Arezzo – Archaeological Remains

Leonardo was interested in Arezzo both for its central location in the system of roadways and its strategic importance. The city, of very ancient origin, possesses unique archaeological testimonials, such as the Roman amphitheatre, encapsulated in the Monastery of San Bernardo and today included in the itinerary of the Gaio Cilnio Mecenate National Archaeological Museum. The archaeological rediscovery of Arezzo took place quite early, starting in the mid-sixteenth century, when the construction of the Fortress brought to light exceptional finds from Etruscan times such as the Chimera, a bronze statue from the 5th-4th century B.C. that was restored by Benvenuto Cellini. The Archaeological Museum contains Hellenic, Etruscan and Roman finds coming from Arezzo and its territory that influenced Donatello, Verrocchio and Leonardo himself. Displayed in the State Museum of Medieval and Modern Art is a marble putto (puer mingens) by Leonardo's nephew, Pierino Da Vinci.