San Giovanni Valdarno

San Giovanni Valdarno
Comune
Comune di San Giovanni Valdarno
The Valdarno with San Giovanni in the background. The Valdarno with San Giovanni in the background.
Country	Italy
Region	Tuscany
Province / Metropolitan city	Arezzo (AR)
Frazioni	Badiola-Renacci, Borro al Quercio, Gruccia, Montecarlo, Ponte alle forche, Porcellino, Pruneto
Government
• Mayor	Valentina Vadi
Area
• Total	21.32 km2 (8.23 sq mi)
Elevation	134 m (440 ft)
Population (31 December 2013)
• Total	17,159
• Density	800/km2 (2,100/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Sangiovannesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	52027
Dialing code	055
Patron saint	St. John the Baptist
Saint day	24 June
Website	Official website

San Giovanni Valdarno is a town and comune in the province of Arezzo, Tuscany, central Italy, located in the valley of the Arno River.

History

According to the Italian medieval historian Giovanni Villani, the town was founded in 1296, by the Republic of Florence. The design of the historic center is based on the organization of Roman cities with a large central piazza from which two main roads run perpendicular to each other. From these two main roads run other secondary streets.

The town is the birthplace of the early Renaissance painter Masaccio.

Main sights

• Palazzo Pretorio or Palazzo d'Arnolfo (13th century)
• Convent of San Francesco a Montecarlo. It houses an Incoronation of the Virgin by Neri di Bicci (1472–1475)
• Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie (built in 1484, but with a 19th-century Neoclassical façade). Its museum houses Beato Angelico's Annunciation.
• Church of San Lorenzo (early 14th century)

Sister cities

• Mahbes, Western Sahara
• Corning, USA
• West Springfield (city), Massachusetts, USA

References

Media related to at Wikimedia Commons