Casentino and Tuscan Valtiberina

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The northern portion of the Province of Arezzo features two valleys known as Casentino and Valtiberina. The Casentino is located to the northwest, and it is crossed by the Arno river. This area is famous for its gorgeous natural environment and several important religious sites. Valtiberina is the valley formed by the Tiber river, which crosses the easternmost part of Tuscany before flowing into Umbria. Here are several historic attractions and the city of Sansepolcro.

Sansepolcro

Sansepolcro is a town located east of Arezzo, near the border with Umbria and Marche. The city was founded in the Middle Ages, and grew around a monastery that soon became a pilgrimage site. Contested between local powers for centuries, the town lived its golden age during the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, when it was home to several artists, most notably Piero della Francesca.

Civic Museum of Sansepolcro

The Civic Museum of Sansepolcro (Museo Civico di Sansepolcro) is an art museum hosted in some historic palaces in Sansepolcro. The museum houses a rich collection of Renaissance artworks, including some by Piero della Francesca, who was born in Sansepolcro.

Sansepolcro Cathedral

Also known as: Basilica Co-Cathedral of San Giovanni Evangelista (Basilica Concattedrale di San Giovanni Evangelista)

The Sansepolcro Cathedral (Duomo di Sansepolcro) is the main church of Sansepolcro. It was founded in the 11th century as an abbey, and was later turned into a cathedral. The building features a Romanesque structure with some Gothic elements, and it hosts various artworks, including an altarpiece painted by Perugino around 1510.

Aboca Museum

The Aboca Museum is a museum of medicinal plants in Sansepolcro. The museum features exhibits on the history of the use of herbs in medicine, and it includes various historic instruments.

Anghiari

Anghiari is a small town located west of Sansepolcro in the Province of Arezzo, known for being the site of an important battle fought between the Republic of Florence and the Duchy of Milan in 1440.

Museum of the Battle and Anghiari

The Museum of the Battle and Anghiari (Museo della Battaglia e di Anghiari) is a museum of local history in Anghiari. The museum hosts various prehistoric and ancient archaeological finds, along with an exhibition on the Battle of Anghiari, in which Florence defeated Milan in 1440. A section of the museum is dedicated to the planned painting by Leonardo da Vinci depicting the battle, which was never completed.

Monterchi

Monterchi is a small town in the Province of Arezzo, at the border with Umbria. The village features a medieval old town and it is best known for hosting a fresco by Piero della Francesca.

Madonna del Parto Museum

The Madonna del Parto Museum (Museo della Madonna del Parto) is a museum in Monterchi hosting the 15th-century fresco of the Madonna del Parto (“Madonna of Childbirth”) by Piero della Francesca. This is one of the most famous works by artist, who painted the fresco in honor of his mother.

Caprese Michelangelo

Caprese Michelangelo is a tiny town among the hills of the Province of Arezzo, known for being the birthplace of Renaissance artist Michelangelo.

Birthplace of Michelangelo

The Birthplace of Michelangelo (Museo Casa Natale di Michelangelo Buonarroti) is a museum hosted in a medieval building in Caprese Michelangelo, considered to be the place where Renaissance artist Michelangelo was born. The museum houses various artworks spanning several centuries, along with plaster casts of several sculptures by Michelangelo, and a library.

Chiusi della Verna

Chiusi della Verna is a small town located among the hills of the Casentino valley, north of Arezzo. It is known for its historic sanctuary.

✪ Sanctuary of La Verna

The Sanctuary of La Verna (Santuario della Verna) is a historic sanctuary located on a hill near Chiusi della Verna. This is the most important religious site of the Casentino, and it is known for its connection with Saint Francis of Assisi, who visited the monastery various times. Here, the saint received the stigmata in 1224. The complex, founded in the early 13th century, was later greatly expanded, and now it features a basilica, various chapels, and other halls adorned with decorations, frescoes, and artworks. The sanctuary also houses various memorabilia of Saint Francis and a museum.

Poppi

Poppi is a small town in the Casentino valley north of Arezzo, known for its medieval castle. The religious site of Camaldoli is located on the nearby mountains, and is part of the municipality of Poppi.

Poppi Castle

Also known as: Castello dei Conti Guidi

The Poppi Castle is a medieval castle erected during the Late Middle Ages. The current structure dates from the 13th century, with some Renaissance additions and more recent restorations. For centuries it was the main fortification in the area, and it was the site of a battle in 1289. The castle features decorated interiors and a frescoed chapel.

Camaldoli

Camaldoli is a religious site located among the mountains of the Casentino, part of the municipality of Poppi in the Province of Arezzo. The site is known for being the place where the Camaldolese monastic order was founded.

Camaldoli Hermitage

The Camaldoli Hermitage (Eremo di Camaldoli) is a historic hermitage founded in the 11th century by Saint Romuald. The current church was built in Baroque style during the 17th century to replace the original structure. The complex includes various cells where hermits still live, and it also features the ancient cell where Saint Romuald resided. The hermitage also hosts a rich historic library.

Camaldoli Monastery

The Camaldoli Monastery (Monastero di Camaldoli) is a monastery originally founded by Saint Romuald in the 11th century, and later expanded in the 16th and 17th century. The complex includes a church housing various decorations and artworks, and an ancient pharmacy.

Pratovecchio Stia

Pratovecchio Stia is a municipality in the Province of Arezzo, formed by the merger of the two small towns of Pratovecchio and Stia. The area hosts various historic attractions.

Romena Castle

The Romena Castle is a ruined medieval castle located on a hill near Pratovecchio. The castle was erected in the 11th century, and briefly housed Dante Alighieri during his exile from Florence. The structure was heavily damaged by wars and earthquakes. Now partially restored, it houses a small museum.

Museo dell’Arte della Lana

The Museo dell’Arte della Lana is a museum dedicated to history of the wool industry in the Casentino valley. The museum is housed in a former factory in Stia, and it features various pieces of industrial equipment, and samples of woollen clothing.