The north of the province of Arezzo contains thePratomagno andCasentino mountain ranges and valleys, and the southern areas of the region contain the fertile Tiber and Chiana valleys.[2] The province capitalArezzo was a majorEtruscan urban centre known asAritim, and a wall was built around the province in this period of rule. In Roman times, the settlement was given the Latinized nameArretium and expanded down from the hills. Arretium assisted Ancient Rome in thePunic Wars againstAncient Carthage. After attacks from barbarians, the settlement mostly disappeared in around 400 AD.[2]
Towards the end of the 11th century, the settlement grew again into a city, despite being located near the powerful nations of Siena and Florence. Its location led to its ownership changing repeatedly; Florence owned the province after theBattle of Campaldino, later lost authority over it, and then annexed it again in 1384.[2] Florence possessed the province until 1859, whenTuscany was annexed to theKingdom of Sardinia during theRisorgimento. The province is in close proximity toCamaldoli, ancestral seat of theCamaldolese monks.[2]
