Founded 2,600 years ago by the Etruscans on a hill at the intersection of three valleys is one of the most important of the 12 cities of the Etruscans. It was famous for its metal workers who mainly produced arms, utensils and statues.
The bronze Statues of Minerva and the Chimera are in fact good examples of their ability.
The iron industry was probably so renown in Europe to suggest the German word
‘Erz’ would derive from Arretium, the Latin name for Arezzo.
Later under the Romans it became an
important economic centre for traffic passing both on the north-south and the
east-west axis of Italy; and it marked the confluence of major Roman roads such
as the Flaminia minor (from Bologna), the Cassia (from Floren
ce) and the Riminensis (from Rimini). All this was a result of its position guarding the
Appenine passes and dominating the upper and middle valley of the Arno.
As the iron industry declined, Arezzo became famous for
pottery and above
all for its coralline vases.
During this glorious period of expansion the Romans enlarged the town walls and built the Amphitheatre, Theatre and baths, towards the plain on the south side of the hill.
