San Giovanni Valdarno @ Masaccio`s Birthplace
San Giovanni Valdarno is a town situated in the Arno valley, that the Florentine founded in 1296 in order to reinforce their defensive system and to oppose Arezzo expansionist policy. Arnolfo di Cambio designed the new town on the model of a Roman encampment, with a central square from which the two main streets branched off. Once Florence had conquered Arezzo, San Giovanni Valdarno, which in the meantime had become the seat of the vicariate of the Upper Arno valley, maintained its defensive role against the Viscontis and the Papal army. During the 16th century, the town experienced a period of decay, from which it recovered after two centuries thanks to the developing and modernizing policy of the Habsburg-Lorraines.
Tommaso di Ser Giovanni, better known as Masaccio (1401-1428), was born in San Giovanni Valdarno.
