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San Giovanni Valdarno The Town of San Giovanni Valdarno is one of the major centres of the Valdarno valley which developed along the main
communication route between Arezzo and Florence. Here, on the 21st December 1401, Masaccio, the great innovator of Renaissance painting, was born. It is possible to visit the house where he was born in Corso Italia, when exhibitions are being held. The heart of the historic centre is Piazza Masaccio with the Palazzo Pretorio designed, according to Vasari, by Arnolfo di Cambio. The Piazza is surrounded by handsome buildings such
as the XV cent. Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie and the museum which conserves a rich collection of paintings and a lovely “Annunciazione” by Beato Angelico; the XIV cent. Church of San Lorenzo whose walls are adorned with XV cent. frescoes by the painter Giovanni di Ser Giovanni called “Lo Scheggia”, younger brother of Masaccio. In Piazza Cavour stands the Pieve di San Giovanni Battista dating from the first half of the XIV cent.
The cinema festival, Valdarno Cinema Fedic, which is held every April, is of considerable cultural importance.
Website: www.comune.san-giovanni-valdarno.ar.it
Height: m. 134
Post-code: 52027
Km from: Arezzo 37, Firenze 40
Population: 17732
Telephone code: 055
Useful Information
Public transport: By train to the Sangiovanni Valdarno Station.
How to get there: Autostrada A1. Exit Valdarno
Information: Tourist Information Office, Tel. 055 943748 Fax 055 9121123.
E-mail: prolocosgv@val.it
Weekly market
Weekly market: Saturday morning
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