San Pietro, now occupied by the Cathedral, were the hub of the ancient city, home to important public monuments of both a civil and religious nature; many of these can now only be glimpsed from the presence of enormous sandstone blocks, granite column drums, and reused wall fragments incorporated into the walls of the 16th-century Fortress. Although the many transformations over the centuries have significantly altered the appearance of this site, the archaeological evidence that remains tells its story.