San Giovanni Valdarno

"San Giovanni Valdarno is a town with a population of about 17,000 in the Italian province of Arezzo. As indicated by its name “Valdarno” it is located in the valley of the Arno River. It was originally called Castel S. Giovanni. The town was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio (although it is not clear who was the urban planner was who worked directly on the project), and built as an outpost of the central Florentine government. 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 believed to be the birthplace of the early Renaissance painter Masaccio.